Pop In Newsletter November 2024
This month's newsletter is dedicated to Pop In's participation in this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign, running from 25 November to 10 December. As part of this powerful global movement, we invite you to join us for a range of activities and advocate for change.
This year’s theme, #SAFE.EVERYWHERE.ALWAYS, calls for urgent action to ensure that women and girls feel safe in all spaces—whether at home, in public or at work. As part of this campaign, we are excited to unveil our signature events.
Empty Chairs at Empty Tables Art Installation
In collaboration with Ngununggula Gallery and Springett’s Arcade, this installation is a moving tribute to the 66* women in Australia who tragically lost their lives to gender-based violence over the past year. Each painted chair represents a woman lost and tells a story of courage, resilience and the urgent need for change. The installation will be displayed from 25-30 November, before being placed in businesses across the Southern Highlands until 10 December.
Building a Safer Community
Pop In is convening a Domestic Violence Community Forum during the 16 Days of Activism. The community forum will deepen the community’s understanding of the complex issues faced by women and children navigating Domestic and Family Violence.
The Forum will be facilitated by Deborah Richards (acclaimed ABC and SBS journalist and producer) who will lead the discussion with a range of panellists including representatives from family law, lived experience, men’s behavioural change programs, social housing and community engagement.
The Forum will be held at The Bradman Museum theatre on Wednesday December 4, 2024, from 9.30 am to 12.30pm and will include a short break for morning tea.
Please join us for this important event as we raise awareness, inspire action and amplify the voices of victim-survivors and those at risk of domestic violence and abuse. We hope you can attend and lend your support as we work together to address gender-based violence.
To confirm your attendance, please register for tickets at https://popin.supporterhub.net.au/events/southern-highlands-domestic-violence-forum
How You Can Get Involved
Visit Springett’s Arcade between 25 and 30 November and experience the powerful stories behind the installation. To find out more about the campaign go to https://www.popin.org.au/take-action
Bid in our online auction from 30 November 30th to 10 December to own one of the unique chairs and support our services.
Participate in our community events at Pop In’s Moss Vale premises, including wellness sessions, art therapy classes, educational seminars and community discussions throughout the 16 Days. To find out more go to https://www.popin.org.au/whats-on
Attend the Domestic Violence Forum and learn more about the collective actions of the sector in the region, and hear from experts on how community can come together to eliminate gender based violence. Place are limited. To register your attendance go to: https://popin.supporterhub.net.au/events/southern-highlands-domestic-violence-forum
Spread the word on social media and help us amplify the message of #SAFE.EVERYWHERE.ALWAYS.
We are proud to work alongside our community to ensure that every woman and child is safe, everywhere and always. We look forward to your participation in these important events as we continue to take a stand against gender-based violence in our community.
For more information about the installation, our events and the online auction, visit our website at www.popin.org.au or follow us on social media for updates.
Thank you for your support as we work together to create a safer future.
Vicki Kelley, Chair & Co-Founder
An Artist's Journey to 16 Days of Activism
Local artist - Catherine Hanes
Empty Chairs at Empty Tables brings together local artists, victim-survivors, and community members to honour the 64 Australian women who have lost their lives to domestic violence in 2024. Through this project, chairs are transformed into poignant works of art, symbolizing hope, resilience, and remembrance.
One of the participating artists, Catherine Hanes, documented her journey in transforming her chair into a powerful statement of healing and renewal. Catherine selected a vintage chair with a broad central panel, perfect for her vision of blending nature-inspired themes. Inspired by the therapeutic power of the Australian bush, her design features native flora and fauna, including cockatoos, lyrebirds, and wombats, each imbued with spiritual significance. “The bush is more than a backdrop,” Catherine explains. “It symbolises the strength and solace we find when reconnecting with nature.”
Catherine's process involved intricate layers of paint, textures, and materials. Using gesso, Mod Podge, and silver leaf, she created dynamic visual effects like shimmering waterfalls and textured rocks. Her artistic journey also included challenges, from navigating the chair’s contours to experimenting with hues and tools. Despite the complexities, Catherine found joy in every step, describing the experience as deeply therapeutic.
The project isn’t just about art; it’s about community and healing. Catherine facilitated workshops at Creative Space, where participants shared stories and collaborated on their creations. These sessions highlighted the collective strength of a community united against domestic violence. Chairs completed during these workshops will be displayed in Springett's Arcade and across businesses in the Southern Highlands, raising awareness of domestic violence and its impacts.
Each chair tells a unique story, serving as a reminder of lives lost and a call to action for change.
Through Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, Pop In fosters creativity, community, and compassion, shining a light on a cause that demands collective attention. As Catherine reflects, “This piece is about healing—the stillness, the wildness, and the moments of peace that rebuild us.”
Pop In invites you to view these extraordinary chairs, celebrate the strength of survivors, and contribute to a future free of domestic violence. Together, we can make a difference.
To find out more about Catherine's journey click here.
Counting Dead Women*
The number of women who have lost their lives to gender based violence in Australia for the year stands at 65 as at the 19th November 2024. This number is already higher than 2023. (64)
This data comes from Counting Dead Women - Destroy the Joint. Destroy The Joint (DTJ) is an online Australian feminist group, founded in 2012 by Sydney Morning Herald writer Jenna Price, after 2GB broadcaster Alan Jones criticised then Prime Minister Julia Gillard and stated that women were "destroying the joint". DTJ's main project “Counting Dead Women”, which is organised through the group's Facebook page, aims to track how many Australian women die each year due to violence. The group also uses its platform to build an online community for those concerned with violence against women.
For further information on Destroy the Joint visit their website at www.countingdeadwomenaustralia.com