Waitara Champions fight good fight
‘‘Do you want to be part of the Community Champions campaign?’’
OPINION: Last year, many Individuals, organisations, and businesses banded together to launch a Community Champions project in Waitara. They all had one goal in common, to address the growing issue of family violence in their community. The campaign was launched in conjunction with the Waitara Christmas at Central event in December with 15 local individuals volunteering to take a stand against family violence in Waitara.
Fast forward to this year, and the number of champions has doubled and now stands at 30. The second group of champions are trained to recognise and respond to family violence in the community and to refer those affected to organisations in Taranaki that help to break the devastating cycle. Like the rest of New Zealand, Taranaki is no stranger to family violence, and the Waitara community has decided to take a stand and say that violence to anyone is not OK and won’t be tolerated in the local community.
Recently, Papamoa and Te Puke Champion Colin Gardiner visited Waitara to inspire our Champions to live and breathe the campaign messages. Gardiner is well known in the national ‘‘It’s Not OK’’ campaign, for taking the initiative as a sales rep in Tauranga waste collection and management company, Kleana Bins. His idea was simple but effective, to attach ‘‘It’s Not OK’’ stickers to all new kerbside bins. The amount of support Kleana Bins received as a result of Gardiner’s idea was an eye opener, increasing the company sales significantly.
The Waitara champions took on Gardiner’s advice, and are motivated to make a difference in their community. Several champions recently took part in an Easter bake sale at Waitara High School to raise money for a children’s fun day later in the year. Other champions are incorporating the messages in their workplaces by erecting posters, handing out flyers, and creating a hub for the community to visit when they are in need of a listening ear. They want their community to know that it’s OK to seek help.
Anyone can make a difference in our community, all you need is the initiative and drive. Are you interested in being part of the campaign? Do you know someone who might be a good role model in preventing family violence in Taranaki? Contact me at tsft@xtra.co.nz