Posted: 2024-11-24 05:20:31

After Dave Kramer's best friend and her three children were murdered by her estranged husband, he has urged other men to speak out against domestic violence.

Mr Kramer became an ambassador for the Small Steps 4 Hannah Foundation after the murders of Hannah Clarke and her three children in Brisbane in 2020.

Today, he joined a walk against domestic and family violence in Port Macquarie on the NSW Mid North Coast.

A man in a white cap and white shirt  talks before a crowd on an outdoor field.

Dave Kramer gave a heartfelt speech before the walk. (ABC News: Emma Siossian)

Mr Kramer addressed the crowd of more than 500 before the walk and delivered a strong message for other men.

"Fellas, we can no longer stay silent in our groups.

"If you leave here today and you've chosen women's safety, then that means you've also chosen to hold men accountable … in your locker room, in your boardroom, in your pub, wherever it is you hang out with your mates.

"You have chosen to hold men accountable to sexist and degrading comments that we hear on a daily basis.

"Every contribution that is made to a sexist culture is a contribution to a belief system that has that man feel he is entitled to abuse, assault, control or even murder the women we love."

Mr Kramer said it was crucial people did not turn a blind eye to signs of abuse.

"Don't sit back, like I did in fact, and say, 'It's not my problem, it's none of my business', because at the rate of men's violence we are seeing in this country right now, it may soon be your business."

Hannah Clarke's estranged husband Rowan Baxter murdered her and their children — Trey, 3, Laianah, 4 and Aaliyah, 6 — by pouring petrol on their car and setting it on fire in a Brisbane street in February 2020. Baxter took his own life beside the vehicle.

Hannah Clarke, and her three children, Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey.

The death of Hannah Clarke and her children shocked the nation. (Supplied: AAP/Department of Justice)

Mr Kramer said he hoped events like the Port Macquarie coastal walk would help create change.

"Events like this help bring it out in the public eye to help to normalise conversations that we really need to have to support safety in our community," he said.

"It's a future we want to create, a future Hannah, Trey, Laianah, Aaliyah should have had the opportunity to live into."

A line of people in white t-shirts walk along a path next to a river, under a blue sky.

Hundreds joined the walk beside Port Macquarie's Hastings River and beaches. (ABC News: Emma Siossian)

High demand for help

Liberty Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Services coordinated the walk, aiming to raise both awareness and money, as demand for the organisation's services increases.

"Last financial year Liberty worked with 2,260 people across prevention, intervention, response and recovery initiatives," chief executive Kelly Lamb said.

"Fifty dollars raised can provide a warm meal for a woman and her children; $200 provides a hotel room when a woman leaves a violent situation in the middle of the night; $1,000 covers a week's rent in short-term accommodation while a family gets back on their feet."

A sign saying 'coastal walk against domestic violence' and showing information about violence against LGBT people.

Signs along the coastal walk highlighted the prevalence of violence. (ABC News: Emma Siossian)

The walk has so far raised more than $12,500.

As Sunday's walk occurred in Port Macquarie, a few hours south in the Hunter Valley a 35-year-old man faced 10 charges before a court after a woman was stabbed at Ravensworth Railway Station.

Police say the 37-year-old woman was left in a serious condition after being allegedly stabbed in the ribs by a man she knew on Saturday.

Ms Lamb said 64 women had been killed as a result of violence so far this year, according to the organisation Counting Dead Women Australia, which keeps an updated register of women killed by violence every year.

A young man and woman both wearing white shirts and white caps stand together smiling, in a park.

Dave Kramer with Michelle Parker from Liberty Family and Domestic Violence Specialist Services. (ABC News: Emma Siossian)

Mr Kramer said Small Steps 4 Hannah was focused on improving education about violence and awareness of coercive control.

"We have worked towards education programs for kids in schools and workplaces so everyone understands what we can do to prevent this national crisis we are all experiencing."

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