Editorial: Make hard choice

What would you do, if you saw a person being assaulted in front of you?

Graham Hughes, Maryann Marsh and Antony Coleman stopped an attack on a woman and probably saved her life.

Maryann was pregnant at the time, but she still risked injury to stop the attack.

Several people ignored the attack, as Mr Hughes said, "There were some big fullas driving past and I just couldn't believe they didn't stop and help."

There were also people nearby in a vehicle queue. Who did nothing.

Last year, an assault took place in our street.

There would have been 20 houses within hearing distance of the incident. It was loud enough to wake people up. And when the male involved took a run up and kicked a woman in the legs, we called the police.

I don't recall the police officer who took a statement saying how many people had called the police, but I wondered what would have happened if my wife hadn't investigated the noise, and recognised that the tone of the couple's conversation had become unpleasant.

If we do nothing when this type of thing happens in our community, it breeds tolerance and encourages the anti-social or violent behaviour.

It's not OK, as the slogan of the successful domestic violence campaign says.

We need more people to stand up and say "it's not OK".

Whether it's verbal abuse, physical abuse, school yard taunts or corporate bullying.

We need more people like Graham, Maryann and Antony. Congratulations to all three of you for setting your tolerance at "zero" and not taking the easy option, and turning away.