New faces introduced
Dannevirke White Ribbon Action Group is determined to do its best the reduce the issue of family violence, working under the national theme Building Respectful Relationships.
The Action Group with its new chairwoman Hannah Kingi of Women’s Refuge and lately appointed chairwoman of TAIN (Tararua Abuse Intervention Network) organised a fundraising and promotional dine and dance in the Dannevirke Services and Citizen’s Club Saturday, November 16.
MC Sharon Wards guided the night through, interspersing activities between courses, starting with the guest speaker Greg Motu.
His message was sobering. Statistically one in three women in NZ have suffered violence. He said “With two daughters growing up it is a terrifying thought for a father.”
He puts the issue of violence by men to women as intergenerational — having experienced it themselves they know no other alternative and NZ society does not permit the opportunity for men to talk the issues through. He promoted Man Up as one programme which allows this to happen similar to other organisations like My Father’s Barber.
A main course of dinner was followed by the induction of two new White Ribbon Ambassadors, Stephen Dunn and Hannah Kingi.
Secretary Deanna Veerkamp says the organisation wanted to induct its three new ambassadors. There are six ambassadors for Tararua altogether — Tamai Nicholson, Tom Kamura, Deanna Verkamp, Sergeant Gary McKernon, Stephen Dunn and Hannah Kingi. During the evening Steve and Hannah were formally inducted but Mr McKernon was unable to attend.
Stephen said his former work in the police revealed the need to act against domestic violence and he felt his new job with the council gave him the opportunity to be an ambassador to help people.
Hannah said her role in the Tararua Abuse Intervention Network made the choice to become an ambassador a nobrainer.
After dessert MC Wards closed the formal part of the night with the request to spread the message that there is help out there to prevent violence in relationships and asked all attending to help the ambassadors. “They can’t do it on their own,” she said.
Then it was a night of dancing to the great music of Tom, Peter and friends.