Community groups from across the Manning and Great Lakes came together for a special White Ribbon Day event at Lone Pine Memorial Park in Tuncurry on Friday, November 23.
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Representatives of Taree and Great Lakes Women’s Shelters, the Taree and District Vintage Motorcycles Club, Salvation Army, Tobwabba Aboriginal Medical Service, Homestart, Homebase and the Neighborhood Centre gathered together to raise awareness of domestic violence.
One of the refuge workers from the Great Lakes Women’s Shelter explained the group tried to do something different every year for White Ribbon Day.
“The day is about looking at domestic violence from the men’s perspective,” she said.
“The white ribbon campaign is a means for men to speak out and act to stop violence against women and effectively challenge the attitudes and behaviors of a minority of men who use or condone violence against women.”
This year, the group invited members of the Taree and District Vintage Motorcycles Club, who made a special donation to both the Great Lakes and Taree shelters.
“It’s great to have such a masculine presence here, so men can hear other men speaking and doing the right things,” the refuge worker added.
On display were a range of vintage motorcycles, with many club members turning up to support the event.
Taree and District Vintage Motorcycles Club president Graham Costello said it was the second year the club had made a donation to the women’s shelters.
“Today we have donated $450 for each group, which we fund-raised at our annual club rally at Hallidays Point,” Graham explained.
“It was a fantastic event, and with more than 100 participants at $25 each we raised enough to be able to make a real difference.”
Graham presented the cheque to Great Lakes Women's Shelter manager, Natalie Mulhall.
“This money helps everyone,” Natalie said.
“The shelter is so important in this community, and as staff, we enjoy helping these women to get to a better place.
“We are always going to need the community’s support, because the shelter runs off community funds, and it’s extraordinary the community keeps on giving.
“We’re such a small town and yet we receive so many donations. The support we receive, we just can’t say enough about it. Everyone is always putting things together to help us out, and it is so very appreciated.”