Liam McNally
A community quilt that weaves together the voices of over 100 Moorabool residents’ interpretation of “respect” is being made in recognition of the International 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence.
Across seven drop-in stitching sessions Ballan based textile artist and activist Lauren Matthews, who was contracted by Moorabool Council, invited the public to come and contribute to the quilt and start difficult conversations.
Ms Matthews, who is doing a PhD on how we can generate social change for trauma survivors through the use of textiles, said the project has become “so much more than a quilt”.
“Women have been coming together for thousands of years to sit in circles and create, so this has been a really lovely extension of that,” she said.
“A quilt is such a symbol of warmth and safety, and we’re hopeful that feeling can kind of reverberate and influence the way people think about gender based violence.”
A Moorabool council spokesperson said it has been a “wonderful” project to lead.
The community quilt against gender-based violence will be launched at an event on December 10, the last day of 16 Days of Activism.
Ms Matthews said the views, thoughts and feelings embedded on the quilt will live on in the libraries of Moorabool shire.
“As a resident in the shire it makes me feel really thrilled that where I live is really committed to helping eliminate violence against women, and as a victim survivor myself it means a lot to be given the opportunity to work on such an important project,” she said.
Moorabool council is hosting a range of initiatives throughout the 16 days that can be viewed on their website.
