Domestic violence survivor and international speaker Simone O’Brien will visit Kyogle next month for a series of free community events, including the official opening of the Salt: Bearing Witness exhibition at Roxy Gallery.
The events are a warm-up to this year’s 16 Days of Activism. They are part of a town-wide program to end domestic violence against women and children, run with Roxy Gallery, the Kyogle Anti-Violence Alliance and WDVCAS. Kyogle Council has funded Ms O’Brien’s visit and contributed a small amount to the exhibition.
In 2012, Ms O’Brien survived a violent attack that left her with lasting injuries. She now shares her story to raise awareness of domestic violence, help people recognise the warning signs and champion non-violence.
“Any Little Red Flag is A Big Flag Coming to town. I want to turn the stigma of Domestic and Family Violence into a positive by helping each other in this crisis of DVFV. Letting the community know that you’re not alone in this space,” said Ms O’Brien.
Ms O’Brien will first appear at an open public forum upstairs at Roxy Gallery on Friday, 13 November, from 2pm to 3pm. Kylie McKenzie from WDVCAS will act as MC and speak with Ms O’Brien in conversation, followed by a question and answer session.
On Saturday, 14 November, Ms O’Brien will speak at a Sporting Clubs Breakfast and Open Public Forum at Kyogle Sports Club (Bowling Club), from 8am to 9am. David Kerley will act as MC and lead the conversation, with questions from the audience to follow.
All of the events are free.
Later on Friday, 13 November, Roxy Gallery will host Survived to Thrive, the official opening of Salt: Bearing Witness. The event starts at 6pm.
The exhibition is by Kyogle photographer Jodie Harris of 6 Acre Studios. It explores the long-term mental health impacts of domestic violence on women and children. The images were shot on a western Victorian salt lake.
Salt: Bearing Witness shows at Roxy Gallery from Saturday, 14 November to Sunday, 3 January 2027. It is part of the Head On Photo Festival Open Program.
Ms Harris has also invited locals to take part through a project called Dear Survivor. Community members can write letters, poems or single words of support for survivors, to be shown alongside her photographs.
“Domestic violence is not an issue that exists in isolation. It was really important to me that the work involved community input and was not just about a community issue,” said Ms Harris.
She said Ms O’Brien’s visit would add to the exhibition.
“The reason this body of work exists is a testament to the power of creativity and storytelling in healing. Having Simone make the trip up to our small regional town, bringing with her the immense power of her own lived experience, moves the images off the wall and into an immersive community conversation,” said Ms Harris.
Information about support services will be available throughout the exhibition.
Ms Harris will also lead an artist talk at Roxy Gallery on Friday, 4 December. Doors open at 5pm for a 6pm start. The talk will look at photographic process and the power of storytelling in healing.
More information about the exhibition is available at https://www.6acrestudios.com/ and about Ms O’Brien at www.simoneobrien.com.au.
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