www.awnw.com.au
Issue #291 – Wednesday, 22 July, 2015
Albury Wodonga’s largest circulating newspaper
Courage in every line The legacy of Albury’s Victoria Cross recipient Lieutenant Albert Borella has been immortalised in a book written by his cousin Bradley A. Chalmers. FOR THE FULL STORY STORY SEE PAGE 4
Safe house By ERIN SOMERVILLE OVER 200 local victims of domestic violence were contacted by staff from Betty’s Place in the first six months of this year. This figure is from police referrals alone. About a further 60 victims have knocked on the door of Betty’s Place in their darkest hour in need of crisis accommodation and support. Often, these women come with families. In four of the cases, it’s been male partners in need of help to escape from domestic violence. It is a scourge that has left the team at Betty’s Place struggling to keep up with demand for its services. The program is funded through YES Youth and Family Services and provides safe, supportive accommodation for women and children escaping domestic violence, as well as supportive and referral services. Some stay for a night. Others have stayed up to eight or nine months. But despite the campaigns and awareness beginning to emerge over domestic violence, the door of Betty’s Place is being knocked on more than ever before. With only four units currently available to shelter women and families escaping violence, the service often has to turn people away and instead find them alternative safe accommodation options with friends, family, or in hotels or caravans. The hundreds of women who Betty’s Place work with come from all walks of life. They can be as young as 17, have a family, or even have just found the courage to leave a 50-year-old relationship. “It affects absolutely everyone,” YES Youth and Family Services Program manager of the adults and
Alexandra Paras and Cassie Sandow stand in a room at Betty’s Place that they hope will be converted into a unit for crisis support. 141846 Picture: ERIN SOMERVILLE family team Cassie Sandow said. “There is not enough funding. “We can always do with more money and always do with more resources.” The dream at Betty’s Place now is to have the complex restructured to double the number of units available
and provide more crisis accommodation for more victims. It’s a simple goal yet one that requires a lot of red tape and funds. The Border Association of House Medical Officers is hosting a fundraiser ball to help Betty’s Place achieve some of those goals.
“Doctors see a lot of patients in hospital as a result of domestic violence, it’s in their face and something they see so often,” said Alexandra Paras, who is working with BAHMO to raise funds. “It’s about wanting to get to the root of the problem, it’s all well and good to see a patient who has suffered from
domestic violence, but at the end of the day it’s a band-aid solution.” The fund-raising ball will be held on Saturday 25 July, at the Albury Entertainment Centre. For information on a great night out for a good cause visit https://bettysball2015.yapsody.com/
1192502-KC30-15