Premium Content Subscriber only The trauma inflicted on an eight-year-old Mackay boy manifested into him smothering his baby sisterâs face and attempting to strangle his four-year-old sister. His father is in jail. He is just one of many Mackay males aged nine to 18 referred to Mackay Womenâs Services for intervention therapy because they have personally experienced or witnessed domestic, physical and sexual violence or abuse. Executive director Linda-Ann Northey said the cries for help from mothers, grandmothers, aunties, the Child Safety Department and police officers inundated the centre with not enough funding to go around. She said other examples of trauma in the home including having toys broken, being yelled at, having basic needs such as food and blankets withdrawn as punishment, and not being provided with basic love and healthy relationships.
Premium Content Subscriber only At age 24, Linda-Ann Northey experienced sexual harassment in the workplace when she was faced with making a choice no woman should ever have to make. The Mackay Women’s Services executive opened up about the incident – which was the catalyst for her first activism campaign – during the 2021 Mackay Labour Day march. “In a relatively small organisation, I was the sixth woman in two years threatened with the sack if I didn’t sleep with the state service manager,” the Services Union member said. “I chose to leave my job rather than think about complying with such a threat.”
Premium Content Subscriber only There are so many children and adolescents in the region who have been abused, sexually assaulted or exposed to domestic violence, a counselling service had to expand. Mackay Women’s Services executive director Linda-Ann Northey said they were adding two new consultant rooms after receiving support for more “desperately needed” children’s counsellors. Ms Northey said they put together a wish list of play items that would become essential therapeutic tools and Ergon Energy Mackay answered the call. Ergon program officer Kelly Arnold said staff personally donated some of the items but they also held a combined tradies and office staff barbecue fundraiser.
Premium Content Subscriber only It is nearly time to dust off the frocks and suits with one last chance to secure tickets to one of the biggest events on Mackayâs social calendar. The 2021 Mackay Mayorâs Charity Ball â postponed last year because of COVID â will be a Moulin Rouge-themed night of fun raising money for HeartKids and Mackayâs Domestic Violence Resource Scheme. Initial tickets sold out quickly but Mayor Greg Williamson said the council had now released additional limited seats. âWeâve sold about 360 tickets â five tables more than 2019 â which at the time was the record attendance,â Cr Williamson said.