When Britt Michell took to the dance floor with a friend at The Rogue Scholar on Saturday night, she did not expect her evening to end with violence.
“It was an absolute shock,” fiancée Hayley Goldie told the Newcastle Weekly of the alleged assault on her partner.
“She’s still really sore, but while she’s physically mending, emotionally she’s not so great.
“We are taking it day-by-day; Britt is incredibly strong.”
With the alleged 15 March assault currently under investigation by NSW Police, the couple can’t go into further details about what happened at the popular local venue.
‘Unacceptable violence’
But, thanks to Hayley’s widely-shared Facebook post, Britt’s experience has sparked wider conversations about women’s safety and accountability in Newcastle’s nightlife scene.
“I initially shared the post as a plea for information to help try to find the perpetrator,” she explained.
“What we weren’t expecting was how many women have been in touch to share their experience of similar nights out in Newcastle.
“The comments and our private DMs are full of others sharing how they have gone through similar acts of violence.
“One woman told us of how she was punched five times while out at another venue a few weeks ago.
“It seems like there’s this underlying acceptance that if you’re a woman going out in Newcastle, being assaulted is just something that happens… and that’s unacceptable.”
‘I look different’
Britt told the Newcastle Weekly this is not the first time she has been bashed while out with friends.
In 2017, she was attacked in Sydney by a group of men in what she believes related to the legislative change to allow same-sex marriage.
“I do feel I am targeted because I look different,” Britt said.
“I think that there is a certain demographic that feel threatened by me, and overall it seems to be the older generation of men.
“I don’t know if it’s because I represent a strong woman, or I challenge them on traditional gender roles, or they think I am a boy.
“I don’t understand it and it’s really sad.”
Contradiction and confusion
What has compounded the pain for Britt and Hayley is how the venue handled the situation by not calling the police and then releasing a contradictory statement on Facebook to say they did.
Police confirmed they were not called by the venue at the time of the incident.
It was only after Britt and Hayley filed a report the next day that an investigation was launched.
The initial post from The Rogue Scholar was later deleted and followed by a revised statement.
It and both the Instagram and Facebook accounts of the venue have since disappeared.
“It’s heartbreaking because the bare minimum you expect from a venue is to provide a duty of care – to look after you and call for help when you need it,” Hayley said.
Teaching their boys
Despite the trauma, Britt and Hayley are channelling their pain into action.
They are also focused on teaching their four children, all boys, about accountability and respect.
“We’re not trying to shield them from this,” Britt said.
“We’re using this as a teaching moment to raise good men who understand the importance of standing up for others and respecting women.”
Britt has been in touch with Victims of Crime Assistance League (VOCAL) for free counselling sessions and the couple is working with local organisations to organise a rally aimed at raising awareness about violence against women.
“If we can educate people and hold men accountable for their actions, maybe we can make it safer for women in Newcastle,” Hayley said.
“We want to make it clear that enough is enough.
“How many women have to be assaulted or even killed before something changes?”
Through their courage and determination to speak out, Britt and Hayley are hoping to create a legacy of change, one where women feel safe going out at night and where venues take their responsibility to protect patrons seriously.
“The support we’ve received has been incredible,” Hayley said.
“We just hope that this isn’t forgotten.
“We want to see real change, for Britt and for every woman who’s ever felt unsafe just trying to enjoy a night out.”
FOOTNOTE: An Enough is Enough rally will take place on the Shortland Lawn at Newcastle’s Foreshore Park on Sunday 23 March from 12.30pm.
For more news stories:
- Rogue Scholar ‘disappears’ online after alleged assault
- Eagles, Seagulls count cost of senseless vandalism at Lake Mac league ground
- Cessnock Bypass ‘inevitable’, says local MP
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