My first solo talk, Tim isn’t coming with me, and one of the most important keynotes I have ever given. It will be just me up there on the stage talking.
And this time it won’t be about Tim’s story. This time it is for a national company committed to the White Ribbon Australia campaign to end violence against women. This time I’m talking about my story with domestic violence.
It happened years ago, I look so young in the photos but
my story is as relevant now as it was then. The same story too many women continue to tell. Perhaps even more relevant, as the statistics for violence against women in Australia are appalling. The tactics are the same, the violence as sickening as ever, the destruction of lives and particularly for children is shameful and abhorrent.
I’ve done hundreds of keynote addresses but this is a particularly hard one for me, it brings so many memories and so much pain, things I wish I could forget. But it’s probably one of the most important talks I will ever give as I go there with the hope that more people will stand up and speak up. That one person will change their behaviour. That one person will seek the help they need. That one woman will say “today’s the day I leave”.
The three of us ended up with a happy ending, it took a long time to get there, but it is possible and it is what I wish for every woman to know, that there can be a happy ending and they can be free from the violence.
There is always hope. I couldn’t leave for myself but I could for my children. You are stronger than you think and as one of my dearest friend always says, we are better together.
