The mother of murdered Bacchus Marsh woman Sarah Cafferkey is urging residents to join a campaign for a public register of convicted sex offenders.
Noelle Dickson, whose 22-year-old daughter was killed by a convicted murderer just days after he completed his parole in November 2012, will join Derryn Hinch’s Jail to Justice walk when it passes through Melton and Moorabool next month.
“We all need to know where these people are living once they’re out of jail,” Ms Dickson said.
A petition started by Mr Hinch last September has 111,000 signatures.
The walk will start on May 17 at Langi Kal Kal jail, where Mr Hinch spent 50 days behind bars earlier this year after violating a suppression order.
Mr Hinch said 20 per cent of sex crimes and murders were random attacks.
“I interviewed the mother of Megan Kanka, an [American] seven-year-old who was murdered by a convicted sex offender she had no idea was living just across the street.”
In 1996, the case culminated in ‘‘Megan’s Law’’, under which the name and address and a photograph of every convicted sex offender must be recorded on a public database.
“The law has worked so well over there, and it’s commonsense. We are entitled to the same right to know,” Mr Hinch said.
Ms Dickson will complete the Bacchus Marsh leg of the walk on May 22.
She’ll also be by Mr Hinch’s side when the walk ends on the steps of Parliament House on May 26 when the petition will be presented to senior government figures.
“I’d be honoured to have family and friends of victims walk with me, as I would locals,’’ Ms Dickson said. ‘‘Something has to be done, so let’s do something.”
