16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM - ELIMINATING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

We are pleased that Geelong organisations are  happy to support the Zonta Club of Geelong and Zonta International in working to reduce Violence Against Women.  Zonta’s Mission to build a better world for women and girls is underpinned by the ongoing  Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women campaign. Each year we heighten awareness of this campaign by participating in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. This is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. 

 

Among a range of activities planned for this year, Geelong Zonta has been granted approval to ‘yarn bomb’ trees in the CBD with orange knitted strips. Orange was chosen some years ago by the United Nations to symbolise a brighter future without violence against women.

See below for a full update of planned events and activities

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Beryl McMillan

President, Zonta Club of Geelong

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  Events & Activities

 

We have been waiting to receive our Event  Application approval from COGG before I sent out  a bit of an update on  the Zonta Club of Geelong’s 2023, 16 Days of Activism plan.

 

Having received that, we can now share  what we plan to do.

 

Firstly the 25th November – Because this year the 25th is a Saturday and the  foreshore is closed off for the major  Geelong Revival Motoring event on the 24th and 25th.  We decided that our usual meeting place was not going to be very convenient  so we applied to COGG to have a gathering in Johnstone Park at 10.00 am on the 25th.

We are working on the program for   the hour but if you have any suggestions of good guest speakers or maybe a choir please let us know

We did not apply to have a march prior to the gathering but I believe a number of members, dressed in orange will be meeting at Barwon Water  in Ryrie Street and walking to the park, nothing formal, may be one or two who knows – more info to come.

 

We will be distributing our “orange ladies” as we did last year so if you didn’t have one for your foyer and would like one please let me know.

They were  mainly in the foyers of the Libraries and Community Health Centres, but we only have 28 so first in 

 

We will continue to encourage organisations to “Orange the World” by flood lighting their buildings or any major signage.  We are yet to speak to COGG re their programmable lighting, but that job is on the list.   We would love to see this part of the project increase so if you know anyone who might be able to assist please let us know or put them in touch with us.  It I very hard to compete with the Christmas lighting in the CBD but I am sure some creative thinking could be applied to other structure around Geelong.

 

Our new and exciting initiative for this year will be the introduction of some Street Art.  COGG have given us permission to “Yarn Bomb” trees in the CBD (and we hope further afield) by tying orange knitted pieces or soft orange fabric around the trunk of trees.

All Yarn Bombing for the project must be orange.

 

We believe  in 2023 and 2024 this will become a major part of the 16 Days of Activism.  We have made a start on knitting but would really welcome and assistance and encourage other organisations to get knitting.

 

If you choose to join us in the Street Art Project there will be some  rules around protecting the trees and OH&S requirements.  If you have trees or light poles on private land then you can go ahead and do them as you please, but if they are on public land, ie footpaths or in parks we would ask that you get in touch and let us know what you would like to do.

We need to keep COGG informed and on side so next year we can expand the Street Art theme even more. There will be lots of questions about this project, ie how big are the bands – good questions – How big are the trees or post you want to decorate? SO don’t expect that I will have all the answers at my finger tips,  we might all have to do a little research.

 

We are looking at how to get the word out about what the orange bands are for, we might need some laminated signs or QR codes but still lots of planning to do.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

 

If anyone has a budget that would support the Yarn Bombing or if you think there is a sponsor you could approach, please do so as we are not able to financially support the Yarn Bombing or any great extend and are relying on donations

 

  

Chris Denmead

Zonta Club of Geelong

zontaclubgeelong@yahoo.com.au