All walks heed respect: Walk With Her

Sarah Cafferkey was a beautiful, bright, bubbly young lady until her life was cruelly cut short.

The 22-year-old was murdered in a Bacchus Marsh unit in 2012.

Her murder has received widespread coverage and many know the details of her brutal death. But what they may not know is that Sarah had been verbally, emotionally and physically abused by an ex boyfriend.

Speaking at Djerriwarrh Health Service’s Walk With Her event on Sunday, Sarah’s mother, Noelle Seery, shared Sarah’s story and urged everyone to take part in the conversation about respecting women.

“I am grateful for each day that I wake up knowing that, together, we, as a community, have the passion and ability to make a change,” she said. “So if your partner, friend or family member doesn’t agree with you, don’t abuse them, don’t strike at them, and certainly don’t murder them.”

She said it is essential that women’s voices are heard. She thanked everyone “on behalf of my beautiful daughter, Sarah, your daughters, your sisters and your mothers”, for their efforts to stamp out violence against women.

Scores of people strode out at Hannah Watts Park to march for a safer, more equal, society.