Hundreds of Ballarat residents marched through the streets of the city on Friday evening, calling for action on violence against women following months of tragedy.
Communities in Ballarat and its surrounds have grappled with the high-profile deaths of three local women this year — Rebecca Young, Samantha Murphy and Hannah McGuire.
Two men have been arrested and charged with the murders of Ms Murphy and Ms McGuire, while another man was found dead alongside Ms Young.
Ms Murphy, 51, was last seen leaving her home in Ballarat East on February 4, to go for a run.
Ms Young, 42, died soon after in a Sebastopol home, the victim of a suspected murder-suicide.
The discovery of 23-year-old Ms McGuire's body in a burnt-out car just south of the city on April 5 sparked Friday evening's Enough Is Enough rally against gendered violence.
Family of victims speak on their shared grief
The hundreds of people joining the rally in Ballarat included friends and family of Hannah McGuire, Samantha Murphy and Rebecca Young.
Rebecca's younger sister Jessica said the rally and its attendance by hundreds of people was "bittersweet" for the family.
"Bitter in the way that it's too late to save my sister and many others, and sweet in the hope that this rally raises awareness and helps to save other people's lives," she said.
Mick Murphy, husband of Samantha Murphy, thanked the Ballarat community for turning up in numbers.
"Tonight means a lot, not just to me but to the community and to the people that have lost their loved ones over the last couple of months," Mr Murphy said.
Mr Murphy said he was coping and that being amongst the community was helping his mental wellbeing.
"Speaking is the best thing, if you were to sit at home and not have any interaction with people, then it might be a different scenario," he said.
"I'm doing OK, and I need to be strong for the kids and everyone around me as well."
Women of Ballarat share their stories at rally
Ballarat residents brought signs and banners to the rally, chanting and singing as they marched.
Rebecca said she wanted to join the rally tonight along with her community to say "enough is enough".
"I'm marching because I feel like the people of Ballarat have had enough," Rebecca said.
"We're gaining this reputation where women are treated disgracefully, unfairly, and we've had enough.
"I'm born and bred in Ballarat … anywhere feels unsafe. Your own home can feel unsafe. That's unacceptable — its a community we don't want."
Victim survivors of intimate partner violence also marched, calling for change.
Talisha is one of the hundreds of people who joined the rally, and has lived in Ballarat her whole life.
"I'm here for all the women who have been through this. I'm 28 years old, and I've had two domestic violence relationships," Talisha said.
"They're the only relationships I've ever known."
Rally organiser Sissy Austin is not a stranger to violence.
Last year, while running in Lal Lal Forest, Ms Austin was attacked by an unknown male assailant brandishing a weapon.
She said the rally was to show the strength of the women in her city and to fight for their right to safety.
"It's really important to come together in times like this. There is shock, there is grief," Ms Austin said.
"And there is a lot of fear — just to exist in this community as a woman.
"But we aren't lacking that fighting spirit … If there is any reason I survived what happened to me, it's to rise and fight."
Statistics paint stark picture of violence against women
Our Watch CEO Patty Kinnersly spoke to the hundreds of gatherers in Ballarat on Friday evening. The not-for-profit combats violence against women.
"This is my community, and it's reeling in grief," Ms Kinnersly said.
"Part of the reason I'm here today is to share with this crowd, who want answers, and want to know what they can do to contribute to ending violence against women."
Ms Kinnersly told the crowd one woman per week is killed by violence.
"We know this is not a women's problem, it's a community issue that everyone needs to be a part of," she said.
"As I look around, there's an equal mix of men and women … it demonstrates that the community is ready to lean in and make the changes they need to make."