Community
22 May, 2026
Former football star to speak
FORMER footballer Phil Clearly will be hosting a special talk in coming weeks to call for an end to violence against women.
The cause is close to Mr Clearly’s heart after his 25-year-old daughter Vicki died at the hands of a violent ex-boyfriend – just three months after playing his 200th game of football for Coburg.
Vicki’s murder and the court case in 1989 which saw her killer found guilty of manslaughter – not murder – and sentenced to less than four years in jail was the start of a lifelong mission to end violence against women.
Mr Cleary will speak at the Killara Centre (212 Manifold Street) in Camperdown on Friday, June 5 at 2.30pm.
“When Vicki was murdered in 1987, communities weren’t talking about gendered violence like they are today,” he said.
“Now, every community across Australia is talking about what respectful relationships look like and why violence against women, which includes the murder of around 80 women a year, is the equivalent of a national crisis.”
Echoing Mr Cleary’s words, Corangamite Shire Council mayor councillor Kate Makin described violence against women and children as a “societal issue that results in one in four Australian women experiencing violence from an intimate partner”.
“This is a reminder of how important it is for the community to change attitudes that give rise to violence,” she said.
“In 2015 the Royal Commission into Family Violence found 80 per cent of cases go unreported.
“Everyone has a responsibility to call out disrespect, sexism and challenge the attitudes responsible for this epidemic of violence.”
The event is funded by the Victorian Government’s Free from Violence local government program.
The free event will include refreshments.
Places are limited so community members are encouraged to register now at corangamite.vic.gov.au/PhilClearyEvent.
If you are concerned that someone you know is at risk of gendered violence or are experiencing it yourself, help is available through The Orange Door (1800 271 180 or orangedoor.vic.gov.au) or 1800RESPECT (1800 737 431 or www.1800respect.org.au).
Read More: Camperdown, local