Mansfield Shire steps up against family violence

The Mansfield Rotary Club is calling on the community to once again come together for an important show of support during Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month. 

The Mansfield Shire Steps Up Against Family Violence Walk will take place on Friday 1 May 2026 and the entire community is encouraged to participate. A free community BBQ will follow the walk, giving participants the opportunity to connect, reflect and continue conversations about creating safer and more respectful communities. 

Building on the momentum of previous community events, including the successful 16 Days of Activism Walk, the May event aims to keep the conversation going and reinforce that everyone has a role to play in prevention. 

Throughout the month of May, Mansfield will also show its support of the important cause by lighting the main roundabout in purple and displaying purple flags across the township, helping raise awareness and spark community conversations around prevention. 

Purple event T-shirts, funded by Social Inclusion Action Group (SIAG), will be available for purchase, with proceeds going toward training for local high school teachers to deliver the Love Bites respectful relationships education program for young people. 

Mayor Cr Steve Rabie would like to see the momentum from previous events translate into strong numbers of participation in the 2026 event. 

“Council is grateful for the work that Mansfield Rotary Club put into creating awareness during Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month - it’s an important cause,” he said. 

“Let’s come together to send a message, there is no room in our community for domestic and family violence.” 

Mansfield Rotary Club said the event is open to everyone and encourages people of all ages to take part. 

“This walk is about standing together as a community and sending a clear message that family violence is never acceptable. By supporting programs such as Love Bites, we are also investing in prevention through education,” Robyn Bassanelli, Community Service Officer for Rotary, said. 

As part of the campaign, Rotary Mansfield President Stephanie Hart will join Marg Attley on Radio Mansfield on the morning of Wednesday 29 May to discuss the Say No to Domestic Violence campaign and the importance of ongoing community action. 

Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month is held each May to raise awareness, support victim survivors and encourage communities to act through education, early intervention and respectful relationships. 

The walk will begin at 5.00pm, with participants asked to assemble on the median strip near IGA. Walkers will travel up and down the median strip in a visible demonstration of Mansfield’s commitment to ending family violence and promoting respectful relationships. 

Residents, families, schools, businesses and community groups are warmly invited to attend.