Kerry Vernon, Maitland
Two-hundred women, their relatives and supporters marched along Maitland's main street on the night of October 28 in the first Reclaim the Night event to be held in this city of 54,000 residents.
Led by 83-year-old feminist activist Vicky Potemba, the march was organised by the Reclaim the Night committee in conjunction with the Maitland Domestic Violence Committee and women's refuge Carrie's Place.
Thousands of similar marches are held around the world on the last Friday of October each year as part of the international Reclaim the Night campaign, which began in Rome in 1976.
Reporting on the plans for the RTN march, the October 26 Maitland Mercury noted that "NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research statistics showed there were 37 sexual assaults reported in Maitland in the 12 months to June this year" and that 91% of sexual assault victims are women.
RTN committee member Nicole Sattler told the Mercury that the march would be a confronting event for those who had been the victims of sexual or domestic violence. But she said taking part in the march was about "empowering" the women to feel comfortable and safe to walk the streets.
Sattler also said that the committee encouraged men to attend the festival section of the night and support the women as they marched.
The after-march festival featured live music by Kirsty Akers, a raffle and belly dancers.
In Brisbane, Stellar Riethmuller reports that more than 500 women converged on King George Sauare for a rally and march. Kathy Newnam reports from Darwin that 100 people participated in the annual RTN march on October 28. March organiser Kim Lisson told the protesters: "We're not asking for the right to be safe, we have the right and we're taking it back."
There were also RTN rallies held in Alice Springs, Gove and Katherine in the Northern Territory, and in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Geelong and Hobart.
From Green Left Weekly, November 2, 2005.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.