Candlelight Vigil
On Thursday 10th February 2022, the Parramatta Cumberland Family and Domestic Violence Prevention Committee (The Committee) held a Candlelight Vigil, to honour the women and children who had recently lost their lives due to domestic and family violence.
The Candlelight Vigil, with support from the City of Parramatta Council and Cumberland City Council, was held in Centenary Square, out the front of Parramatta Town Hall. Members of the community were asked to bring their own candles to light in memory of the lives recently lost, as we took a stand together against domestic and family violence.
From January to March 2022, 9 women in Australia had been killed in an act of violence, at the hands of someone who claimed to love them. Most recently, 19 year old Armina Hayat, who lived in the Parramatta Community, was tragically killed on the 30th January, allegedly by her husband.
In what has been a deeply sad time for the local community, and DV related services operating within the Parramatta and Cumberland LGAs, The Committee felt extremely privileged to organise this vigil, that allowed community members to come together and take a stand against domestic and family violence.
The Committee would like to extend a word of thanks to all that were involved in the vigil,
Heba K, our MC for the evening, who is a Multicultural Liaison Officer from the Cumberland Police Area Command
Uncle Chris Tobin, who presented the Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony.
Stephanie from Hope Connect who presented a prayer at the start of the vigil
Lord Mayor Donna Davis who addressed the community
Superintendent Julie Boon, Parramatta Police Area Command, who addressed the community
Lord Mayor of Cumberland, Clr Lisa Lake, who addressed the community
Maria K, Anti violence Caseworker at Cumberland Women’s Health Centre, who addressed the community
Julia Finn MP, who addressed the community
We would also like to thank Geoff Lee MP, Parramatta Women's Shelter and all Paramatta and Cumberland councillors for their attendance at the vigil.
The Committee would like to extend its deepest appreciation to both City of Parramatta and Cumberland City Council as well as officers from Parramatta and Cumberland Police Area Command for their support and participation at the vigil.
Lastly, we again would like to extend our deepest condolences to Armina Hayat’s family, friends and classmates who joined us at the vigil. We are honoured to have been able to provide you all a safe space to honour the memory of your loved one, and hope that the support and comfort demonstrated by your local community members gives you strength during this incredibly challenging time.
Violence against women IS preventable, and in order to break the cycle of violence, funding towards primary prevention services and choosing to challenge the social context in which violence is facilitated is crucial. One life lost to violence is one too many.
