Family of Hannah McGuire make heart-wrenching decision
A tight-knit community have rallied behind the family of Hannah McGuire, a 23-year-old teacher who was allegedly murdered by her estranged partner.
Hannah's parents have made the heart-wrenching decision to reopen their family-run pub, the National Hotel in the town of Clunes, north of Ballarat, in the days after Hannah's death.
As the hotel reopened, locals came together to lay flowers, buy drinks and share memories.
“It’s the saddest thing, I can’t believe it,” one patron told 7News. “To the young girl, we gave her all the best."
In the wake of Hannah's death, the women of Ballarat are set to join together for an emotional gathering to demand an end to violence against women.
The Ballarat region's Samantha Murphy, Rebecca Young and Hannah McGuire have all allegedly died at the hands of men since the beginning of February.
A rally will begin at Ballarat train station on Friday before gathering at Camp Street, family members of the victims, community leaders and family violence specialists will address the gathering.
Organiser Sissy Austin, who was herself savagely attacked while on a run in 2023, said the issue was a national crisis.
"Us Ballarat women, we're coming together to stand in solidarity, to feel less alone and to show the country that we're united," Ms Austin told AAP.
"We're here to fight for our rights to live safely in our community for generations to come.
"The Ballarat community aren't going to succumb to the violence that has been perpetrated in our town."
Ms Austin said the three killings in a little over two months had stunned the community.
"Women are living on eggshells," she said.
"The most immediate thing that we need to do, particularly as women, is to unite and show men who choose to use violence in our community that we stand against it," she added.
"Enough is enough."
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