TODAY
19o
Possible thunderstorm
20o 18o 19o TUE
WED
THURS
www.wangarattachronicle.com.au
Monday, December 12, 2022
Phone (03) 5723 0100
TRIUMPHANT RETURN FOR LION’S CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT
$1.50 INC. GST
Plan for childcare, medical centres
THERE was no shortage of Christmas cheer at the Wangaratta Lions Club Carols by Candlelight in the grounds of the Holy Trinity Cathedral on Saturday night. A huge crowd, including Wangaratta siblings Zoe, Billy and Lola Flynn, enjoyed the return of the family festivities after several years absence due to the COVID pandemic. Story page 2. PHOTO: Jeff Zeuschner
Page 3
Great day at the races
Page 3
Bella wins gold
Family concern Sport
Police P li iissue warning i g ahead h d off expected p t d iincrease iin Ch Christmas i t d domestic ti violence i l POLICE have issued a stern warning to Wangaratta and district residents, ahead of an anticipated spike in family violence offences throughout the Christmas period. A police spokesperson said despite a drop in incidents locally, officers often saw a rise in family violence rates around the holiday period.
EVERYTHIN G MUST GO!
BY RYAN MALCOLM rmalcolm@ nemedia.com.au
In four out of the last five years, December and January have been the two busiest months for family violence referrals made by victim services.
“Police continue to see a spike in family violence incidents during the end of the year, with clear increases on Christmas and New Year’s Day,” the spokesperson said. “Everyone has a role to play to prevent and end family violence – taking action just might be the difference between a terrible
situation and a tragedy. “Family violence mostly happens in the home, behind closed doors – perpetrators are skilled at showing respectability or normalising conflict, and victims are kept silent by shame and fear. “But sometimes our closest family and friends will get up to see and hear some
of what is really going on, of what is really happening behind that veneer of the normal ups and downs of a relationship. “Police are often asked what should we do if we know family violence is happening to someone we care about? “Our response is this: ‘if something doesn’t feel right,
CLOSING DOWN SALE TOTAL STOCK CLEARANCE ALL STOCK MUST GO
LIDGERWOOD’S FURNITURE &
don’t ignore it, don’t look the other way, don’t make excuses, don’t be a bystander.’” Data released by Crime Statistics Victoria last week indicated a slight drop in family violence incidents in the rural city last financial year, following a dramatic rise throughout the COVID–19 pandemic. ■ Continued page 2
RETIR NG AFTEIR 23 YEARS
Monday - Friday: 9AM - 5.30PM Saturday: 9AM - NOON Sunday: CLOSED 5721 6565 40-46 Norton St, Wangaratta (Opposite the Railway Station)