Ex-footy star, MP, Cleary spreads word on ending gendered violence
Published on 20 May 2026
Three months after the exhilaration of his 200th game of footy for Coburg, Phil Cleary was brought to his lowest by the death of his 25-year-old sister, Vicki, at the hands of a violent ex-boyfriend.
Vicki’s murder and the court case in 1989 that saw her killer found guilty of manslaughter, not murder, and sentenced to less than four years in jail was the start of a lifelong mission to end violence against women.
Mr Cleary will speak at the Killara Centre in Camperdown on Friday 5 June at 2.30 pm.
“When Vicki was murdered in 1987, communities weren’t talking about gendered violence like they are today.
“Now, every community across Australia is talking about what respectful relationships look like and why violence against women, which includes the murder of around 80 women a year, is the equivalent of a national crisis.”
Echoing Mr Cleary’s words, Corangamite Shire Mayor Kate Makin described violence against women and children as a “societal issue that results in one in four Australian women experiencing violence from an intimate partner”.
“This is a reminder of how important it is for the community to change attitudes that give rise to violence,” Cr Makin said.
“In 2015 the Royal Commission into Family Violence found 80% of cases go unreported.
“Everyone has a responsibility to call out disrespect, sexism and challenge the attitudes responsible for this epidemic of violence.”
If you are concerned that someone you know is at risk of gendered violence or are experiencing yourself, help is available.
The event is funded by the Victorian Government’s Free from Violence local government program.
The free event will include refreshments. Places are limited so community members are encouraged to register now at corangamite.vic.gov.au/PhilClearyEvent.
If you need help:
If you are in immediate danger, call Triple zero.
- https://www.crimestatistics.vic.gov.au/family-violence-data/family-violence-dashboard
- https://www.vic.gov.au/about-family-violence-victoria
Phil Cleary Bio
Phil Cleary is a former teacher, football legend and independent member of the Australian Parliament.
A political scientist and historian, Phil is the author of the books Cleary Independent (1998), Just another little murder (2002) and Getting away with murder (2005) and has published numerous articles.
Since the murder of his 25-year-old sister, Vicki, in 1987, Phil has been at the forefront of the campaign to stop violence against women.
From July 2016 to November 2019 he was a member of the Victorian government’s Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council, which oversaw the state government's family violence reform agenda.
In 2017 he created Vicki Cleary Day in memory of Vicki and all the women taken by violent men.
In 2019 he was awarded the Gowland Award for his campaigning to end violence against women.
In 2022 Phil was made a Distinguished Alumni of La Trobe University. His latest project, a documentary film, Gladys and the Brunswick Boys, is in production.
The Free From Violence program is putting on a community event at the Killara Centre on the Friday 5 June around Family Violence and Violence Against Women.
Phil Cleary (https://philcleary.com.au) will talk about the trauma of the loss of his sister and his campaign to end Violence Against Women, followed by a Q& A.