Bunbury holds moving White Ribbon Day ceremony in Anzac Park

From 10.45am, members of the public gathered at the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery to then march along Victoria Street with a police escort. 

From 11am, a service was held in Anzac Park hosted by Radiowest breakfast announcers Cliff Reeve, Doug Terry and Lauren Kelly who introduced guest speakers and initiated the laying of wreathes.

City of Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan was the first of the guest speakers and said education on domestic violence must start from birth. 

"We have to start young if we are going to bring about change," he said.

"We have a responsibility to say something and make change and we have to be relentless and persevere."

He thanked the tireless efforts of the support networks in Greater Bunbury. 

South West Police Superintendent Peter Hatch next addressed the crowd and said the community needed to take a stand against domestic violence.

"Violence is not OK and should not be tolerated," he said.

"I have three daughters and a wife so the single most important thing is to make sure our sons respect women and it needs to be embedded from birth.

"Domestic assaults are a daily occurrence for police, both physical and sexual."

For Mates founder and president Robert Reekie was a former perpetrator of domestic violence and said he was a prime example that a leopard can change its spots.

He told the story of a 10 year unhappy marriage where he would return home from work and feel like he was walking on egg shells, expecting and asking for confrontation with his wife.

He said how changing himself and getting anger management help changed him for the better, becoming a counselor to men who also seek help when it comes to similar issues. 

"The hardest part was going public but I soon realised I was not alone," he said. 

"I learned to use positive anger and know the early warning signs to take control of myself."

Mr Reekie's speech was followed by the laying of wreathes and a free community barbecue.