A candlelight vigil at West Gippsland Arts Centre on Wednesday night was a solemn reminder of the women and children who had lost their lives to family violence.
With the arts centre illuminated purple for the annual vigil, a group of community members as well as family and friends touched by family violence came together for a moving ceremony led by Baw Baw Shire mayor Annemarie McCabe.
She said lighting up the arts centre was a visual representation of the tragic loss of lives to family violence as well as the lasting impacts on family, friends and the community.
"It's also about raising awareness because sadly Gippsland has one of the highest rates of family violence in Victoria and that presents a significant ongoing risk to women and children in our community.
"We need to work together to challenge the actions and behaviours in our community in a move towards creating a safer community," she said.