Alleged murder of 23-year-old Hannah McGuire reignites calls to prevent violence against women
Hannah McGuire, 23, was found dead inside a burnt-out vehicle near State Forest Rd in Scarsdale. (Supplied: GoFundMe)
A national leader in the prevention of violence against women has labelled the alleged murder of 23-year-old Hannah McGuire a "national tragedy".
Twenty-one-year-old Sebastopol man Lachlan Young appeared in the Ballarat Magistrate's court on Tuesday morning, charged with one count of murder.
In a packed courtroom filled with family and friends of Ms McGuire, the court heard it was the 21-year-old's first time in police custody.
Ms McGuire's body was found in the burnt-out wreck of a car on Friday near Ballarat. Mr Young was arrested two days later.
He will return to court in July.
"As a community we have to move past being upset about it and (start) taking action to prevent further murders of women," Our Watch chief executive Patty Kinnersly told ABC Melbourne Mornings.
"This is Australia. This is a first-world country.
"We cannot continue down this path of violence against women when we know it is preventable and it is based on respect and equality for women."
Ms McGuire, from the small community of Clunes, 36 kilometres north of Ballarat, has been described as a "bright" person with a "heart of gold".
It is understood her family runs the town's pub, The National Hotel, which posted on social media on Monday.
"You weren't just a star to us. You were our whole damn sky," the post read.
Hannah McGuire has been described as a woman with a "heart of gold". (Supplied: Facebook)
Creating culture of respect
Victoria Police said Ms McGuire's family reported her missing on Friday morning.
Her body was found later that day in a burnt-out vehicle near State Forest Road in Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat.
Emergency services were called to a car fire near this bush location in Scarsdale. (ABC Ballarat: Lexie Jeuniewic)
Police said Ms McGuire and the accused man were known to each other. The ABC understands Mr Young and Ms McGuire were former partners.
Ms Kinnersly told ABC Statewide Drive "there have been 18 women allegedly killed so far this year and 17 of those by a man, and for many of them, by men that they know".
"We know women will never be safe while they are not respected or equal," she said.
Premier Jacinta Allan said this was "unacceptable" and it had to stop.
Ms Kinnersly said there was extensive work to change societal culture at many levels including sporting clubs, schools, workplaces, and government, but individuals needed to take responsibility as well.
"I think the key point we are at now is people have to stop thinking this is happening over there or in someone else's family or community," she said.
Our Watch CEO Patty Kinnersly says everyone has a responsibility to create a culture of respect for women. (ABC News: Daniel Fermer)
"In every situation, there will have been people who said, 'I don't like the way that man talks about his wife as someone he owns' or, 'I don't like the way that person is talking disrespectfully about women.'
"We have not yet been brave enough as a community to step forward and say, 'We don't talk about women like that' or, 'Hey mate, I don't think the way you are talking about your partner is OK.'
"As a community, each of us individually has got to take more action now when we see the signs."
The Central Highlands Family Violence Committee said in a statement it was committed to working with other services to drive "real and lasting change that enables a culture where violence against women does not exist".
"Violence against women requires a whole-of-community response with everyone working together, using their influence to call out disrespect and help make Ballarat and surrounds a safer place for women," the statement said.
Support for 'devastated' community
The Clunes community, a town of about 1,800 people, is rallying around the McGuire family, with the cricket club launching an online fundraiser.
Mayor of the local Hepburn Shire Council Brian Hood said the tragedy had devastated the entire community.
Hepburn Shire Mayor Brian Hood says the council will offer support to the Clunes community. (ABC Ballarat: Patrick Laverick)
"People are in shock and appalled at what has happened," he said.
"Unfortunately we hear of these incidents in the media from time to time, but when it happens in your own backyard it has a significantly greater impact.
"I think for most of us it is pretty difficult to comprehend how and why these sorts of events happen."
Cr Hood said Hepburn Shire Council would partner with Central Highlands Rural Health to offer mental health support to the community like it did following the Daylesford pub crash tragedy last year.
"One lesson that came out of that incident was there was a remarkably high take-up rate of community members utilising psychological support and counselling services," he said.
"We are very glad we put that in place."
The state premier said she was speaking to local councils to see what extra support the government could provide.
Editor's note April 16, 2024: The original version of this story featured a quote from Our Watch CEO Patty Kinnersly, which incorrectly stated 17 women had been murdered at the hands of partners and former partners this year. In a later interview she clarified this to correctly state “many of those” 17 women had been killed by men they knew. The story has been updated to reflect this clarification.