Michelle Hext is running a safety course for women.
By DANIELLE GALVIN
A PAKENHAM taekwondo instructor is running a free personal safety course following the alleged rape and murder of 29-year-old Brunswick woman Jillian Meagher.
Michelle Hext, who runs Australia’s first women only taekwondo dojang, believes the case has left women across the country feeling scared and disempowered.
“A lot of people have contacted me via Facebook today (Friday),” she said.
“One girl told me about her and her friend who were walking home and sensed danger.
“The girl looked up at the man walking towards them and her friend had her head down.
“The way that you hold yourself and the demeanour you project can be all you need to protect yourself.”
Ms Hext, who runs a martial arts studio in Pakenham, said she wanted the message out there for women to protect themselves and that’s why she’s running the free course.
“Women need to be very aware – and there are plenty of things we can do to be safe,” she said.
“If you know you are walking home you need all of your senses, you shouldn’t drink too much, you have to trust your gut instinct and have your wits about you.
“You need every single one of them, especially if something doesn’t feel right.”
Ms Hext believes that women were feeling particularly disturbed with the thought that it could happen to anybody.
“This has had such an impact on the female population,” she said.
“We should feel OK to walk home – you can’t modify your behaviour that much that you can’t do things anymore but there are some things that you can do.”
Some of the tips that the martial arts champ has offered include not listening to music or talking on your phone.
“You don’t want to be distracted,” she said.
“With this story, obviously Jillian was familiar with her surroundings.
“If you’re drinking, you are more vulnerable the more you drink, because it dampens your senses and your gut instinct is suppressed, everything is compromised.
“Basically, attackers want an easy target – don’t give them one.”
Ms Hext said another important factor for women was trusting their instincts and acting immediately.
“Fight where you stand and don’t be removed from your current location – studies have shown it’s a bad sign of what’s to come if you’re moved from where you started.”
The free safety course is on Saturday 13 October and it will be a practical application of Michelle’s tips.
To register, visit her Facebook page.
The course is at Factory 5, 14-17 Hogan Court in Pakenham.
