Unveiling Australia's Troubling Trend: 5 Fatalities in a 10-Day Spree
Shocking and distressing, Australia is grappling with the tragic murder of five women in just 10 days This alarming pattern demands urgent attention and a comprehensive national plan to tackle the underlying problem
Manuela Whitford expressed feeling "numb" due to the recent murders of five women in Australia, committed allegedly by men they were acquainted with. She believes society has become desensitized to such incidents, but at the same time, she takes comfort in knowing that she is making a positive impact by aiding those in need.
Whitford, the founder of Friends with Dignity, is a Brisbane-based philanthropic organization that assists families escaping domestic violence by providing essential items for their temporary living arrangements, allowing them to feel more secure and comfortable. Typically, these families, primarily consisting of mothers with children, leave their abusive homes with minimal belongings, burdened by fear and uncertainty regarding their future and ability to adapt.
"They are incredibly isolated. After years of conditioning, people are made to believe that they are not worthy, that they lack value," Whitford expressed, situated in the charity's warehouse situated in the southern region of Brisbane.
Located discreetly in an industrial park, the warehouse is filled with an abundance of household items, crates full of toys, and clean and neatly stacked mattresses, all set to be transported to apartments that have been arranged by welfare agencies.
The donations are expected to save lives, but it is the women who have been unable to flee from allegedly abusive men that have garnered attention in Australia lately. Among the victims of the past 10 days are a 21-year-old water polo coach, who was allegedly killed by her ex-partner, and a 65-year-old woman, whose husband has been accused of her murder.
5 dead women
The current count of these incidents stands at 43 this year on a national level, as reported by Counting Dead Women. This research initiative was launched by the feminist organization Destroy the Joint, which derives its name from an offensive remark made in 2012 by an Australian shock jock who accused female leaders of "destroying the joint."
The family members of Alice McShera, a 34-year-old lawyer, contacted the security staff at the Crown Towers hotel in Perth, Western Australia on Monday to report a potential murder.
Alice McShera was found dead in a hotel room in Perth.
Alice McShera/Facebook
WA Police Inspector Geoff DeSanges informed reporters on Tuesday that McShera's body was discovered after a room was searched. Additionally, a 42-year-old man, who was also present in the room and had potential self-inflicted injuries, was subsequently arrested and charged with murder.
According to Victoria Police, on the previous Sunday, Analyn Osias, commonly referred to as Logee, sustained fatal injuries in a residence located in Kangaroo Flats. Subsequently, a 44-year-old man was arrested and charged with murder.
Days prior, New South Wales Police reported that Lilie James, a 21-year-old water polo coach, was found deceased in the gym restroom of a private school in Sydney, her body showing signs of head injuries. Shortly after, the lifeless body of her former partner, a 24-year-old individual, was discovered near the base of a cliff, suspected to have taken his own life.
In a separate incident during the same week, ACT Policing revealed that Thi Thuy Huong Nguyen, a 65-year-old resident of Canberra, was found in her kitchen with multiple stab wounds. Following the discovery, authorities apprehended her 70-year-old spouse, who also sustained injuries. The husband appeared in court, facing a charge of murder while receiving medical treatment from his hospital bed.
Two days prior, 38-year-old Krystal Marshall's lifeless body was found among the burnt wreckage of her residence following a devastating house fire in South Australia, revealed SA Police. Subsequently, a 48-year-old man was apprehended and accused of the heinous crime.
Krystal Marshall, Analyn 'Logee' Osias, and Lilie James.
Since the establishment of Counting Dead Women in 2012, the annual number of women killed by violence in Australia has varied from 43 to 84.
Whitford initiated Friends with Dignity from her garage in that very year. Ever since, she has observed a shift in attitudes towards domestic violence, including from the police.
"It involves believing, actively listening to the victim," she conveyed.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reported a decline in the percentage of Australian women who experienced domestic violence from a partner in the last year, dropping from 1.7% in 2016 to 0.9% in 2021-22. Nevertheless, the latest National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women Survey (NCAS) conducted in 2021 revealed that 23% of the respondents perceive domestic violence as a typical response to daily stress.
And 91% believed violence against women was a problem in Australia.
A national plan
Numerous pleas for assistance have been directed towards the government, which introduced its National Plan to Combat Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 last year.
In August, the First Action Plan for 2023-2027 was unveiled, with the highest priority being the promotion of gender equality.
According to the United Nations, although Australia is a modern and prosperous nation, it still harbors sexist attitudes. Women in Australia tend to bear a larger share of unpaid domestic work and earn less than men throughout their lifetimes. Men continue to dominate boardrooms, positions of power, and the Parliament. Notably, Australia has only had one female prime minister, Julia Gillard, whose powerful speech on misogyny has gained millions of views on social media.
A recent survey conducted in 2022 by the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, currently chaired by Gillard, revealed that Australian men have a higher tolerance for misogynistic comments on the internet compared to the global average.
Former professional kickboxer and social media influencer Andrew Tate, along with his brother Tristan, were photographed walking alongside journalists after appearing before a judge to request an extension of their house arrest in Bucharest, Romania on May 19, 2023. The Tate brothers were initially arrested on December 29, 2022, following an investigation by the DIICOT on charges related to human trafficking and the intention to establish an organized crime group. Romanian authorities claimed that Andrew, Tristan, and their accomplices coerced individuals into participating in a paid pornography service for social media platforms. On March 31, 2023, the Tate brothers and their associates were relocated from police custody to house arrest, which took effect immediately. The photograph captures the moment of the Tate brothers' court appearance in Bucharest, Romania, on May 19, 2023.
Andrew Tate presents himself as a positive influencer, while critics argue that he promotes a misogynistic culture that normalizes rape.
The Initial Action Plan allocates a budget of 3.5 million Australian dollars (equivalent to $2.24 million) to implement the healthy masculinities project over a three-year period. This initiative aims to explore effective strategies for combating detrimental messages directed at men and boys through social media.
The government press release does not mention his name, but experts refer to Andrew Tate as an example. He identifies himself as a misogynistic internet influencer and currently awaits trial in Romania for human trafficking and rape charges.
Andrew Lines has dedicated over 20 years to combating the harmful and misogynistic messaging propagated by Tate. Through "The Rite Journey," a program implemented in schools across Australia, New Zealand, and beyond, Lines aims to educate students on finding positive role models.
He mentions that it is becoming increasingly difficult to counteract the negative content that children are encountering on their online platforms, ranging from abusive and disrespectful comments to easily accessible explicit material.
Lines stated, "The harmful language that they come across is something I would never have been exposed to during my childhood. It does not necessarily have to be a provocative post. There are numerous threads where one can find hateful and judgmental remarks."
Many men today are actively involved in fatherhood, unlike previous generations. However, with changing family dynamics, parents now have less time to spend with their children. Conversely, excessive parental involvement, known as overparenting, can also lead to its own set of problems.
He expressed concern that if children do not learn how to cope with failure and rejection during minor incidents in their childhood, it may become problematic when they face more significant challenges.
However, state authorities are taking measures to enhance their responses to domestic violence in the meantime.
In July, the country's first Domestic and Family Violence Registry was introduced by NSW Police to document repeat offenders. Last week, the WA government expressed its desire to implement electronic tagging for a greater number of perpetrators.
Manuela Whitford, founder and CEO of Friends with Dignity at the charity's warehouse in Brisbane, November 2, 2023.
Hilary Whiteman/CNN
People like Whitford from Friends with Dignity will continue to provide support to those affected until substantial change is achieved. Every Tuesday, volunteers congregate at the charity's warehouse to create personal care kits and fulfill orders from agencies for individuals in need. Moreover, businesses are actively participating by organizing staff outings as part of their social responsibility initiatives.
Due to a housing shortage, there are limited apartments for the charity to furnish. Therefore, they are providing a greater supply of essential items to support women who are unable to leave abusive households. Whitford emphasizes the need for community unity in order to prevent an increase in the number of women becoming victims of domestic violence.
"A lot of people dont ask you if youre okay, because they dont know what to do with the answer," she said. "So, get educated, find out what resources are in your area."
