The first Red Bench of Adelaide was launched on International Women’s Day on the 8th March 2025.
The project of erecting the first Red Bench in Adelaide originated from an initiative of the Consul of Italy in South Australia, Dr Ernesto Pianelli, who entrusted the Australia Donna Association with the organisation of the event. The strong support from the Council of Norwood, Payneham and St. Peters and in particular from the Mayor, Hon Robert Bria, was instrumental for the instalment of the Red Bench at the Drage Reserve in Felixstow.
The Queensland-based Red Rose Foundation has been working for years to raise community awareness about the serious impact of domestic violence and the high number of feminicides. The Foundation has spearheaded a project in Australia to erect Red Benches in public spaces to invite us to reflect on the void left in society by every woman victim of violence.
At thirty years from the bold vision to address gender equality and empowerment as it was enunciated at the 1975 Beijing Declaration and Platform, the theme of the 2025 International Women’s Day was “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” It was fitting to unveil the first Red Bench in Adelaide on International Women’s Day as a powerful reminder on the need to unlock equal rights for women and to eradicate violence perpetrated against women and girls.
The speakers at the event Dr Ernesto Pianelli, the Hon Robert Bria, Dr Daniela Costa, President of Australia Donna, the Hon Jing Lee, SA Legislative Council, the Hon Olivia Savvas, SA Parliament, and the Hon James Stevens, Australia Federal Parliament, drew attention on the importance of community participation to speak up against violence and on the urgency to implement policies towards the elimination of domestic and family violence in our community. It was reaffirmed that the presence of a Red Bench in a public space represents an invitation for us to reflect on the empty space left in society by each woman victim of violence.
The moving moment of the unveiling of the Red Bench was followed by the poignant lyrics powerfully sang by Teresa Esposito and Teresa La Rocca.
Australia Donna wishes to thank Com.It.Es S.A, the South Australian Italian Association(S.A.I.A), CO.AS.IT (SA), The Dante Alighieri Society of SA, Fogolar Furlan,Radio Italiana 531 andIvana Beltrame from Blackwell Funerals for their contribution. A special thanks was dedicated to Vera Ubaldi for her excellent coordination of the event.
The launch of the Red Bench was followed by a Morning Tea held at the Fogolar Furlan and organised by Radio Italiana 531.The proceedings of the event were donated to the Eastern Adelaide Domestic Violence Service.
Photos: Clara Moutakis – Clazzy Photography
CO.AS.IT (SA) statement
CO.AS.IT (SA), The Italian Assistance Association, is committed to eliminate gender-based inequality and violence against women and girls in all environments. CO.AS.IT (SA) will take action to empower women, educate communities, enforce laws and call out wrong doings and promote respect, safety and equal opportunities for women. CO.AS.IT (SA) will provide leadership to eliminate these injustices in the wider community including within our ageing Italian and Italo Australian community.
Let us unite and invest in making a difference to prevent violence against women and girls.