I was interested in my own process in coming to the decision to support Mark Swivel’s condemnation of Mayor Michael Lyon’s behaviour and his refusal, despite much advice, to stand down and to attend to his personal life in the face of domestic violence (DV) charges. Yes, I was sorry and sad. Yes, I noticed within myself the pull to explain, to excuse, to play down the significance that our mayor, our most visible public officer, a leader in the community, was facing DV charges, tried to get them silenced, attempted publicly to explain and excuse himself, and finally blamed the police, the system, society – for his woes. I wanted it to go away, I didn’t want to take it seriously, I didn’t want to be horrified and outraged. It is not really my style.
But I have come to the conclusion that we as a community need to call it out. Enough of the silence. I’m convinced that Michael is not reading the room. Women and men have finally had enough of even a hint of violence against women. Many women I know raised their eyebrows when Michael said the issue was a ‘misunderstanding’. A knowing look, a bitter laugh – this word is used so often by other men to excuse bad behaviour.
Whatever the details of this case, the issue of DV is way bigger than him. I can and I do feel sorry and sad for Michael and his wife, and at the same time choose not to remain silent about the bigger issue of domestic violence, which is so deep, so damaging, so tragic and so prevalent in Australia. Too many women have been killed and injured, for too long. Men’s violence against women has been excused for too long.
Michael Lyon’s decision not to stand down as a candidate for local council suggests a flawed character – a poor reading of community expectations and a betrayal of our trust.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
