Speaking with Anti-Violence Project Executiv Director, Greg Adkins, Victoria Police’s North West Region GLLO, Senior Constable Gabby Tyack, and Crimestoppers’ Jo Baird, Lee reveals an award has been offered by her and her husband for information leading to the arrest of the men who attacked these women.

Audio of the interview is available online here:- http://soundcloud.com/vicavp/mother-speaks-up-about-her

AUDIO INTERVIEW WITH ASSAULT VICTIMS MONTHS on JOY 94.9 GLLO SHOW AVAILABLE HERE.

People who witnessed the asssault are urged to call Police on 000, Brunswick Police or the Gay and Lesbian Liasion Officers (GLLOs) and if you are uncomfortable for any reason reporting to police, please lodge an online and confidential report via the AVP’s violence reporting service.

Discussion of the assault has been posted in the gay press here: Check out this report in one of Melbourne’s gay and lesbian print media outlets HERE.

A man is believed to have reported that he was sexually assaulted while being held down in a private room and police are seeking information that might assist them in speaking with two men that might be able to assist them with their enquiries about events of Sunday night, September 25.

Further discussion of the assault has been posted in Southern Star: PHOTOFIT of one of the men that could provide information to police can be seen here.

AVP head Greg Adkins wrote to Colac-Otway CEO Rob Small, a director and judge of the world’s most livable cities, saying “We see your Council (as) being part of the solution. With your knowledge of what it takes for a city to be liveable, we are particularly interested in seeing Colac-Otway becoming liveable for the individuals who experience homophobic harassment and prejudice motivated violence and crime. Research shows that only one in ten incidents is being reported (in rural and regional parts of Victoria). Your Council are local leaders who should be part of the solution to the incident comedian Joel Creasey and many others experience in your patch”.

Colac-Otway Mayor, Cr Brian Crook has been asked by the AVP to become a local supporter of their new campaign to have a network of key people in rural and regional cities and towns in place as local “champions” with whom people experiencing homophobic harassment, prejudice and hate motivated crime, can access in assisting in them reporting to police, accessing information and support through the AVP help to create a greater understanding of what is taking place, where, when, how and by whom when it comes to perpetrators of homophobic harassment and violence.

“Homophobic harassment and prejudice motivated violence is underreported. Available data suggests only one person in ten experiencing violence in rural and regional parts of Victoria is telling anyone, be they police, a friend or family member or even a loved one”, said Greg Adkins.

““AVP Connect” is out now promoting how people can step-up to make a positive difference in the lives of people in towns just like Colac, Warrnambool and surrounds. The media commentary about the incident in the town in which you are the Mayor provides a great opportunity to build a vibrant and responsive support network accessible by people living with homophobic harassment and prejudice motivated crime, linked to individuals who too are champions for AVP Connect in their local towns. This is a chance to make a very real difference in local lives.” he said.

Adkins also raised with the Mayor the fact that people who abhor violence often sit back and don’t challenge homophobes “at the times they kick into gear”. He suggested that “AVP Connect”, linking with the Anti-Violence Project of Victoria Inc. can provides the platform for individuals who abhor violence and want to make a positive difference to be able to step-up in their local community. “Without these networks, violent people go unchallenged and individuals and their communities continue to get hurt”, AVP executive director Greg Adkins said.

People living in rural and regional areas seeking more information about “AVP Connect” or know friends and family who might step-up to make a difference, are asked to please email Zhitian Zhang at AVP zhitian@antiviolence.info and for more information about how you as Colac Mayor, and your council can step-up and become leaders in local government seeking to challenge homophobic harassment, prejudice and hate motivated violence and crime, I’d welcome you to directly contact me on 0407664442 or by email: greg@antiviolence.info

Adkins invited the whole Colac-Otway community to join their Council and step-up to make a difference on homophobic harassment and prejudice motivated violence and crime in their municipality and surrounding districts.

According to police, the two men aged, 39 and 28, had left a family Christmas gathering and were walking down Sydney Road about 9.30pm when the attack took place near the Barkly Square Shopping Centre.

Police said they walked behind a utility stopped in Sydney Road when they were attacked by two men from that vehicle.

After the initial attack a second vehicle pulled up and several people from this vehicle also joined in the attack.

During the incident a 39-year-old man was assaulted in the middle of the road where he was punched and kicked.

The second man, 28, who had been attacked, tried to escape by getting into a taxi.

The men attacking him tried to pull him from the taxi and continued to assault while he was in the vehicle.

Police are appealing for any witnesses who saw a white colored utility parked in the middle of Sydney Road near the intersection of Weston Street.

This was the vehicle the first group of attackers came from.

Police are also appealing for any witnesses who saw a dark colored sedan parked at the side of the road with the front passenger door open.

The second group of attackers came form this vehicle.

The two men suffered facial injuries including cuts and bruising and were treated at hospital and released.

There was a large number of people around at the time who witnessed the attack and police are appealing for these people to contact police.

Police have been told that there may have been up to 10 men aged between 20 and 25 involved in the attack the attack.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or contact the website at www.crimestoppers.com.au and the Anti-Violence Project is available to support people in making contact with police or to discuss this incident further.

Reports to Crimestoppers are totally anonymous and protect the confidentiality of people making the call to them.

Two gay men were verbally harassed by groups of people numbering between three and four people, up to 15 people, as they walked to the pier. Some escalation of language appears to have taken place. More information will be posted here SOON.

Starting in October, two men were hunted down in Collingwood by a four person gang with “the intent (according to Detective Senior Constable Matt Archer) to assault and to assault homosexuals”.

Read more about this incident HERE and further gay print media coverage HERE

The AVP asks anyone, with information that might assist police in locating the fourth suspect, to call police on 000 or make contact with the AVP on 0407664442.

AVP head Greg Adkins said two separate reports have been received that gay men have recently been assaulted in the park. “We ask anyone in the GLBT community living nearby to Footscray Park or travelling past, to be vigilant and adopt protective behaviours especially when groups of males are moving through the park or adjacent areas.

“Anyone with information is urged to contact the Anti-Violence Project and either make an online violence report, speak directly with someone from the AVP by calling 0407664442, or leave a messages for the AVP to follow-up on 03 9660 3970.

“If you feel unsafe call Police 000 and move away from danger. When safe contact the AVP,” he said.

This man (pictured) is believed to have sexually assaulted a 13-year-old boy in Eaglemont, in Melbourne’s north-east as he was walking along a bike path in the Yarra Flats Park, around 5.45pm (AEST) on Thursday, August the 19th.

He is described as being aged between 50 and 60, with a medium build, a fair complexion and weathered face, short grey curly hair and a bald patch.

If you need assistance to talk with police on this matter, please contact AVP on 0407664442 or email vicavp@antiviolence.info

Image of man is available online HERE.

Speculation about the proximity of the incident to the area where an assault and attempted robbery of gay men took place and whether this past event was in any way related to this mornings stabbing and attempted robbery, has proved to be misplaced and the events are unrelated.

However if any individuals from the gay community were in the vicinity of the assault at approximately 3am, the AVP is urging them to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 with information. AVP can assist in supporting people contact police.

Further information from the updated information about this incident on Victoria Police News is available by clicking here.