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More than a thousand people have marched along a Brisbane road where a young woman was allegedly raped and assaulted this week to demand community safety and call out violence against women.
The 23-year-old woman from Brookfield, in Brisbane’s west, was out walking on Thursday morning when she was allegedly attacked by Jacob Dave Henry Hauraki, 32, on his way to work.
According to police, Hauraki approached the woman from behind along Brookfield Road and dragged her into nearby bushes where he assaulted her for some time. She eventually fought him off, crossing a nearby creek and traversing bushland into Brookfield Showgrounds to call for help.
Hauraki was taken into custody on Wednesday afternoon after he returned to the crime scene later that day.
Local woman Emily Hall organised the Brookfield walk to show solidarity with the victim and to send a strong message that women should be able to feel safe in the community.
State MP Dr Christian Rowan, whose electorate includes Brookfield, joined the march from Rafting Ground Road Park to the Brookfield Showgrounds.
“Our community was shocked but our community is united,” Rowan told Nine News.
“When you see the number of people attending this walk in solidarity, it’s really really important.”
One local woman said the incident had angered and saddened the community, but hoped it would ignite important conversations about safety and violence against women.
“We feel deeply, deeply saddened that this has happened in our neighbourhood, or any neighbourhood,” she said.
“Our heart’s go out to [the victim] and her family.
“We know this walk isn’t going to change what’s happened, but it brings us together and I think the most important thing is it starts conversations.”
Councillor Greg Adermann and Labor MP Jonty Bush joined Rowan at the march.
Adermann said he was proud of the local community turnout in response “to the vile act against a young woman”
“Residents young and old attended in their thousands to walk along Rafting Ground Road towards the Brookfield Showgrounds and back,” he said in a post on Facebook.
Bush described “a powerful day today as thousands showed up for women”, citing record crowds for the AFLW game at the SCG and the Brookfield march.
“The Sydney Swans AFLW match drew record crowds – over 18,000 to the SCG,” she said.
“Closer to home around 1000 locals turned out in Brookfield following Thursday’s violent and sexual assault of a young woman.
“As the saying goes in times of hardship ‘look for the helpers’ and there was plenty for that today.”
Attendees of the march were encouraged to write messages and cards of support for the victim, which will be delivered this week.
The woman was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital immediately after the attack, but had returned home by Thursday.
Hauraki did not apply for bail at his mention in Brisbane’s Magistrates Court on Friday.
His matter is adjourned until September 18.
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