This month’s Temora Rotary Club meeting had a focus on domestic violence awareness for members. Speakers on the night were Rotary Club president Taz (Michael) Rundle who is a paramedic with the NSW Ambulance Service and Anne Macauley from the Temora Community Centre. There was also a musical component with the work of American country music artist Martina McBride’s featured with her song Independence Day that delivers a message of domestic violence awareness. Rotary has a long history of supporting those effected by domestic violence with the organisation donating money for more than a decade to the Temora Community Centre enabling them to provide supplies to community members impacted by domestic violence. Ms Macauley who is one of the Child, Youth and Family officers at the centre said that the support from Rotary and other community groups contribute to food hampers, hygiene packs or even accommodation. “In many ways it is still hidden and there are many stereotypes, like that men are the only offenders, and that's just not the case, and it seems to be starting younger,” Ms Macauley said. Mr Rundle said that quite often men are portrayed as the aggressors. “The first person I was aware of as a battered partner was an army sergeant of mine. “He was being battered. So, it's not the stereotypes,” Mr Rundle said. Both Mr Rundle and Ms Macauley said that alcohol and drugs are a huge catalyst, with alcohol the largest problem. Mr Rundle confirmed this saying that in his more than two decades career as an ambulance officer he has observed that alcohol is by far the most abused drug in Australia. “It's alcohol, and its huge amounts in consumption, with people pre-loading before they go out, because it's expensive when they get out,” Mr Rundle said. “Alcohol is a depressant, so if someone is already into a slight downward spiral, alcohol kicks in, creates a bigger downward spiral.” Domestic violence is not just isolated to physical violence Ms Macauley said, with coercive control becoming a well-recognised form of abuse. “I think we need to talk about behaving well, no matter who you are, in what part of your relationship. We need to behave well, and we need to be respectful,” she said.
