It is difficult to forget the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Lisa Harnum who died when she was thrown off a balcony in Sydney by her fiancé at the time, Simon Gittany.
The Lisa Harnum Foundation has been established to provide support for families affected by domestic violence. The Foundation is focused on educating the wider community about this issue and aims to do what it can to end the cycle of abuse.
The work of the Foundation, and of Rosie Batty, Australian of the Year, and of Wendy Molonyay (whose daughter Kate was murdered by her ex boyfriend) highlight how quickly an issue that has lain dormant can suddenly capture community concern. White Ribbon Day on 25th November is now a regular event having begun in 2003 as part of UNIFEM (now Un Women). It creates an opportunity for Australians to pause and consider how we can all play a positive role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence in our community.