By JARROD POTTER
MEN from all walks of life and all backgrounds must change their behaviour towards women.
On Saturday taking a stand against violence towards women on behalf of their communities were Noble Park and Balwyn Football Clubs.
The sides put aside their rivalry and stood together to halt the suburban scourge – domestic violence and violence towards women.
Inspector Bruce Kitchen recited the humble, yet powerful White Ribbon Oath on Saturday and was joined in refrain by all who attended the blockbuster Queen’s Birthday clash.
“I swear never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women.”
Members of the Greater Dandenong community – from Victorian Parliament, the council, the players, supporters and members of Noble Park Football Club – sent out the unified, strong message.
The Bulls also had a team of junior footballers take the oath alongside their senior counterparts to ensure the next generation is aware of this problem before they begin their own romantic lives.
Improvement has arisen in the community recently, as total family incident reports to Victoria Police have dropped from 2243 to 2133 between 2012/13 to 2013/14.
But this number remains alarmingly high across Greater Dandenong and has grown 66 per cent from 2009/10 – at that time 1421 reported incidents.
It has resulted in some harrowing statistics – a woman is killed almost every week in Australia by a partner or ex-partner and one-in-three women will suffer some form of abuse at the hands of a partner or ex-partner in their lives.
Noble Park president David Allan said the clubs wanted to band together to support a cause and violence towards women is a problem that resonates throughout the state.
“It’s the first year we’ve done it and it’s a cause that’s very relevant to both clubs as violence against women doesn’t discriminate on socio-economic grounds and can happen anywhere,” Allan said.
“It’s important that we see ourselves as a vehicle to spread that message to the broader community.
“We’d like the White Ribbon Day to become a regular fixture… we’ll do everything we can to continue further awareness and the message that comes with it.”
Keysborough MP Martin Pakula, the Victorian Attorney-General, believed the message is strongest served by friends and family at the local level to ensure domestic violence, or keeping silent about it, is no longer an option.
“It’s extraordinarily important,” Pakula said.
“This is about men telling other men that violence against women is inexcusable and telling men to stand up when they see something or hear something that shouldn’t be happening.
“Noble Park Football Club is a real leader in this community and for it to be taking such a powerful stand… to hear that message so strongly put by the club will have a real impact.”
More information on the White Ribbon organisation is available via their website www.whiteribbon.org.au.
