Sarah* said she was a teenager when the abuse first started, but it wasn’t until after the birth of her third child that she finally said enough is enough.

She left the cycle of abuse.

With White Ribbon Walk on Sunday, Sarah shared her experiences in the hope that it will help others.

“It was all kinds of abuse; there was the textbook physical abuse, but also daily emotional and mental abuse and threats along with bursts of rage,” she said

Sarah said she finally walked away when her youngest child was six weeks old.

“I left after my third child, because there was a lot more abuse and I just kept thinking I couldn’t put another child through the terror.”

Sarah said that in domestic violence situations, the victim is the one that can make the ultimate decision to leave, because even if outsiders say leave, the reality is always much harder.

“I was never in denial about the violence, but leaving is never as easy as just leaving. 

“I think women in these situations put up barriers, real and imaginary, as to why they have to stay, and breaking those is hard.

“I was so lucky to have the support of my family and close friends. My parents dug their claws in and never let me go,” she said.

“My parents always said that when I was ready they would help me leave, and I think that was a real blessing, because realistically it was up to me to make the decision to leave.

“I had been preparing to leave for a few years, but as people in domestic violence situations know, things happen and we prepare and prepare but it doesn’t often happen.

“When I did ultimately leave, I was lucky to have great support from family and service providers in the region.”

Sarah said having support around her during the initial stages of leaving were crucial.

“Liberty Cottage really helped me, they jumped on board and facilitated services so I could get the help I needed.

“If they couldn’t help then they would find a way to get someone who could.

“I was one of the lucky ones who had great family support, in many situations you find women are left on their own and that is what perpetrators of domestic violence do really well, they isolate people,” she said.

Sarah says that when it comes to White Ribbon Day, raising awareness is vital, but actually taking steps to help someone is paramount.

“Everyone is afraid to intervene, it is almost like a forbidden topic, if we don’t talk about it then it isn’t happening.

“This is why public events like the White Ribbon Coast Walk are so important, so that victims know they aren’t alone,” she said.

The 2017 White Ribbon Coastal Walk is on Sunday, November 26 with walkers raising awareness for White Ribbon Day – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

The free community event consists of a coastal walk from either Lighthouse Beach starting at 8am, 9am from Flynns Beach or 10am from Town Beach Kiosk to conclude at Town Green in Port Macquarie.

Registration forms are essential and can found at Liberty Cottage, 155 Gordon Street or at SNAP, 110 William Street or online here with applications closing on November 24.

* Name changed to protect individuals.