March 21, 2025
12496497-CG22-21
FREE DIGITAL EDITION
SCAN the
SCAN the
QRQR CODE CODE
SIG N U P N O W!
geelongindy.com.au/subscribe geelongindy.com.au/subscribe
Cats attack as footy kicks off
(Ivan Kemp) 464676_01
Footy is back. Geelong took on Fremantle in round one of the new AFL season in front of a relatively modest crowd of 25,372 at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday. The Cats ran away with the game after a 10-goal final term to win by 78 points on a hot day. Bailey Smith starred in his first outing as a Cat while Jeremy Cameron got his season off to a flyer with four goals. It’s shaping up as another year to get excited about for Cats fans. Geelong ventures down the highway to Marvel Stadium for its round two clash against St Kilda tomorrow night before heading up to Brisbane for round three and then hosting Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium on April 4. Pictured are Ash Lancaster with his daughters Ivy, Harper and Elle before the game. See page 29 for more Ivan Kemp
pictures.
Safe At Home in Geelong A state-first trial has come to Geelong to help women and children experiencing family violence to safely stay at home and in their community. The Safe At Home initiative was launched on Friday, March 14, featuring a $6 million state government investment to protect victim-survivors from violence. Minister for Prevention of Family Violence Natalie Hutchins said the initiative was about strengthening safety and allowing women to stay at home. “It’ll support up to 54 families here in the Geelong and Barwon regions and they’ll be able to access this support for up to two
years,” she said. “We know that one of the biggest contributing factors for women and homelessness is family violence, and so being able to keep women at home in a safe environment is so important. “We will be assessing how this program is going and how successful it’s been, because we know that this is a blueprint for us to run trials in other regions in the future to support more women to stay at home.” The three-year trial will include the perpetrator being removed from the home and given support to change their behaviour, while the families are provided with specialist support in housing, employment, child and cultural support if required. Diana Connell is a survivor of family violence
12755043-FR11-25
Lucky last three
E5 SEE PAGOUT TO FIND OUT B MORE A ECIAL P S R U O OFFER
currently living in Werribee with plans to move to Geelong and the lived experience advisor for the Safe At Home program. “I was in the relationship for 25 years and we were originally in New Zealand before moving to Australia when my kids were five and seven years old,” Ms Connell said. “When the kids got older, the violence became more noticeable... So, after fleeing the violence and family home, I had no choice but homelessness and lived in a car for what seemed like an eternity while I also battled cancer. “I’m very hopeful that the Safe At Home approach will mean many other people experiencing violence will not go through the same traumatic events that me and my children did.”
2
2
2
2
2
Meli acting chief executive Bernadette McCartney said the initiative would help provide an early intervention approach for the whole family. “The strength of the model is that it’s not only for the victims of violence, so the women and children who are kept in a home that are supported, but it’s also for the person using violence,” she said. “However, sometimes people will make the decision to return to the home, and that’s where we are dependent on the police and the court system to enact those legal orders if they’re in place.” Visit safeathome.org.au for more information or to get in contact with the initiative’s team.
2
2
2
1
ARLINGTON
BARWON
TORQUAY
VILLA 136
VILLA 117
VILLA 129
$735K
$685K
$680K
Secure yours today before they’re gone. Freecall: 1800 777 898 armstronggreen.com.au Coastal retirement living at its finest!
Prices correct at publication date
By Jena Carr