"I'll never forget that smell ever," she said.

That traumatic attack three years ago was part of a string of violent incidents that eventually led to Diane splitting up with her partner.

Diane - not her real name - agreed to speak to The Examiner yesterday in order to highlight the issue of family violence and encourage battered women to seek help on White Ribbon Day.

Her partner moved out two days after that attack, but it wasn't until he rang up and said he was going to shoot Diane and their son that she called the police.

"I thought `it's not going to stop'," she said.

The police charged her partner with criminal code assault and he spent time in jail after being convicted.

Diane said the violence in the relationship had affected her son, who she said was edgy and worried about seeing his father.

"Little people like that, it scars them for life," she said.

The violence has also made her more cautious and changed her attitudes to people.

However, with good friends and family relationships she has been able to move forward despite it still affecting her.

Diane said the police were "fantastic" and told her to call them if she ever felt threatened, while she also had good backing from the Family Violence Counselling and Support Service, and from court support and from the prosecution who pursued her case.

She had a message for other women who might be in a violent relationship - especially if they have children.

"Get them and get the hell out now," she said.

"Women need to know there is support out there.

"It's not easy. I'm not saying it's easy.

"(But) once you get away from the environment, you can make sense of what's happened."

Diane said she wanted people to understand family violence usually started with just a push and then escalated.

"If you stay, it becomes a normal way of life," she said.

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