In 2012, I started teaching people to weave an eight-pointed star — a small, repeatable act carrying a big idea: safety, dignity, respect, and a stand against violence in all its forms.

What began in Naarm (Melbourne) after a local woman was raped and murdered, grew into a global movement with millions of stars woven by hands in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Hawai’i, Malaysia, Kenya, Ireland, England, Scotland, Canada and the USA, Barbados and Japan.

In 2018, as part of the Gold Cost Commonwealth Games Arts & Cultural Program, one million stars were displayed in Brisbane city – a collaboration between Maryann, the Office of Commonwealth Games, Museum of Brisbane and Lumen & Cloud. Smaller installations were created at the Gold Coast Athletes Village, Cairns, Townsville and the Brisbane Powerhouse Museum.