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Violence under attack

Memories: David Wirrpanda has witnessed domestic violence.

David Wirrpanda shifts awkwardly and admits feeling sick as memories of brutal domestic violence within his immediate family circle as a child come flooding back.

"When you see a relative rag-dolling his partner, it's scary … it's something that you never, ever forget," Wirrpanda said.

"Somewhere down the line, each and every one of us has had a family member who has gone through it and half the time you wouldn't even know. It's confronting."

Wirrpanda has become an ambassador for White Ribbon Australia, a male-led campaign to end men's violence against women.

It includes tonight's White Ribbon Night, when Australians are encouraged to join friends for "a night in to get the word out". On average in Australia, a woman is killed every week by a current or former partner and one in four children is exposed to violence at home.