The reason for the emotional warning is that the guest will be Kellie Mills, creator of the 100 Alice Stories project.

Ms Mills is in the process of collecting 100 stories of escape and survival from domestic violence to develop into a book.

Domestic violence is something Ms Mills is unfortunately familiar with herself.

Ms Mills said her father was a violent alcoholic, and her stepfather was very controlling behind the scenes.

“I know what it’s like to grow up scared,” she said.

Ms Mills also spent a lot of time in far-western NSW with Aboriginal women, who shared their own stories with her.

She was also moved by the story of a 14-year-old girl who campaigned for domestic violence education in schools after she lost her mother to suicide.

It was these moments that spurred her into action.

“All I could hear was ‘100 stories, it’s time to rise up’,” she said.

Ms Mills said she had always been passionate about empowering women.

She said she not only wanted to support women who have been through domestic violence, but also to help women leave.

Through the 44 submissions Ms Mills has received so far, she has already been able to do both.

“Women have said [submitting their story] was like closing a page on a chapter of their life,” she said.

She also knows of two women who have made the decision to leave because of reading other stories.

“I hoped to save a life,” she said, “[but] I thought it would be something I’d never know about.”

Ms Mills’ husband suggested calling the survivors all one name to protect their safety.

Alice came from the song ‘Living Next Door to Alice’, as Ms Mills said anyone could be neighbours with someone they didn’t know was suffering domestic violence.

Ms Mills said she hoped her appearance at the Women’s Network luncheon brought attention to the issue and helped women feel supported.

The luncheon will be held at The George Tavern, Green Hills on November 30.

For further details visit https://hunterwomen.org.au/2016/11/09/839/