Sherele Moody starts her day at 4am. She meticulously goes through newspapers, police reports and anything that has come through from her network of contacts.
She’s searching for something she doesn’t want to find: Evidence of an Australian woman or child killed by violence at home or abroad.
When she does find such evidence, she starts looking for more answers to update the platforms she runs, including Australian Femicide Watch and the ‘She Matters’ Project, as well as The Red Heart Campaign, Memorial to Women and Children Lost by Violence.
You can’t schedule a holiday around this work. Christmas doesn’t stop the violence against women and children. Indeed, there is evidence that during the holiday period, things can get worse.
Moody’s goal is to record and memorialize the stories of women and children killed by violence, including while overseas. She puts names to those killed, where she can. She shares more on who they were and their stories, hopes and dreams, and the family and friends who have lost a sister, mother, daughter, auntie, friend, and colleague.
She has been doing it since 2015, dedicating her life and journalism career to bringing the individual stories of violence against women, and the collective toll of loss to Australians.
I spoke to Moody for the Women’s Agenda podcast to ask about the work, the process she goes through to make it happen and why, in 2024, we’re still seeing the individual women at the heart of these killings erased as either “not newsworthy enough” or so newsworthy that they become a sensationalised headline.
As Moody explains on her work: “It’s about trying to tell their stories and let people know they are not just someone’s wife or mother or someone whose body was found in a bin. It’s that this was a unique person who is not here anymore, through no fault of their own. It’s important that we remember and keep the space to tell their stories.”
Moody describes how she uncoverers the deaths of women that don’t get recorded in news outlets, as well as working with police sources to learn more, and even often being contacted directly by families.
“When I’m doing that first round of checks in the morning, I have a bit of anxiety. Doing this is a fraught and difficult process and I just think, ‘I don’t want to find that anyone has been killed today’,” she says.
Asked about the help she receives to stay on top of it all, Moody notes a friend who supports in monitoring comments across social. media.
But in terms of the research and writing, Moody does this herself, meaning there are few opportunities to take off and also leaving her concerned about the long-term sustainability of the project should she get sick, and as she gets older.
“You take time off when you can take time off. And that’s usually when no one is being killed, because they are the most emotional and hectic times,” she says.
“Also, I’m 53. I reckon I have 20, maybe 25 years left of this. What’s going to happen when I’m not able to do it anymore? I need to make it sustainable and financially stable and so it’s ready for when it’s not just me.”
Listen to the interview on Women’s Agenda podcast on iTunes or Spotify, or below.
You can support Sherele’s work! Buy a t-shirt (including her latest edition which features Gisèle Pelicot as TIME Person of the Year). You can also donate to support the work here. And go and read the stories on The RED HEART Campaign.
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If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au.
Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.