#COMMUNITYMAKESADIFFERENCE. CREATING A FUTURE WHERE WOMEN AND CHILDREN LIVE FREE FROM VIOLENCE.
Queries: Contact Ruth Stuettgen 0432 441 146
Let’s stand together and #ChangeTheStory for Women and Girls to live a Life Free from violence.
Guest Speakers:
Chandana
Chandana is a member of the Three Sides of the Coin (3SoC) theatre project. Coming from a non-gambling culture, Chandana endured many hurdles upon her arrival in Australia – including her husband’s battle with alcohol and gambling. Her friendship circle didn’t understand, instead she was blamed for all the problems, and left isolated and insecure. After years of healing, she gained the courage and determination to share her story in public. Chandana hopes her story will inspire others to seek help and speak up about the harms of gambling.
3SOC raises general community awareness about gambling harm, disrupts the normalisation of gambling, reduces stigma, humanizes the people behind the addiction, highlights the links with family violence, and frames gambling as a public health issue. https://threesidesofthecoin.org.au/
We are using Chandana’s first name only in solidarity with the tens of thousands of people who, because of the stigma associated with gambling addiction, cannot speak out.
Kay Morgan
Detective Senior Sergeant Kay Morgan is the Work Unit Manager at the Somerville Family Violence Investigation Unit.
With nearly 25 years of service in Victoria Police, she has dedicated her career to investigating crimes against women and children. Kay is deeply committed to supporting victim-survivors and ensuring offenders are held accountable for their actions.
Despi O’Connor
Despi is a Board member of Moonah House, and former Mayor and Councillor at the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Movement, a Master’s in Education (Research) and a Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary). Her career has focused on the disciplines of education and recreation (Aquatic and Community recreation - Life Saving and Basketball).
We know that 1 Australian woman is killed by her current or former partner every week, and that 1 in 3 women has experienced physical and/or sexual violence, 95% of cases at the hands of men. Stopping the violence starts with opening up conversations and creating time for reflection. It calls us all to stand up and call out attitudes, stereotypes and behaviours that lead to violence. Enough is enough.
Event Organiser:
Ruth Stuettgen
Executive Leadership Team Member and Chair of Pastoral Care at Mt Martha Uniting Church, past Policewoman and Teacher. As Coach, Speaker and Hypnotherapist, she organises women’s empowerment events. A mum of 3 adults, Ruth is a Domestic Violence Survivor. Knowing all too well the trauma surrounding abuse, she decided ‘Enough is Enough’ as she stepped into a more positive future after 23 years of marriage.
It’s her mission to shine a light on this prevalent global issue, working towards ending it. Organising the 2025 White Ribbon Day event together with Mt Martha Uniting, does just that. Ruth’s publication From Misery to Mastery - Journey to Freedom and Empowerment includes her experiences with family violence and self-help strategies for Women who are or have been subject to abuse.
With the blessing of Reverend Peter Wiltshire
Minister of Mt.Martha Uniting Church. His professional career includes teaching and educational research. His pastoral ministry specialises in the development of the whole person, the recovery of the True Self and importantly, inclusive Faith community development. His academic interest includes Ethical Inquiry, Personality Development, Spiritual Formation, Pastoral Care, Soul of Leadership and Christian Meditation. Peter is married to Julie, together they have four adult children and seven grandchildren.
Peter has a strong commitment to social justice and local community service and is especially supportive of the vision and mission of White Ribbon Day. He wishes to extend the reach of White Ribbon day and its education programs against men’s violence toward women and children on the Mornington Peninsula.
