CORIO BRAWL BACKLASH
CORIO Community Sporting Club president Nevada Cornwell has stepped down after a brawl at a club function last Sunday Night.
Police had to be called to Corio oval after visitors to the club started brawling in the middle of the oval about 6pm — two arrests were made and capsicum spray had to be used to disperse the crowd.
Mr Cornwell told the Geelong Advertiser yesterday he was “devastated” and given he had announced only last week he was working with Jon Walker — father of onepunch victim Jaiden Walker — he thought it best he step down from any official role.
“I’m devastated to the point where I’m stepping down,” he said.
“I’m going to concentrate on pushing the non-violence message through to schools and working with the younger generation.”
Early last week Mr Cornwell announced he had joined Mr Walker in a bid to spread the message in sporting clubs across the region that violence is never the answer.
“The message isn’t really sinking through to adults it seems and I feel it’s better for me to concentrate on getting them earlier, when they’re teenagers and that’s why I’ve decided to remain coach of the under-18s group,” he said.
“My passion and my love of the club remains and I will still be involved in the junior section.”
Mr Cornwell, who played more than 300 games for the club and helped lift the football section from its knees in 2014, said the issue was beyond only the Corio club.
“If clubs don’t start doing something to educate their playing groups and their members it will keep happening,” he said.
“It’s in all parts of society, men are struggling to deal with their anger and . . . all clubs need to educate young men that violence is not the answer.
“It’s a huge issue and no one is doing enough to stop this from happening. They’re saying they’re fine, but they’re not fine.”
Corio Community Sports Club issued a statement yesterday saying it would take action against those involved.
“We at the club do not in any way condone that kind of behaviour and will take action against those involved,” it read.
It stated the club “holds a strong view against violence” and “the current committee, who have been working tirelessly over the last four months, are devastated”.
GDFL secretary Alan Moore said it would review what happened and assess any changes that needed to be made with functions.
Club vice-president Kylie Fisher said it “will co-operate fully with any further investigations”.