Tonight, our thoughts are with the family of Allison Baden-Clay.

About a week ago, I was texting my friend Kate, late into the night.

‘If I pick you up at 3 o’clock, we could be in the line at the Supreme Court before 5’, I texted.

‘Are you serious?’ came the reply.

I was. At the time. We’d become consumed by the murder trial of Gerard Baden-Clay, accused of killing his wife Allison, and wanted to be there, in person, as he gave testimony in his defence.

We weren’t the only ones. Over the past six weeks, the lines outside court room 11 had grown steadily. For today’s verdict, two overflow courtrooms were opened up to allow a fascinated public entry.

http://ivillageau.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/files/gerard-baden-clay-and-wife-22.jpg Allison marries Gerard Baden-Clay.

In the end, we stayed at home. The practicalities of young families and work responsibilities got the better of us. But like many across the country, we followed the case closely and today, waited with bated breath for the verdict.

‘Guilty’ we texted each other. ‘Wow. Life. As it should be’

Later that night, we toasted Allison and debriefed.

‘Thank God she scratched his face ’.

Why had this case – among a thousand others – captured our attention? Was it merely voyeurism? A fascination with sordid details of a failed marriage, two mistresses and a cheating husband?

It’s more than that.

For me - a mother of young children - Allison was one of us. Bright, ambitious, beautiful and well-liked, she could be any mother waiting at the school gate. She could be your colleague at work. She could be your sister-in-law.

If she was one of us, then what happened to her could have happened to any one of our friends or family members. And that was a terrible thought.

http://ivillageau.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/files/baden-clay-supportes-leave-court-jpg.jpg Allison's supporters leave the court today to release yellow balloons - a tribute to her favourite colour.

As my friend Anita pointed out today, ‘Those fingernail scratches really resonated with me – the thought of her fighting for her life against her husband is horrific’.

We need to remember Allison Baden-Clay. We need to remember for the sake of her three daughters, now growing up without their mother. And we need to remember for the sake of the many other women in Australia, who face violence every day.

We should never forget that one third of women experience domestic or sexual violence in their lifetime. We should never be ok with that.

Allison was one of us. And we won’t forget her.

Share your message of support for Allison's family, below.

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