Taking a stand against family violence

“I hope we have started making an actual change to a preventable health issue.”

That is how Hands Up Casterton community engagement officer Kane Forbes summed up the 14-Day #SAYNO2FAMILYVIOLENCE Campaign that culminated on August 2 at the Casterton Sandford home game against West Gambier.

Island Park was a sea of purple as footballers and netballers donned shirts spreading the #SAYNO2FAMILYVIOLENCE message for their warm up, touches of purple during the matches, a minute’s silence to show respect to those lost, including a Coleraine woman that weekend, along with key stakeholders set up to hand out information.

“With respect to the family, the situation at Coleraine just brought it right into perspective that family violence happens in our own communities,” Kane said.

An education session held on July 24 was well attended by around 80 people, mainly players.

“It was great to be able to really set out the reason for the Saturday home game event and to give everyone a better understanding of what we were trying to do,” Kane said.

He said the cooperation between the Casterton Sandford Football Netball Club; West Gambier; the Limestone Coast Football Netball League; United Way Glenelg; Rotary and Lions Clubs and the local coffee shops that placed the information messages on stickers on their take away cups.

“It was such a united project that hopefully reached people in need,” Kane said. There is no one solution that suits everyone and we wanted people to know just what help is available.

“We had flyers at the gate; the visual of the shirts and I think we were able to deliver the education and awareness piece of the project.

“We hope we have broken the stigma and silence around domestic violence and people feel more comfortable to seek support.

“We also hope if there were any perpetrators that they start understanding the change being respectful can make and change their ways for the better.”

Kane is now set to analyse the surveys undertaken to allow him to fully assess the impact of the campaign, which he hopes will be an annual campaign.

He also reminded any community groups that her has a raft of resources and the purple shirts that he can provide for a similar campaign or event anywhere in the region.