On Monday 2nd December, Judy and I attended the unfurling of the Lost Petition in Torquay. 

We represented the Rotary Clubs of Torquay and Bayside Geelong and joined members of the Torquay Community House at the ceremony. 

The Lost Petition is an ongoing textile artwork that lists women and children who have lost their lives to male violence in Australia from 2008. This work is 30 metres long and proceeds to grow in length as women and children’s lives continue to be lost to male violence. 

See this video clip:  https://youtu.be/gYGx_1BwgSw 

There are 1404 names recorded on the Petition, ranging from 86 years to as young as 7 months. 

In partnership with Surf Coast Shire Council, artist Dans Bain will bring her powerful artwork to the Surf Coast as part of the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based Violence. 

 

 

Learn more about: https://www.dansbain.com/the-lost-petition 

In Australia, on average, one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner. We need to see all levels of government improve policies, housing, support services, education and introduce initiatives to prevent violence against women and children. 

The Lost Petition is a clear call to our Federal Government and to all Australians to change the culture. These women and children can no longer vote, they have unjustly lost their right for representation and to have their voices heard by our Government. Their right to suffrage, that was fought for and won by brave women, did not protect them from male violence. 

  

Behind every name there was once a living, breathing women or child, someone whose death is entirely preventable, The Lost Petition brings visibility and is a call to action to make radical and systematic change. 

 

Philip Beasley