Kylie Mizzi said Bates had been a caring neighbour to her late parents for years.

“She always helped my elderly parents and had a huge heart,was warm and loving,” she said. “I’m in total shock that something like this could happen to such a beautiful soul.”

Mizzi said something needed to be done about domestic violence. “All women should feel safe,” she said.

Another friend and neighbour,who requested anonymity,also confirmed Bates’ death.

Bates’ ex-husband was too distraught to speak toThe Age on Wednesday.

Premier Jacinta Allan,who learnt about the Cobram death at a press conference on Wednesday,could not speak specifically about the incident but broadly condemned violence against women.

“We have seen too many women already,in 2024,lose their life,” Allan said.

“They’ve lost their life,either at the hands of a current or former partner,or they’ve lost their life at the hands of a complete stranger who seemed intent on inflicting harm against women.

“This has to stop.”

Australia has been rocked by a spate of killings of women recently.

Twenty-six women have been killed in Australia so far this year,based on a tally from research groupCounting Dead Women Australia.

Only 11 days ago,five women – Ashlee Good,Jade Young,Dawn Singleton,Pikria Darchia and Yixuan Cheng – were among six people fatally stabbed atthe Bondi Junction shopping centre in Sydney.

There has also been an outpouring of grief and anger in NSW over the death of28-year-old mother Molly Ticehurst,after revelations her accused killer had been released on bail weeks earlier over allegations he had sexually assaulted her.

In Victoria,the Ballarat region has been hit by the death of23-year-old Hannah McGuire,allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend earlier this month.

That case followed the arrest of local man Patrick Stephenson,22,who was charged with murdering missing motherSamantha Murphy,51,in March. Murphy’s body has not been found.

On February 16,Rebecca Young,a 42-year-old mother and grandmother,also died in her Ballarat home after her partner,Ian Butler,55,committed an apparent murder-suicide.

On March 9,police found the body of Point Cook mother Chaithanya Madhagani,known as “Swetha”,in a wheelie bin left in scrub west of Geelong.

Her husband is believed to have travelled to India with the couple’s three-year-old son before Victorian police could question him or notify federal authorities to put a stop on his travel.

The premier said governments around the country needed to urgently improve support and protection for women. She also called on the broader community to act.

“If we see disrespect being shown,we’ve got to call it out,” Allan said. “We’ve got to say that it is wrong,because doing that,you never know,it might just save a life.”

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault,domestic or family violence,Call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.

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