I got flowers: she got flowers after every beating she endured at the hand of her partner.

Unfortunately the last bunch of flowers she received from him was placed on her casket. This was the poem recited by a youth sister at an information session at Silvertown congregation. For many woman and children this is the story of their lives as they live with the constant fear of pain and death at the hands of those closest to them.

District Elder J O’Connor welcomed the members to the information session that had been prepared and scheduled for Tuesday 1 December 2009 at the Silvertown church and especially extended a warm welcome to the guest speakers from the South African Police Service, Alcoholics Anonymous and Sister D van Wyk, a victim of abuse.

The evening was structured in such a manner that the audience received both insight into the various forms and stages of abuse as well as the various support and legal structures that are in place to protect them and their family. This was done with the help of Captain A Minnaar who briefed them on the Domestic Violence Act. Eleanor Leak from Alcoholic Anonymous shared her experience in a marriage to an alcoholic and Dawn van Wyk told of her struggle against abuse.

District Elder O’Connor concluded the evening with a prayer and thanked the brave woman, Dawn and Eleanor, for sharing their stories, as well as the South African Police Service for their continued support.