14-05-2025
Alleged domestic violence victims mourned at candlelight vigil in Toowoomba
About 500 residents of Toowoomba and its surrounds have attended a candlelight vigil in the city to call for an end to domestic and family violence.
In the last 10 months the community west of Brisbane has been rocked by the loss of of five lives in alleged murders.
Psychologist Frances Crawford was found dead at her Upper Lockyer property in July 2024 and her husband Robert Crawford, 47, has been charged with her murder.
In April this year, Louise Griffiths was allegedly murdered by her husband Cameron Hunt, 45, at a home in Geham, north of Toowoomba.
On Tuesday – the day of the vigil – Ellouisa Patricia Brighton, 36, was charged with murder following a deadly house fire in Toowoomba that killed her three children last week.
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Members of Ms Crawford's and Ms Griffiths's families attended the emotional event, which was organised by local support group Protea Place.
Ms Crawford's family held a photograph of the 49-year-old mother of three and a local college captain read a poem called She is More Than a Memory.
Protea Place Women's Support Centre chief executive Amanda Dalton said she felt a responsibility to make sure the deaths were a catalyst for change.
"We will raise up and we will continue to fight, educate and make a change," she said
"We are seeing more and more cases — the complexity is a lot higher."
Ms Dalton said an equally complex response was needed to reduce domestic and family violence.
"The housing crisis has added another huge layer — having a safe place for women and children to go to is near-on impossible," she said.
Domestic and Family Violence Minister Amanda Camm attended the vigil and said it was heartbreaking speaking with the families about their losses.
"To honour all those who have lost their lives to domestic and family violence is truly humbling," she said.
"That [impact] will be ongoing for this community, which is why I have spoken with the mayor about how we can support the community."
Domestic and family violence offences in the state have increased by 8.3 per cent this financial year.
Queensland courts recorded almost 13,000 cases up until March 31.
The state government recently introduced new domestic violence laws enabling police to issue long-term orders to perpetrators and to respond to more cases.
But Ms Camm said the community could not rely on funding and legislation to prevent domestic violence.
"We have to all take accountability, it is a whole-of-government and whole-of-community approach that is needed," she said.
"Too many people are taken, are murdered, are lost.
