No More! Cobram’s cry against men’s violence

By Bree Harding

May 1, 2024

Having their say: Members of the community bravely took up the open mic in Cobram to share their stories of violence at Sunday’s No More! Rally Against Gender-Based Violence. Photo by Bree Harding

A peaceful, yet emotionally-charged, rally against gender-based violence was held in Cobram on Sunday as part of a series of rallies across the country at the weekend coordinated by national community organisation What Were You Wearing? (WWYW).

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Cobram resident and local rally organiser Ash Ladgrove addressed the crowd of an estimated 400 people in the town’s Federation Park with a powerful opening speech, which included reading out the names of the 32 women in Australia who have lost their lives to violence this year, followed by a minute’s silence to remember them and calling on men for support in the nationwide crisis.

Making a point: Organiser of the Cobram No More! Rally Against Gender-Based Violence Ash Ladgrove delivers a powerful opening address to the 400-strong crowd at the rally in Cobram on Sunday. Photo by Bree Harding

“It is not fair to be asking women how we can reduce this violence because it is not our responsibility,” she said.

“We have been fighting this for far too long.

“I am tired, I am angry and I’m not doing it anymore.

“We need men to do it.”

Joining in: Jett Robbins delivered an Acknowledgement of Country at the Cobram rally on Sunday. Photo by Bree Harding

After Ms Ladgrove’s speech and an Acknowledgment of Country by Jett Robbins, Nicole Wells told her impactful stories of surviving violence.

Sharing: Victim-survivor Nicole Wells delivers a powerful and heartfelt speech telling her story to the crowd in Cobram at Sunday’s No More! Rally Against Gender-Based Violence. Photo by Bree Harding

The microphone was then opened up to the crowd and one by one, several members of the community bravely stepped up to share their unscripted stories of the men’s violence they had experienced and witnessed in their lives.

There were cheers, tears and emphatic applause from the supportive crowd, which included women, men and children, many of whom held handmade placards calling for change.

The events, named No More! Rally Against Gender-Based Violence, were held throughout Australia from Friday to Sunday in capital cities and regional centres and were orchestrated by WWYM after a dramatic rise in gender-based violent deaths of women this year.

The community organisation advocates against gender-based violence and is pushing five main agendas throughout the No More! campaign.

Support: An estimated 400 people gathered for the No More! Rally Against Gender-Based Violence rally in Cobram's Federation Park on Sunday. Photo by Bree Harding

They include the government declaring a national emergency and taking immediate action; the media being prevented from publishing images of women killed by men for 48 hours following the murder; mandatory victim-blaming prevention training for first responders and media personnel; more funding for domestic, family and sexual violence services (including refuges and behaviour change programs), and; alternative reporting options and specialist courts for sexual, domestic and family violence matters.

Having input: Suzanna Sheed shares some ideas at the rally in Cobram about how we, as a country, can tackle the crisis of gender-based violence. Photo by Bree Harding

Following the final rally of the weekend on Sunday, WWYW is now calling for a national strike on May 20 after the five demands were met with zero immediate commitments by the government.

Womensline: 1800 811 811

MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978

Lifeline: 13 1144

National Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence Counselling Service 24hr helpline: 1800 RESPECT