Working to end domestic violence

Red Rose Foundation
Tenacious. Dedicated. Resilient.

Betty Taylor has devoted 30 years to preventing domestic and family violence, playing a pivotal role in raising awareness and campaigning for better laws.

As the volunteer CEO of the Red Rose Foundation, Betty raises awareness by holding a Red Rose Rally every time a Queensland woman or child loses their life to domestic violence.

Betty offers women who have fled abuse emotional and financial assistance and supports them through gruelling court cases.

She came up with the idea of building awareness by painting park benches red and attaching a Red Rose plaque calling for an end to domestic violence.

There are now about 40 such benches around Queensland sparking conversations and showing women where they can get help.

“I do this work with passion and commitment that domestic violence must stop. We can do this,” Betty says.

She is particularly proud of her ground-breaking work supporting women who have been nearly strangled by their abusers, leaving many with lifelong physical injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Betty says non-fatal strangulation is the highest red flag for future domestic violence-related murder, raising the risk of death eight-fold
“This is the only specific service for these women in Australia,” she says.

Betty has recently received a Queensland Great Award from the Premier for her work in this field.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. The Red Rose Foundation will use its grant to fit out its Australia-first strangulation trauma centre in Brisbane.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here