Although White Ribbon Day is on Saturday, November 25, community members chose to make their mark on Thursday morning, to coincide with the Inverell court sessions.

“Across the road from our building now is the court house and there’s probably some people attending court today for exactly the reason that we’re here,” Cr Harmon said.

“This is a strong message to those perpetrators that our community does not and will not accept domestic violence.”

The march came a day after Inverell High School created a powerful statement against violence on their school lawn. Every student and teacher helped form a huge white ribbon symbol, to be captured from above by Brayden Vickery via a drone.

“We’ve got a large number of students that are affected by it, and therefore we want to be behind the project,” principal Penny Colley said. 

Reaching Inverell’s youngest community members was also on Vicki Higgins’ mind as the Rural Outreach and Support Service manager addressed the marchers.

“We all know that domestic violence is one of the main causes of homelessness, but did we all know that one in four children are exposed to DV in their lives?” she said.

“That’s the children of our future and we need to protect them.” She encouraged locals to help guide children to “better pathways than violence”.

Cr Harmon noted that, according to the Counting Dead Women register, this year 39 Australian women have died due to violence.

“This is preventable,” he said. “These numbers are not just statistics. These women are mothers, sisters, daughters, partners, family and friends.”

Sister Coral Hedley was pleased to see local schools show their support for the White Ribbon cause. She is a strong advocate for the Love Bites violence and sexual assault prevention program in schools.

“Kids have got to have a place to talk as well,” she said, adding that some wouldn’t be heard in their own homes. Children made up a large proportion of the marchers, and Elder Dick Blair said he hoped they learnt something from the experience.

“Each year we seem to have more students involved in the march,” Ms Colley said. 

“I think that’s an important thing, that it’s not just here at school.”

Independent candidate for the New England Rob Taber attended with his wife Sally, and said he thought it was fabulous to see Inverell stand against violence.