Twinkle of hope forms

Since the Katanning Harmony Festival this year, victims of all types of violence and their supporters have been weaving paper stars as a way to heal and be a part of an installation to be displayed at the Commonwealth Games.

The Million Stars to End Violence project was conceived by Marryann Talia Pau after the rape and murder of ABC journalist Jill Meagher in Melbourne.

It encourages groups of victims, their allies and support workers to get together to weave the intricate stars and, in the process, speak about their experiences.

Palmerston senior prevention officer Linda Warren said it centred on the idea that as people worked together on a project, they would see many small contributions would produce a big result.

“They would take away the feeling that small changes in attitudes towards violence would make a big change in our culture,” she said.

The stars from Katanning will be combined with stars made across the country and crafted into a giant display at the 2018 Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast.

Katanning police have been called out to 45 incidences of assault in the past five months and an average of almost eight assaults a month so far this year.

Ms Warren said the project wanted to encourage speaking up against bullying, racism and sexist attitudes.