Working to halt domestic violence
This is for Sophie, and other people who have lost daughters or sons through domestic violence.
Lesley Elliott
Lesley Elliott says she had been honoured in recognition of New Zealand’s problem with domestic violence.
Elliott has been named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
The organisation she fronts, The Sophie Elliott Foundation, was named after her daughter who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend Clayton Wetherston in her Dunedin home in 2008.
Photographs of her daughter, who would have turned 30 this month, feature prominently at her home in the quiet Dunedin suburb of Ravensbourne.
The death of her daughter motivated Elliott to share her story with other young people so they could recognise the signs of domestic violence.
As part of the Foundation’s Love-Me-Not educational programme she talks to young people up to three times a day. She said talking about her daughter’s death was mentally draining but ‘‘if I didn’t I would be six feet under by now’’.
‘‘It keeps me busy, I have needed to be busy.’’
Her work was about about ‘‘getting the message out for young girls and guys . . . this message is for everyone’’.
She recalled a talk ‘‘to these great hulking boys’’ at Waitaki Boys’ High School in Oamaru, who gave her a standing ovation as she packed away her notes.
A teacher told her her he had never seen that before, ‘‘so that was an affirmation’’.
‘‘I am honoured that people have recognised what I am doing . . . and this is for Sophie, and other people who have lost daughters or sons through domestic violence . . . it is a recognition of the problem we have in New Zealand.
‘‘It is an important issue and we need to work together to reduce the numbers.’’
The Love-Me-Not programme was developed with the New Zealand Police and the Ministry of Social Development.
Her campaigning had also led to the use of victim impact statements in court.
Although it was hard to gauge, she had been told the campaign was making a difference.
‘‘If I didn’t have that feedback I wouldn’t be doing it.’