2026 WARRNAMBOOL 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM - WALK AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

The Orange Door, in partnership with local organisations working to end gender-based violence, invite you to join us for the Warrnambool Walk Against Gender-based violence.

In Victoria, this annual walk is an important event during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence – a global campaign calling for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

This years theme is “UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls: Ensure justice, protect survivors, end impunity.” By joining the Walk, you’ll take a stand against family violence and violence against women, showing solidarity with people who have experienced violence.

The event will begin at James Swan Reserve, where community members will gather before walking together through central Warrnambool, before concluding at the Lighthouse Theatre.

Following the walk, attendees are invited to the Lighthouse Theatre for light refreshments and a special guest presentation from Sherele Moody. The event will also feature a moderated panel discussion with local family and sexual violence advocates, with an opportunity for audience questions.

Come along to walk, listen, learn and stand with our community as we work together to ensure justice, protect survivors and end gender-based violence.

Timeline

11:45am: Walkers are invited to gather at James Swan Reserve for a 12:00pm star, where there will be a Welcome to Country and information about the day

12:30pm: The walk will commence

1:00pm: Arrive at the Lighthouse Theatre for light refreshments

1:10pm: Guest Speaker and panel event commences

2:15pm: Event close.

We’d love you to join us for as much of the event as you can. Places for the guest speaker and panel event are limited, so please choose your preferred ticket option when registering. Once the guest speaker and panel discussion session is fully booked, Walk Only tickets will remain available but will not include entry to the speaker and panel event.

Guest Speaker bio

We are thrilled to be welcoming Sherele Moody as the guest speaker for our event this year.

Sherele Moody is an award-winning social justice journalist, femicide and child death researcher, podcaster and the founder of Australian Femicide Watch and The RED HEART Movement.

Sherele is an outspoken and popular voice on violence against women and children, with her social media posts on gendered violence reaching an average of 10 million views each month.  

Sherele has been documenting the killing of women and children and providing support for families of femicide since 2015. All of Sherele work is dedicated to the memories of Stacey-Ann Tracy and Sandra Dorothy Bacon, the two little girls murdered by her stepfather.

Sherele operates the world's only Memorial to Women and Children Lost to Violence and provides Australia's most comprehensive and up-to-date count of femicides and child deaths. Her femicide and child death count is regularly platformed and referenced by journalists, policy-makers and politicians.

Her journalism and research have been recognised with multiple major awards, including the 2023 Women’s Leadership in Media Award (June Andrews Awards, Walkleys), B&T Women in Media Journalist of the Year, Social Change Maker, Society of Publishers in Asia Opinion Writer of the Year, multiple Clarion Awards for Journalism Excellence, the Mitchell Ferrario Compassion in Media Award, and Walkley Our Watch Awards for exemplary reporting on violence against women.

This event is proudly brought to you by local partner organisations working to end gender-based violence.

• The Orange Door

• Warrnambool City Council

• The Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre

• The Wimmera and South West Family Violence Partnership

• Women's Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West

• Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative Limited

• South West TAFE

• Wannon Water

• Brophy

• Mpower

• Southwestern Centre Against Sexual Assauklt.

With thanks to funding recieved from Respect Victoria's 16 Days of Activism Grassroots Iniative.