Family violence targeted by union
Rugby and ball go together as easily as ‘white’ and ‘ribbon’.
The Manawatu Rugby Union is backing a campaign to fight domestic abuse in Manawatu, and will be turning up to a black tie Gatsby Ball in Palmerston North, which is raising money for the Manawatu Abuse Intervention Network.
MAIN co-ordinator Gail Wood said the event, hosted at Distinction Hotel on July 21, was to ensure that its Enough Is Enough training programmes could remain free.
Enough is Enough is about communities taking ownership of their domestic violence problems and focuses on how members of the community can deal effectively with incidents of family violence.
Wood said the programme was vital because police figures showed there were between 350 and 420 local incidents of domestic violence every month.
‘‘Knowing how to deal with family violence issues is key to keeping communities free from domestic abuse. It answers the question ‘How do I get help with this problem happening in my family?’.’’
The programme was gifted to Manawatu from the Northland District Health Board where it started.
It has been adapted to be specific to Manawatu, and MAIN has partnered with the Manawatu Rugby Union in a pilot training programme that could be rolled out through the rest of the country.
Following a workshop held in May that attracted around 50 participants, a further six training sessions had been booked, Wood said.
‘‘The workshops are about giving people skills and the courage to know what to do next, instead of closing the window on something going on next door and saying ‘It’s nothing to do with me’.’’
The programme also increased awareness of the services available to help and support victims of violence.
‘‘Rugby are really getting behind this, and the Turbos and Cyclones will be raising awareness and raising funds to support the training,’’ Wood said.
The first public event is the Gatsby-themed ball and auction on July 28. The union’s Peter Leach said CEO John Knowles was committed to spreading the ‘‘Respect and Responsibility’’ campaign and had booked three tables.
Leach said Manawatu rugby was aware that if even one of its players lashed out against a partner, the whole game was tarnished.
At the Turbos first home game of the Mitre 10 Cup season against Wellington on August 20 at Central Energy Trust Arena, there will be a ‘walk on’, with the Manawatu players accompanied onto the field by women.