The following is a copy of NCWQ President Sandy Smith’s speech to the Redlands Domestic Violence Candlelight Vigil, held on 7 May:
It is with joy and humility that I accepted the honour of being awarded the Redlands Citizen of the Year 2025. As a member of the Quota Club of Brisbane I have coordinated the collection of toiletries for the local Women’s Crisis Centre, Maybanke for over a decade. My efforts would not have been possible without the support of local ladies from the Redlands Friendship group, the ladies in Toowong who made the bags and the Quota club of Brisbane members. When I first arrived in the Redlands I was keen to connect. Cr Tracey Huges helped me by identifying some key things I could do on behalf of my Quota Club to make a difference including providing support to Maybanke.
As an individual I was able to make a small difference. As a delegate for the Quota Club I have been able to make a larger ripple advocating for gender equality aiming to empower women through promotion of economic independence and advocating for women’s rights through the National Council of Women of Queensland.
We are all too aware that the DV statistics have not changed. Change is needed. By being here you are acknowledging that. Change is not something that happens over night. We can all make a difference by working together to change the culture of masculinity being associated with violence. Each one of us can create a ripple. You can make a difference too. Involve your partners, sons and daughters in the conversation. Don’t be a bystander. Call out behaviour that promotes a win/ lose situation. Call out the stereotyping of women as weak and men as powerful. Challenge the ‘Bloke’ jokes that belittle women. Like it or not, men are the answer, the solution.
We need to involve men in the conversation. We need to start early so that babies, boys and young men see models of masculinity that are caring, sharing and strong as opposed to violent and overpowering. Women alone can not change the high levels of DV. Men need to be the change makers. Organisations such as Micah Projects are making inroads into changing the culture through education of men. You too can make a difference by creating lots of ripples and involving men in the conversation.
