Old Macksville Bridge lit up orange to support 16 Days of Activism

Published on 28 November 2025

Nambucca Valley Council is promoting the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, running annually from 25 November – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – to 10 December.

Nambucca Valley Councillor, Ljubov Simson, put forward a motion at the 15 October Ordinary Meeting of Council, for Council to better promote awareness of this campaign and to advocate to state and federal ministers and local members to make funds available for support programs.

“Supporting women and children, or any other person who has been the victim of gender-based violence, is a priority of mine,” Cr Simson said.

“Enhancing community safety is also one of the 10 community priorities in our valley’s Community Strategic Plan 2025-2035.  

“While it is not within Council’s jurisdiction to provide support services, we can as Councillors and community members support the 16 Days of Activism and join our community events.

“I’m so pleased to see the old Macksville Bridge lit up in orange for the campaign, plus there is a great window display at Council Chambers.”

Nambucca Valley Council General Manager Bede Spannagle said acknowledging this campaign and starting conversations about preventing domestic and family violence was extremely important.

“I'm supporting my Council staff to have practical conversations about calling out a colleague or mate if he or she is being disrespectful or violent to a person due to their gender or for any other reason,” he said.

“We invited our local Clinical Nurse Specialists from Macksville Hospital to visit Council to provide a workshop on 18 November to teach people how to spot potential domestic violence and then how to respectfully offer support to impacted persons.

“All of these conversations help to build our team and our community.”

Some local events you can be a part of for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence are: 

• 28 November 2025: Cuppa with a cop, Elk on 38 Café, Macksville, 10-11am
• 3 December 2025: Men’s Brekky and Fishing Competition, Valla Beach. Brekky starts at 7.30am, with fishing competition 10am-3pm
• 5 December 2025: Men’s Barefoot Bowls, Bowraville Sports Hub, 10am-2pm
• 10 December 2025: Walk for Change – End Digital Violence, a walk from the Nambucca Heads Visitor Information Centre to the V-Wall and the picnic following it
• Anytime until 11 December 2025: walking along River Street, Macksville, and looking at the old Macksville Bridge lit up in orange for the campaign. 

If you require support about gender-based violence, you can call 1800RESPECT which is a 24/7 national service for assault, domestic and family violence counselling.