MORE than 270 people attended the sold-out stage show Musique en Rouge at Redland Performing Arts Centre and in the process raised more than $50,000 for local support services.
Mayor Karen Williams praised residents for their generosity in a challenging year to help those affected by domestic and family violence.
"I am thrilled at the response to this year's new-look fundraiser, after COVID-19 restrictions meant we weren't able to hold our popular Diner en Rouge mystery location sit-down gala dinner," she said.
"This year's event brings the total raised over the past six years to almost $400,000 and I thank everyone who has contributed to that figure, in particular Dan Holzapfel, who has been a generous benefactor from the start," she said.
The funds raised through the event are distributed locally to support the service providers who assist women and children whose lives have been shattered by violence.
Cr Williams said some of the money raised would also support the Red Rose Foundation's Red Bench project across Redlands Coast.
Redlands became home to Queensland's first red bench last year and now a further 10 benches will be installed across the city.
"The red benches serve as a permanent and visible reminder that domestic and family violence occurs within our community, and also that people are standing up to do something about it," Cr Williams said.
Guest speakers Lloyd and Sue Clarke received a standing ovation for their first official speaking appearance since the tragic deaths of their daughter Hannah Clarke and young grandchildren Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey in February at Camp Hill.
The Clarke's are a driving force behind a national push to criminalise coercive control, which is already a crime in Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales, and may have saved Hannah's life.
"Coercive control is a pattern of domination that can include emotional abuse, isolation, sexual coercion, financial abuse, cyber-stalking and other forms of intimidation.
"It is the most common risk factor in the lead up to an intimate partner murder and often ends in homicide," Ms Clarke said.
She also spoke of the Small Steps 4 Hannah charity that they have created to help stop domestic violence.
Mr Clarke said it was important to know the signs of a dangerous partner.
"There is a homicide timeline: an offender has a history of abuse with the same or different victim, the relationship doesn't start abusively and gradually the partner becomes more controlling, there's a trigger such as end of the relationship, which is most dangerous time, and it escalates and the abuser kills the partner," he said.
"If we can predict it we can help prevent it...keep coming to events like this and supporting those people and groups working to end domestic violence".
Cr Williams thanked all organisations and individuals on the front line helping survivors of domestic and family violence.
Musique en Rouge featured performances by Mirusia, Luke Kennedy and Naomi Price and band, Flipside Circus, Manoeuvre and Daniel J. Lewis.
