Free barbecue for White Ribbon Day

A free barbecue will be held at Civic Park, Warragul on Friday to celeb rate Whi8te Ribbon Day.

Community members, groups and workplaces are invited to join in the event to support the White Ribbon Day campaign to end violence against women and children.

The event as part of the community’s commitment to building a healthier future and preventing all forms of family violence. T

The event is supported by the Baw Baw Shire Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2017-2021, which includes strategies to prevent violence and injury.

The event has been organised by the local working group Our Watch Our Issue which is leading the work being done on a local level to prevent violence.

Baw Baw Shire mayor Mikeala Powere invited the community and organisational leaders to this event to stand together as a community.

“We are all working together to end this violence. Please share the message and invite a colleague or friend.

“Ask your senior staff or community leaders to come along. Your leadership will motivate others to take action and work towards achieving safer outcomes for our community,” she said.

White Ribbon Australia’s acting chief executive Delia Donovan said White Ribbon Committees will work alongside ambassadors, advocates and supporters in their communities to raise awareness of the steps people can all take to end men’s violence against women and children.

“I urge individuals, workplaces, schools and the broader community to host an event, march or simply have a conversation with their mate about respect because we know violence thrives in disrespect. If we do nothing, nothing will change,” Ms Donovan said.

With more than 60 violent deaths of women this year alone across the country, she said violence against women and children had reached epidemic level.

“We know one woman a week is already dying at the hands of a current or former male partner and the problem is getting worse.

“All too often we wake to the news of another horrific incident where a woman has died at the hands of a man that is known to her it has to stop,” Ms Donovan said.

Members of the local working group include representatives from Baw Baw Shire Council, Gippsland Women’s Health, Victoria Police, GippSport, Quantum Support Services, The Gazette, Warragul Community House, Nilma Primary School, Wakefield, Vogrig and Boote, West Gippsland Libraries, Olivia's Place, Gippsland Centre Against Sexual Assault, Department of Education and Training, Central West Gippsland Primary Care Partnerships, Drouin Secondary College, Lardner Park Events and community members.

There is no need to register for the event which will run from noon until 1pm.

The barbecue is bgeing hosted by Warragul Rotary Club.