By DANIELLE GALVIN
HUNDREDS of walkers marched shoulder to shoulder through Pakenham on Saturday morning for a peaceful show of strength.
Cardinia Shire councillors joined local women and men, as well as dozens of children for the walk to reclaim their town from violence in the walk from the Gloria Jeans car park to Bourke Park.
Mayor Brett Owen was asked to address the crowd and said it was a community-led event that council had been asked to support.
He said that the sense of community was one of the best things about Pakenham.
“People care about each other here and you have shown that today,” he said.
Cr Owen said it was a message of solidarity following recent events in town.
The walk was organised in the aftermath of Kylie Blackwood’s murder.
One of the organisers behind the walk, Janette Lind, addressed the crowd at Bourke Park on behalf of the group of women who came up with the idea.
“The reason why we have organised this event is because we as a community are all here rallying together to stand up and say ‘no’ to the escalating violence and crime,” she said.
“And we are letting people know that we are watching out for our neighbours and we are reclaiming our streets again for our children and future generation.”
Ms Lind said $4664 was raised for the Blackwood family and the amount was growing.
Cardinia Acting Inspector Graham Higginbotham said the shire is a safe place to live, work and visit and compares favourably with the rest of the state.
