13/10/2026
Interested in knowing what we do? Join us this Thursday evening at 5.30pm for a 6pm start at the Dining Hall at Boonah Showgrounds.
This week we have a wonderful guest speaker Simone Paterson. As most of you know our main project this year is Domestic & Family Abuse prevention.
Simone is a lady with a mission. Here is a bit about what she will be discussing with us on Thursday evening. Want to hear her story, come along this Thursday evening. Please RSVP to Susan on 0418780137 if you wish to attend
🌊 JETSKI JOURNEY FOR JUSTICE 💛
Gold Coast to Parliament House, Canberra
On Sunday 8th November 2026, I will launch my Sea Doo JetSki from Currumbin on the Gold Coast and begin a solo journey of more than 1,000 kilometres down the New South Wales coastline.
My destination is Parliament House in Canberra, where I plan to arrive on 25 November 2026, the opening day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence.
This is not a holiday.
It is not a world record attempt.
It is not a stunt.
This is a Journey for Justice.
It is one woman using the skills she has, the experiences she has lived and the voice she fought to reclaim to advocate for law reform that I believe will save lives.
This journey is about every victim of domestic and family violence, whether they are women or men. It is about ensuring fewer children have to bury their mum or dad.
Why I am doing this?
People often ask why I would choose to undertake this journey alone.
The answer is simple.
Because so many victim survivors experience domestic and family violence alone.
They live with fear alone.
They make impossible decisions alone.
They often leave everything they have ever known alone.
My journey represents that reality.
This is not simply a cause I care about.
It is my life.
I am a survivor of high risk domestic and family violence.
Long before that, I spent almost ten years working as a prison officer in both male and female correctional centres, where I came face to face with offenders responsible for some of Australia’s most horrific crimes, including domestic violence murders.
Later, I became a social worker.
In 2016, I founded The Sanctuary Women Children and Pets Refuge.
We became one of the very few refuges in Australia where women could escape violence without leaving behind the pets they loved.
We also welcomed boys over the age of 12 because I could never accept that a mother fleeing violence should be forced to leave one of her children behind simply because of their age.
Although the refuge has since closed following a violent assault against me while carrying out my work, I remain incredibly proud that we helped hundreds of women, children and companion animals find safety.
The refuge may have closed, but my commitment never has.
I continue to provide outreach support to victim survivors, their children and their pets whenever I can.
What I learnt
Working on the frontline changed me forever.
I met women who delayed leaving violent relationships because they refused to abandon the dog that slept beside their children every night.
I met mothers who were told they could enter a refuge, but their 13 year old son could not.
Think about that.
Imagine fleeing for your life and being told your child is too old to come with you.
Imagine being forced to choose between your own safety and your family.
No parent should ever face that decision.
No victim should ever have to choose between saving themselves and protecting the animals they love.
Pets are family.
Their lives matter too.
Then everything changed
Two years ago, while operating the refuge, I was violently assaulted.
Since then, I have undergone four major surgeries.
I continue to live with permanent injuries and require further treatment.
I have been unable to return to work.
I receive no workers compensation.
I receive no Centrelink support.
Despite everything that has happened, I refuse to let violence define my future.
One question changed everything
Throughout this expedition I will be GPS tracked for my own safety.
My family, friends and support crew will know exactly where I am every kilometre of the journey, even though I will be completely alone on the ocean.
That made me ask one simple question.
If technology can track me to keep me safe on a JetSki…
Why are court assessed high risk domestic violence offenders not consistently electronically monitored to better protect victim survivors?
The technology already exists.
Used appropriately and lawfully, it has the potential to save lives.
The three reforms I am fighting for
When I arrive at Parliament House, I will be advocating for three nationally consistent reforms.
💛 Mandatory GPS ankle monitoring for court assessed high risk domestic and family violence offenders.
💛 Every government funded domestic violence refuge in Australia to accept companion animals, either onsite or through formal partnerships with approved animal welfare organisations. Not pretend they do actually accept animals.
💛 Every government funded domestic violence refuge in Australia to accommodate boys over the age of 12 so families escaping violence are never separated because of a child’s age.
These reforms are practical.
They are achievable.
Most importantly…
They have the potential to save lives.
This journey has been planned with precision
Nothing about this expedition has been left to chance.
Every launch site.
Every fuel stop.
Every weather window.
Every sunrise departure.
Every accommodation booking.
Every kilometre.
Every contingency.
Everything has been planned.
The journey will follow a disciplined schedule of ride days alternating with rest days to maximise safety.
I will launch before sunrise, monitor marine forecasts daily and only travel when conditions are safe.
My Sea Doo GTX 170 carries 110 litres of fuel, giving me the operational range needed for this journey.
The route includes:
📍 Currumbin
📍 Ballina
📍 Yamba
📍 Coffs Harbour
📍 South West Rocks
📍 Port Macquarie
📍 Forster
📍 Newcastle
📍 Pittwater
📍 Wollongong
📍 Kiama
📍 Jervis Bay
before travelling by road to Parliament House in Canberra.
Every victim matters
While women remain the overwhelming majority of domestic and family violence victims, men can also experience abuse.
I have worked with them.
I have listened to them.
I have seen how invisible many of their experiences can be.
This campaign is about every victim.
Every Australian deserves safety.
Every Australian deserves dignity.
Every Australian deserves the opportunity to live free from violence.
How you can help
You can now officially share my Parliamentary Petition it will be formally reassessed on 26 October 2026, so every signature matters.
If you believe these reforms could save lives, please sign the petition and then share it with your family, friends, workplaces, sporting clubs and community groups.
Every signature matters.
Every share reaches another person.
Together we can show Parliament that Australians want meaningful reform.
Over the coming months I will share the planning, training, challenges and milestones leading up to departure.
I will also be speaking at schools, universities, sporting clubs, workplaces and community organisations across Australia.
I will share my personal journey as a survivor, my experiences as a prison officer and social worker, what I learnt from founding a domestic violence refuge and why I believe meaningful law reform cannot wait.
If your organisation would like me to speak while I am travelling, I would be honoured to do so.
There is no fee.
Education saves lives.
Conversations change attitudes.
Together we can build safer communities.
If this journey contributes to one meaningful reform…
If one family stays together…
If one victim finds safety…
If one life is saved…
Then every wave, every kilometre and every challenge will have been worth it.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years.
Now it is time to turn awareness into action.
I’ll see you on the water. 💛
Simone Patterson OAM, BSW
For updates, follow my personal page and The Sanctuary Women Children and Pets Refuge page.
