LIANN Taffe was once told she couldn't leave the anti-domestic violence event she founded, Walk A Mile Koori Style.
"The person said it was my baby," Ms Taffe said.
"They said because I created it and because I have a passion for the way it runs I could never leave, but I think that's untrue.
"I know when others do it they find they experience the same feeling about it."
The caseworker at Warlga Ngurra Women and Children's Refuge established the event in 2013, but Friday's will be her last before she relocates to Queensland.
It is shaping up to be the biggest yet. She had 909 participants on Wednesday and will take more registrations at Fletcher Park on Watt Street before the event starts at 10am.
Inspired by Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, the Hunter event is led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and boys and encourages all males to participate and say no to domestic violence.
Participants will walk through King Edward Park and meet women waiting at the top of the park.
They will say the White Ribbon oath to stand up, speak out and act to prevent men's violence against women.
A collection of 52 butterflies - to represent each woman killed by violence this year - will be released, as will caterpillars representing children.
This will be followed by entertainment in the park's amphitheatre.
"It's about us leading the way and saying 'We don't accept this in our culture, if it's not accepted in yours then come with us'," she said.
"It's also about saying to others 'Why aren't you here? Why aren't you changing? Why aren't you part of us?'"
Ms Taffe said most people who approached Warlga Ngurra were homeless due to domestic or family violence.
She said the refuge was purpose-built for five families and always full.
"If I won $20 million I would build a refuge with more rooms, like a hotel, but even with 10, 15, 20 rooms, you'd never have an empty room."
She said the community needed "stronger laws and judges who are willing to enforce punishment the first time, not the 20th time", as well as more support for caseworkers, who often take on vicarious trauma.
Ms Taffe said participants would receive a free t-shirt bearing the name of Senior Constable David 'Mark' Graham, a friend of the event.
"The first year the police drove around because there were so many people and a lot of Aboriginal people thought the worst," she said.
"That was brought up to the Inspector on the committee and the next year they came into the park and started mingling with everybody."
She said he attended every event, except last year's, the day of his funeral.
"He was supportive, funny as and made an impact on all who knew him."
