Rodney residents are being encouraged to demonstrate their commitment to ending family violence by taking part in White Ribbon Day.
Wednesday 25th November is International White Ribbon Day. White Ribbon Day aims to raise awareness about violence against women. The day is an opportunity for people show that they think family violence is unacceptable by wearing a white ribbon.
Family violence is happening in Rodney. Local services are helping increasing numbers of families needing assistance as a result of family violence. Between July 2008 and June 2009, more than 2,550 women and children were supported by Hestia Rodney Women’s Refuge.
A number of local groups have collaborated to organise events to mark White Ribbon Day. A fun run will take place on Orewa Beach on Sunday 22 November beginning at 3pm which is open to the public to participate in. The fun run will feature music, a sausage sizzle, information about family violence, and Rodney Deputy Mayor John Kirikiri as MC.
Competitors are encouraged to come along in ‘fancy dress’ and spot prizes will also be awarded at the event, including a three month membership at The Leisure Centre, Whanaparaoa.
On November 25 displays will be staged in Wellsford outside Postie Plus and in Warkworth next to Lee & Hart’s Pharmacy. These events will begin at 11.30am and end at 3:30 pm. and will provide free white ribbons, information about family violence, and free sausages to the public.
In Helensville, members of Tu Tangi Ora - South Kaipara Collective will be raising awareness about White Ribbon Day at the local Touch Rugby Competition at 4pm on Friday 20 November at Rautawhiri Park.
White Ribbon Day events are once again being supported and partially funded by Rodney District Council.
Deputy Mayor John Kirikiri says that domestic violence is often hidden from the community and that, “there are many people affected by violence right here in Rodney.”
“The Council supports White Ribbon Day as a way of saying that we won’t tolerate domestic violence in this District and that everyone has the right to be treated with respect. “
In addition to raising awareness about family violence, the White Ribbon Day stalls will provide information about local support services and will have community workers present to answer questions about family violence.
“White Ribbon Day is an opportunity as a community to show that we will not support family violence but we will support people to make changes in their lives,” says one of the event organisers Diane Woolson Neville, of Te Rito Rodney Family Violence Prevention Project.
There are a number of local organisations who can provide support for women and families experiencing family violence.
Hestia Womens’s Refuge provides community support, advocacy and emergency accommodation to those affected by family violence. They can be contacted by phoning: 09 425 0452 in Warkworth/Wellsford, 09 427 5154 in Orewa/Whangaparaoa, 09 420 6083 in Helensville or 0800 321 361 to reach the emergency paging service.
Rodney Stopping Violence Services provide violence prevention programmes and counselling for men, women and children and can be contacted on 09 425 8130.
Rodney District Council and Te Rito Rodney would like to thank the sponsors of White Ribbon Day. The sponsors are: Orewa Rotary and Zonta Club of Hibiscus Coast who are providing volunteers to help to run White Ribbon events, Superloo who are providing on site facilities, and The Leisure Centre, Whangaparaoa for providing a free membership as a spot prize.