108 Bargara Rd
Bundaberg East, Qld, 4670
"STRONGER TOGETHER" is a weekly column where Tanya explores key issues. This week Tanya reflects on the deep emotions stirred by the ‘Ringing of the Bells’ ceremony on Day 1 of the Zonta Club of Bundaberg’s 16 Days of Activism campaign, where each toll represents a life lost to gender-based violence in Australia this year.
By IMPACT Community Services Managing Director Tanya O'Shea
As I sat in Buss Park on what was a solemn Monday, the air was heavy with the weight of remembrance. The day marked the beginning of the Zonta Club of Bundaberg’s 16 Days of Activism campaign, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The ‘Ringing of the Bells’ ceremony was about to commence, and each toll would resonate in memory of every woman and child who lost their lives to gender-based violence in Australia this year. The bell tolled 101 times—an alarming and heartbreaking first in triple figures.
The sound of each bell echoed through the park, a stark reminder of the lives cut short, and the families forever changed. As I listened, I reflected on the profound impact this violence has on our community. Each toll was not just a number; it represented a person, a story, a future that was stolen.
Throughout the 16 Days of Activism Campaign, the Zonta Club of Bundaberg has organised various events to raise awareness and promote action against violence.
One of the most poignant events is the Red Shoes Project Art Installation, opening on Saturday, November 30th, behind Fairymead House at the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens, Thronhill Street entrance, Bundaberg North.
This is the fourth installation of its kind in Australia, with 500 pairs of shoes painted red by community members, each pair recognising a life affected by domestic and family violence. It’s a powerful visual representation of the impact of violence and a call to action for all who see it.
As the campaign draws to a close on December 10th, we will gather once more in Buss Park for the final ‘Ringing of the Bells’ ceremony. This time, the bells will toll for every woman and child lost to gender-based violence in 2024, including over the past 16 days. The hope is that the number will not have increased, but history tells us otherwise.
Sitting there, I was filled with a mix of sorrow and resolve. The tolling bells were a call to action, a reminder that we must continue to fight for a future where no more lives are lost to violence.
My hope is that one day, we will no longer need to gather in Buss Park for such a sombre occasion. Until then, we must stand together, support one another, and work tirelessly to eliminate gender-based violence from our community.
Please note: This website may contain references to, or feature images, videos, and voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have passed away.
