STRONGER TOGETHER: The Clothesline Project—A Visual Stand Against Violence

"STRONGER TOGETHER" is a weekly column where Tanya explores key issues. This week Tanya discusses the Clothesline Project, a powerful visual statement against domestic and family violence, highlighting the importance of raising awareness, community action and support for survivors.

By IMPACT Community Services Managing Director Tanya O'Shea

Less than a week after bells tolled 101 times in Australia to honour lives lost to gender-based violence this year, two more tragic deaths highlighted the urgency of addressing domestic and family violence (DFV). Hoa Tek Chiem, 69, and his wife, Kim Heang Gau, 68, were killed in Sydney, allegedly by their own son.

This tragic incident serves as yet another heartbreaking reminder of the far-reaching devastation of DFV and the critical need for collective action to end this scourge on Australian society, through raising awareness, fostering understanding, and standing together as a community to say NO to violence.

As part of Zonta Club of Bundaberg’s 16 Days of Activism, IMPACT Community Services hosted a Clothesline Project at Hinkler Central Shopping Centre, from 25-29 November, creating a powerful, visual statement against DFV.

The display featured t-shirts designed by participants from IMPACT’s programs, each telling a unique story of resilience, healing, and hope.

The colours of the shirts carry profound meaning:

• White: Victims that have died from violence.
• Yellow: Survivors of physical assault or domestic violence.
• Red, pink, orange: Survivors of rape or sexual abuse.
• Green, blue: Survivors of incest or childhood sexual abuse.
• Purple: Assaults motivated by sexual orientation.
• Brown, grey: Survivors of emotional, verbal, spiritual abuse, or coercive control.
• Black: Violence targeting individuals with disabilities.

In the weeks leading up to the event, participants came together to decorate their shirts during a morning tea hosted by IMPACT. Queensland Police attended to show their support, and the session concluded with a yoga class to promote calm and reflection.

One particularly moving story from the event involved a woman and her son who worked together on a shirt featuring a ship and anchor. For them, the ship symbolised moving forward, while the anchor represented strength and stability. Their creation was a powerful testament to their resilience and their determination to navigate life’s challenges together.

The therapeutic nature of the activity is undeniable. Creating art helps release emotions and offers a sense of control and purpose. Each shirt, whether covered in intricate designs or powerful words, represents its creator’s journey toward healing.

The display invited the community to engage with these deeply personal stories. It fostered awareness and understanding of DFV’s far-reaching impacts while emphasising the strength of those who have endured it.

Members of IMPACT’s Intensive Family Support team were on hand throughout the display to connect with the community and raise awareness through meaningful conversations and the provision of information and resources on this devastating issue.

While the Clothesline Project has concluded, its message remains: we must stand united as a community against DFV, honour those we’ve lost, and support survivors in their healing. Keep these conversations going and let’s work toward ending all kinds of violence for good.