On March 22, tragedy struck as Audrey Griffin, just two weeks away from beginning her naval career, was fatally attacked while walking home at night. Her mother, Kathleen Kirby, lost her only daughter that night after Audrey had travelled to the NSW Central Coast to visit friends before enlisting in the defence forces.
At around 2am, Audrey attempted to order an Uber or taxi but, finding none available, decided to walk. Unfortunately, she never reached her destination. Concerned after not hearing from her, Kathleen tracked her phone’s location and immediately worried upon seeing where it was. After unsuccessfully trying to contact her daughter, Kathleen sought help from Audrey’s friends. They discovered her belongings along a creek and tragically found Audrey’s body there.
A month later, Adrian Torrens, a known violent offender, was arrested and charged with Audrey’s murder. Torrens had a troubling past, including a 20-month prison sentence for domestic violence, which he served only four months of before being paroled. He had also faced additional charges, including a recent community corrections order. Disturbingly, he took his own life shortly after being charged.
Kathleen is now advocating for urgent action to combat violence against women, stating that Audrey’s death should not be overlooked or treated as just another statistic. She urges leaders to make meaningful changes to address these pervasive issues. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton echoed her sentiment, emphasising the need for prioritising the prevention of violence against women.
In response to the ongoing crisis, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged the establishment of a domestic violence recovery centre in the Central Coast, which has gained support from the opposition. However, discussions on this critical issue have largely been absent from broader political campaigns.
With this heartbreaking narrative, the call for immediate and effective actions against domestic violence becomes clearer. For those in need of support, services like Lifeline, Beyond Blue, and 1800RESPECT stand ready to provide assistance.