2022 Red Bench Relay
Show your council’s commitment to DFV (domestic and family violence) awareness by hosting a ‘Walk Against Violence’ in your community.
Following last year’s successful events, the LGAQ is again inviting councils to show their commitment to raising awareness of DFV during the 16 Days of Activism between 25 November and 10 December.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is the United Nations’ annual international campaign, started in 1991 by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute, and coordinated each year in the efforts to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls.
The details
Councils are encouraged to host a DFV awareness – Walk Against Violence and/or ‘Red Bench Relay’ event – anytime between 25 November and 10 December, to raise awareness of gender-based violence against women.
Simply host a short walk (1-5km) within your community, or councils with red benches can go ‘out and back’ or from one red bench to another.
Helpful assets
The LGAQ has developed assets to help you arrange your event, including a flyer, social media graphics and other content. Click here to download the files.
Red Bench Relay 2021
Click here to read about the 2021 Red Bench Relay.

Background
The Red Bench Relay is an LGAQ initiative that is supported by the Red Rose Foundation, which launched the Red Bench Project in 2019 as a permanent reminder that domestic violence occurs within all our communities. There are now more than 227 red benches throughout Queensland, with many more on the way.
For further information, please contact the LGAQ’s Domestic & Family Violence Project Officer, Ellen Ross, via email or phone 07 3000 2229.
2022 Alison Woolla Memorial Award for Local Leadership in Preventing Domestic and Family Violence
Alison Woolla Memorial Award for local leadership in preventing domestic and family violence honours Alison Woolla, the pioneering former Aurukun Shire Council Mayor, a trailblazer who provided remarkable leadership and support for members of her community when they were experiencing abuse.
The award was launched by the LGAQ in 2020 to recognise an outstanding individual following in Alison Woolla’s footsteps and making a significant contribution to raising awareness and prevention of domestic and family violence in Queensland’s local communities.
Kellie Bowie, a long-term Townsville community member who opened her home to the LGBTIQ+ community for emergency housing has been named the winner of the 2022 Alison Woolla Memorial Award.

Not in our Backyard – stop abuse at the start: local government’s new Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) campaign
The LGAQ is encouraging Queensland’s 77 Mayors to support the new DFV campaign: “Not in our Backyard – stop abuse at the start.”
The LGAQ created the campaign to help embed cultural change in local government workplaces and communities in response to the report, Not Now Not Ever: Putting an end to domestic and family violence in Queensland, which confirmed the importance of all government spheres acting if DFV is to be truly addressed.
Mayoral support for this campaign will reinforce the local government sector’s commitment to addressing this insidious problem that affects so many Queenslanders and demonstrating how change can be led from the top down.
Mayors were asked to capture a picture or record a short video of themselves with a pledge sign indicating their support for the campaign. These pledges will feature on this page, along with the LGAQ and councils’ social media platforms.
Support for this vital campaign will help send a strong message to the community that domestic violence will not be tolerated, and that local government is committed to supporting efforts to eradicate it.
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Mayor Mark Jamieson
Sunshine Coast Regional Council
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner
Deputy Mayor Krista Adams
Brisbane City Council
Mayor Keri Tamwoy
Aurukun Shire Council
Mayor Les Hotz
North Burnett Regional Council
Mayor Tom Tate
City of Gold Coast
Mayor Jack Bawden
Carpentaria Shire Council
Mayor Kyle Yanner
Mornington Shire Council
Mayor Robbie Dare
Diamantina Shire Council
Mayor Tony Rayner
Longreach Regional Council
Mayor John Ferguson
Bulloo Shire Council
Mayor Tyson Golder
Maranoa Regional Council
Mayor Andrew Martin
Blackall-Tambo Regional Council
Mayor Kerry Hayes
Central Highlands Regional Council
Mayor John Wharton
Richmond Shire Council
Mayor Eric Britton
Boulia Shire Council
Mayor Trevor Pickering
Croydon Shire Council
Mayor Jason Woibo
Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council
Mayor Mark Nolan
Cassowary Coast Regional Council
Mayor Matt Burnett
Gladstone Regional Council
Mayor Jenny Hill
Townsville City Council
Mayor Clare Stewart
Noosa Shire Council
Mayor Brett Otto
South Burnett Regional Council
Mayor Angela Toppin
Mareeba Shire Council
Mayor Robert Sands
Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council
Mayor Janita Motton
Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council
Mayor Vonda Malone
Torres Shire Council
Mayor Mislam Sam
Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council
Mayor Elvie Sandow
Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council
Mayor Ross Andrews
Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council
(Left) Mayor Glen Hartwig
Gympie Regional Council
(Right) Mayor Jack Dempsey
Bundaberg Regional Council
Mayor Michael Kerr
Douglas Shire Council
Mayor Nev Ferrier
Banana Shire Council
Mayor Sean Dillon
Barcaldine Regional Council
Mayor Danielle Slade
Mount Isa City Council
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Hon Steven Miles
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning
Mayor Sally O'Neil
Barcoo Shire Council
Mayor Paul Antonio
Toowoomba Regional Council
Mayor Lynette McLaughlin
Burdekin Shire Council
Mayor Phillip Curr
McKinlay Shire Council
Mayor Richard Tarpencha
Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council
Mayor Bob Manning OAM
Cairns Regional Council
Mayor Jason Ned
Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council
Mayor Ernie Camp
Burke Shire Council
Mayor Barry Hughes
Etheridge Shire Council
Mayor Greg Campbell
Cloncurry Shire Council
Mayor Ramon Jayo
Hinchinbrook Shire Council
Mayor Frank Beveridge
Charters Towers Regional Council
Mayor Andrew Willcox
Whitsunday Regional Council
Mayor Andy Ireland
Livingstone Shire Council
Mayor Jane McNamara
Flinders Shire Council
Mayor Wayne Butcher
Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council
Mayor Teresa Harding
Ipswich City Council
with Cr Kate Kunzelmann
Mayor Tanya Milligan
Lockyer Valley Regional Council
Mayor Aileen Addo
Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council
Mayor Patricia Yusia
Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council
Mayor Suzette Beresford
Paroo Shire Council
Mayor Stuart Mackenzie
Quilpie Shire Council
Mayor Karen Williams
Redland City Council
Mayor Tony Williams
Rockhampton Regional Council
Mayor Graeme Lehmann
Somerset Regional Council
Mayor Vic Pennisi
Southern Downs Regional Council
Mayor Phillemon Mosby
Torres Strait Island Regional Council
Mayor Joshua Weazel
Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council
Mayor Bradley Creek
Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council
Mayor Sam O'Toole
Balonne Shire Council
Mayor Shaun Radnedge
Murweh Shire Council
Michael Rowland
Weipa Town Authority
Mayor Rod Marti
Tablelands Regional Council