Maleny prepares for Candlelight Ceremony as part of DV prevention

As the sun begins to set over Maleny’s Tesch Park on Tuesday 5 May, the quiet lawns will once again become a place of remembrance. At 5pm, Speak Up Now – Stop Domestic & Family Violence, together with the Maleny Neighbourhood Centre, will host their combined 2026 Candlelight Ceremony as part of Domestic Violence Prevention Month.

Several speakers will share why preventing domestic and family violence requires all of us – neighbours, friends, workplaces and community groups – working together.  

“Each year, our candlelight ceremony brings the Maleny & wider community together in a deeply moving way,” said Speak Up Now spokesperson Val France. “We gather not only to remember those we’ve lost, but to listen, to reflect and to carry forward the stories that remind us why this work matters.”

At the heart of the ceremony is a simple but powerful symbol: a selection of women’s, men’s, and children’s shoes placed gently on the grass. They sit silently, yet they speak volumes. Each pair represents a life lost — someone who will never return home, someone whose family and friends continue to mourn and remember them.

As the community places candles around the shoes, a one‑minute silence is held. It is a moment that binds strangers together, honouring those who have died and acknowledging the ongoing impact of domestic and family violence.

The much‑loved Sweet Chilli Choir, long‑time supporters of the event, will once again fill the park with their beautiful and thoughtful songs.

After the ceremony, everyone is invited to continue the conversation at a free BBQ at the Maleny Neighbourhood Centre, generously provided by the Maleny Lions. It’s a chance to connect, reflect, and strengthen the ties that help keep our community safe.

Speak Up Now invites the community to attend this peaceful and meaningful evening of remembrance and hope.