Don't be a victim | Ipswich News | Local News in Ipswich

AN IPSWICH businesswoman has revealed how she survived the horrors of domestic violence in the hope that other abused women will be inspired to change their lives too.

The woman, 45, has now rebuilt her shattered life, beginning a new relationship in Ipswich and founding one of the city’s leading real estate firms.

It’s hard to believe this confident and forthright woman once cowered in fear from an abusive partner, but she spent much of her early life living in fear of violence.

“He would belt me and try to smother my face,” she said. “I remember one night he beat me so badly that my little girl yelled out ‘Stop hitting my mummy’. That was the only reason he stopped.”

The little girl then handed her mother a cloth to wipe the blood from her face.

The woman spoke out to mark White Ribbon Day, when men are encouraged to wear a ribbon to make a statement against domestic violence.

The day is being supported by The Queensland Times and Mayor of Ipswich Paul Pisasale.

The woman said one of the most common questions asked was “why did you stay?”.

“The thing is, you get so emotionally and physically drained that you believe everything that you’re told,” she said.

“They take away every bit of self-esteem that you have. You just become a shell of a person and you have no self worth left.”

Her story began in the traditional manner, falling for the guy who promised adventure.

But as the cracks started to show early in the relationship, she dismissed her fears and set about to change the man she thought she loved.

“I should have known immediately about this guy and trusted my instinct,” she said.

“But I don’t spend time blaming myself. I just made a bad choice.”

“Thing got worse, the battering wass more frequent and the bruises were becoming harder to cover.

“Anything could set him off. At his worst was when he was drinking but when he was mean he was just plain mean.”

The woman said the greatest weapon she had was when she started to tell people.

“Talking was power,” she said.

“Talking about it made it real and people started looking out for me.”

After leaving the man and her demons behind, she returned to Mt Isa where she met up with a high school sweetheart and married him.

They moved to Ipswich, and have raised three children and a successful business here.

You can commit to White Ribbon Day by purchasing a ribbon at the QT building on Brisbane Street in West Ipswich. Visit www.whiteribbonday.org.au for more information.

Each year, around half a million Australian women are subjected to violence by men.

More than one Australian woman every week is killed by her partner or ex-partner and one in three Australian women will experience physical or sexual violence in her lifetime.

Violence against women and their children costs the Australian economy more than $15.1 billion each year.