years, they have to reach out to Bermuda's young people with more than words, according to a physical abuse counsellor.

Mrs. Sandra Dill-Lodge, the coordinator of counselling at the Physical Abuse Centre, told Hamilton Lions Club that action by all members of the community was needed to stem domestic violence.

After showing slides containing headlines from The Royal Gazette and Police photographs depicting victims of violence, Mrs. Dill-Lodge said: "Abuse in its various forms (pushing, chocking, hitting, slapping) has risen to epidemic proportions in our island home.'' "Therefore this community must take a strong stance against the violence.'' Just last month the PAC received 60 calls and had to temporarily house seven women and nine children, she said.

Mrs. Dill-Lodge said the recent "Blow the whistle on violence'' conference had spotlighted the problem in Bermuda.

But if the outcome was just another "White or Green Paper'' that is discussed and shelved, the conference would have been wasted.

Violence that occurred within the home between spouses, children, parents or siblings, presented special difficulties, she said.

These also formed the bulk of cases the Physical Abuse Centre was called upon to deal with.

One factor that complicated cases where a woman and children are being abused, was fear of retaliation from the husband or boyfriend coupled with a lack of faith in the judicial system.

But action was most important to stopping abuse and it ranged from becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister, to volunteering at the PAC, or reporting abuse or adopting a school.

"I believe just arresting people will not solve the problem,'' she said."Arrests should involve some kind of rehabilitation.''