Posted June 18, 2018 18:00:42
![]() Thousands of people are holding a candlelit vigil at the Melbourne park where 22-year-old comedian Eurydice Dixon's body was found last week. People began arriving at Princes Park in Carlton North about 5:00pm with blankets, candles and floral tributes. The organisers of the event said they wanted to offer a chance to both grieve and demonstrate the community's desire to end violence against women. Events are also being held in the regional Victorian cities of Ballarat, Bendigo, Warrnambool and Geelong, as well as other cities across Australia. ![]() Melbourne's Town Hall was bathed in orange light as the vigil got underway. It's a colour used by the United Nations to represent the fight to end violence against women and girls. Police officers have also been stationed around the park to provide safety and support to people attending the vigil, Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane said. "My instructions to our police is not to be too visible," he said. "To be visible as people approach the park so that they know that they're safe ... but we want to take a step back and I think it's important that we do that tonight." He said forensic detectives had joined an investigation into the vandalism of the small shrine set up at the oval for Ms Dixon, which was defaced early Monday morning. "It'll be my joy to see those people charged and put before the courts," he said. ![]() He also confirmed that police will support the community's use of the oval as a memorial site for as long as is required. "We're open to what it is, we've got a lot of resources available to us and we'll continue to make sure we've got police visible on the scene for some time." Prime Minister addresses 'heartbreaking tragedy' Meanwhile, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull addressed Ms Dixon's death in Parliament, where he said the tragedy highlighted the need to better educate young men. Mr Turnbull spoke after a question from Greens MP for Melbourne Adam Bandt, who said many people were in "mourning" and "angry" about Ms Dixon's death and asked whether the Prime Minister accepted more needs to be done. "This is a heartbreaking tragedy but what we must do as we grieve is ensure that we change the hearts of men to respect women," Mr Turnbull said. "We start with the youngest men little boys, our sons and grandsons we make sure that they respect their mothers and their sisters and all the women in their lives. "As grown men we must lead by example and treat women with respect and we must ensure our cities, our towns, our country, everywhere is safe for every Australian to walk and work, whether it's a park, whether it's a workplace, whether it is in their own home. "I believe, Mr Speaker, that I speak for every honourable member in saying we must never, ever, ever tolerate violence against women. "Eurydice Dixon, we mourn her loss, we grieve with her family, and we say 'never again'." Topics:sexual-offences,law-crime-and-justice,women,community-and-society,womens-status,human-rights,men,domestic-violence,murder-and-manslaughter,crime,carlton-north-3054,vic,melbourne-3000,ballarat-3350,bendigo-3550,wodonga-3690,hobart-7000,launceston-7250,geelong-3220 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-18/eurydice-dixon-vigil-parks-melbourne-crowds/9880894
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