General News
27 November, 2024
White Ribbon March to raise awareness of domestic violence
Gilgandra is being encouraged to participate in a day of awareness for domestic violence by taking part in this weekend’s White Ribbon March.
On Saturday, a community march will begin from Hunter Park, planned to set out just before lunch for the Gilgandra Community Plaza in Miller Street. A guest speaker has been arranged to discuss the impact of domestic and family violence on our communities. Local support services will be on hand to discuss ways to report and seek assistance related to domestic violence.
The march is a community-raised initiative with representatives from Gilgandra Shire Council, local health, fire, and police services, church groups, schools, and Aboriginal health services all involved in discussion as to how Gilgandra can make a stand as a community against domestic violence.
Members of the community are all invited to participate in the march to “lead the change,” raise awareness of Australia’s gendered crime crisis, and advocate men’s role in ending violence against women.
Nurse manager of Gilgandra Multi-Purpose Service, John Alchin, said that the aim of the march is to “heighten the awareness in our community to the current crisis Australia is facing related to domestic violence, the innocent lives lost, and the impact it’s having on children, families, and our community as a whole.”
“We want to encourage our community to reject domestic violence and send a clear message that the community of Gilgandra says ‘no’ to domestic violence,” he said. “It’s hoped from this event that we may be able to build on this initiative and create some long-term sustainable change within our local community.
“We have the desire and the commitment within our community to make real change and to let young men and women know that violence in relationships is not acceptable and that there is help and support out there to make change,” said Mr. Alchin.
According to the White Ribbon organisation, women are three times more likely than men to experience violence at the hands of a partner. Family and partner violence is the leading cause of serious injury, disability, and death among Australian women. On average, one woman is killed every week by a former or current intimate partner.
White Ribbon Australia was established in 2007 to combat this national crisis. Since then, they have worked to end men's violence against women through primary prevention strategies such as workplace policy reform and advocacy programs. The vision of White Ribbon Australia is “a nation where every woman is free from all forms of men’s violence and abuse,” according to their website.
White Ribbon Month, from November 18 to December 13, is a new initiative of the organisation, expanding from the White Ribbon Day previously held annually on November 25.
Sources of assistance:
Police/emergency services: triple zero (000) www.triplezero.gov.au
1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732 www.1800respect.org.au
Lifeline: 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au
Kids Help Line: 1800 55 1800 www.kidshelpline.com.au
