“US Without Abuse” unites Fitzroy Valley in powerful community-led stand
On Monday 5 May, the Fitzroy Valley community came together in a powerful show of unity to launch US WITHOUT ABUSE – a grassroots campaign challenging family violence and elder abuse across the Kimberley.
Co-developed by Kimberley Community Legal Services and Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre, and created and produced by AT Creative and Wunan Media, the US WITHOUT ABUSE campaign aims to challenge harmful behaviours, promote accountability, and empower individuals to take a stand. The campaign has already built strong regional recognition through six months of radio, television, digital, and community-based messaging—delivered by local voices and grounded in lived experience.
The Fitzroy Crossing launch marked a major milestone, with the whole-of-town event jointly coordinated by Marnin, KCLS, and Legal Aid WA to bring the campaign directly to the community.
The day began with a community march led by Gurama Yani U (Fitzroy Men’s Shed), followed by a large gathering at the town oval. There, around 400 people came together to share food, hear live performances from local artists including Olive Knight, Ethan Hoade, and Andrew Shandley, and take part in a range of healing-focused activities designed to spark expression, conversation, and connection.
Among these were three community art stations—spaces where Elders, children and families could reflect on what life looks like without abuse and express those hopes through painting. As many Elders have reminded us, violence is not part of our culture. Creating space for emotional expression is not just important—it’s essential to building the future we all want to see.
“This is not just a message—it’s a movement,” said Emily Carter AM, CEO of Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre. “A call for accountability, healing and action. In the Fitzroy Valley, we don’t wait for solutions—we lead them.”
Christine Robinson, CEO of Kimberley Community Legal Services, added: “We are excited to be joining local communities and organisations to bring the campaign face to face with people across the region. Being recognised in the upcoming Community Service Excellence Awards would be a brilliant way to amplify this powerful campaign and continue making a meaningful impact on such a vital issue.”
“It was powerful and moving to see the people of Fitzroy Crossing come together for the US WITHOUT ABUSE community day and march,” said Troy Zafer, Wunan Foundation Director and Wunan Media Producer. “In a place where abuse has caused so much pain, having 400 people take a stand was nothing short of extraordinary.”
Andrew Tinning, Creative Director of AT Creative, said: “I’m deeply proud to have helped create this platform—one that gives voice to the people of the Kimberley and beyond, calling out the scourge of physical, mental and Elder abuse that continues to harm our communities. Enough is enough. Change starts with US.”
The event also featured powerful speeches from local leaders including Emily Carter and Peter Murray, urging collective responsibility to end family violence and support safe, thriving families across the Fitzroy Valley and beyond.
The US WITHOUT ABUSE campaign has been nominated for a Community Service Excellence Award, with winners to be announced at the WACOSS Conference on Monday 15 May.
