Bench honours violence victims

Women now have a place in their honour after the town of Kondinin launched its Purple Bench Project last Thursday.

Kondinin Community Resource Centre co-ordinator Toni Smeed presented the official launch at the Kondinin Community Garden to eight community members who wore orange in support of the 16 Days in WA — Stop Violence Against Women campaign.

Kondinin CRC received a micro-grant for the project from CRC and Neighbourhood Houses peak body Linkwest.

Linkwest’s goal for this year was to have 16 additional purple benches installed across WA.

This goal has been achieved, with 16 member centres across the State using Purple Bench micro-grants.

Kondinin CRC co-ordinator Toni Smeed said the Purple Bench project was launched in Canada in 2015 in memory of women murdered by their partners.

“They are known as Barb’s Benches and were launched to mark the 25-year anniversary of the murder of Barb Baillie by her husband,” she said. “The colour purple is associated worldwide with the domestic and family violence awareness movement.”

The WA Women’s Council for Domestic and Family Violence Services has launched a series of purple benches in public spaces to honour all victims.

The bench was donated by the Shire of Kondinin, painted purple, and had a plaque attached.

The plaque reads: “In honour of all victims of domestic homicide in WA. If you need advice and support, please phone: Women’s DV Helpline: 9223 1188 or 1800 007 339”.

The garden was chosen as the location for the bench because it provided a peaceful place to reflect.