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GIPPSLAND Women's Health (GHW) and Scarlet & Grace are collaborating to stop violence against women in Gippsland for Candlelight Vigil 2022. From now until the Candlelight Vigil on May 5 2022, 10 per cent of proceeds from every sale of the limited-edition Lotus Flower 340g candle will go towards the prevention of violence against women in Gippsland. The annual Candlelight Vigil is a national day to bring people together to remember and honour the women and children who have died as a result of family and domestic violence. Gippsland Women’s Health communications manager Sam Foat said the annual Candlelight Vigil is a good way to remind people about the numbers of deaths that happen locally. “The vigil is a peaceful moment of reflection, and our collaboration with a local brand and business (Scarlet & Grace) is a first for us, to make sure that people are reminded about the event,” Ms Foat said. Gippsland has some of the highest rates of family violence, intimate partner violence, rape and indecent assault in Victoria. “On average, one women a week is murdered by her current or former partner in Australia. More than 50 per cent of our region including East Gippsland, Wellington, Latrobe and Bass Coast are four of the most dangerous locations in Victoria for women and girls to live,” Gippsland Women’s Health chief executive officer Kate Graham said. “In several areas in Gippsland, a woman is 26 per cent more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted than if she lived in other areas of Victoria”. Scarlet & Grace co-founder Ryan Clancy said the reception to the candles had been positive since they launched on International Women’s Day on March 8. “It’s been growing, everyone wants to help support the cause as best they can, and in return for their support they’re also getting a candle,” Mr Clancy said. “It’s a great way to remind them what they’ve got behind, and they tell me they love the design and the product.” Elli Quirk of Elle's Quirky Designs assisted in the development of the limited-edition candle and said it deliberately picked the lotus scent for the candle. “The meaning behind the lotus is reemerging out of darkness and resilience, which fits in with the women in our community coming out of violent situations having to rebuild their lives, so there’s a sentimental meaning behind it as well. It’d be amazing to see these candles at the vigil,” she said. The GWH x Scarlet & Grace limited-edition candle can be purchased online at scarletand grace.com.au, or visit www.gwhealth.asn.au/ donate/ to make a donation. Below are the locations that will light up in purple for the vigil on May 5, with GHW in negotiations to organise more: Clocktower, Raymond Street, Sale, The Wedge, Sale and the Rotunda, Johnson Street, Maffra.

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