Bathurst Regional Council has painted park benches red across the city as part of the Red Rose Foundation’s ‘Red Bench Project’ to create a permanent reminder of the troubling rates of domestic violence in Bathurst and across Australia.
Acting Mayor Cr Ben Fry noted this was the first campaign recommended under the Bathurst Community Safety Plan, to prompt necessary, life-saving discussions.
“Domestic violence isn’t a headline, it’s a crisis playing out in our own streets. Regional communities cop the worst of it; the rate is 65 percent higher outside the big cities, and more than 300 cases were reported in Bathurst last year alone. A Red Bench in the park is not just furniture; it’s a public alarm bell, a call for neighbours to speak up, step in and say, ‘not on our watch’.
“Bathurst put the first Red Bench on the NSW map back in September 2019; now you’ll spot them in Kings Parade, Machattie Park, Haymarket Reserve and the Kelso Community Hub. That early start shows what this city does best; we see a hard truth and we act, together,” said Cr Fry.
Executive Director of the Central West Women’s Health Centre, Karen Boyde, stated this project is a powerful visual reminder of the devastating impact of domestic and family violence in our community and calls attention to the urgent need for change.
“Every empty Red Bench represents a woman whose voice was silenced against her will—women who should still be with us. Through this project, we not only remember them, but we reaffirm our commitment to advocating for safety, justice, and systemic reform.
“We stand with survivors, families, and frontline services across the Central West who are working tirelessly to end gender-based violence. This initiative is not just a moment of reflection—it’s a call to action. Together, we must challenge the societal attitudes that allow violence to persist and continue building a future where every woman feels safe, respected, and valued,” said Ms Boyde.
Combating this issue, this June, Bathurst Regional Council is encouraging the community to take a picture on a Red Bench in Bathurst and share it on social media with the hashtag #changetheending to raise awareness of domestic violence and call for change.
To view the location of Red Benches across Bathurst and Australia, visit the interactive map, here:
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