Publicity ‘lifts lid off volcano’

Press, 4 July 1978, Page 1

Publicity ‘lifts lid off volcano’

Telephone calls from battered wives in Christchurch have been flooding in to a new group set up during the week-end to support and counsel them.

The formation of the Battered Women’s Support Group comes after considerable publicity in “The Press” to the problem of wife-beating. According to an organiser of the group, more than 50 calls had been received within 24 hours, from women seeking help. The organiser wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals. "Many of the women were in a situation they wanted to get out of, while others had already left their husbands but were being molested,” she said. "Many have had their homes broken into, some have been severely assaulted. and others have been terrorised into leaving their own homes.” Publicity by "The Press” had “taken the lid off a volcano,” she said. “I knew that they were out there, but I have been very surprised by the response,” the organiser said. "Some of their calls would make you cry. "We try’ to persuade them that there are only two ways out of a marriage like theirs: in a coffin, or on their feet.” The support group was formed by 10 women, all of them wives who have been beaten by their husbands. A woman who telephoned the group will be put in touch with another woman with similar experience of being battered. An urgent need for finance is evident, according to the organiser. “One man telephoned to sav he was a wife-batterer, and he wanted to know how he could help us. I told him to send us money,” she said.

A battered wife can get in touch with the support group by telephoning Lifeline at 66-743. Donations should be labelled “Battered 'Women’s Support Group,” and posted to the National Organisation for Women, Box 2720, Christchurch.