This weekend the League will be introducing the #SayNO2FamilyViolence shield with the Royal Park FNC & Maryborough Rovers FNC to play off for the shield in 2014. The aim of the shield will be to have a different match each year to show support towards the campaign across the entire league.
The MCDFNL will also be renaming this weekend’s Round 15 to the #SayNo2FamilyViolence Round. To show our support for the campaign, all clubs will be wearing white arm bands this weekend across all Senior Football & Netball matches.
The Maryborough Rotary Club and the Central Goldfields Shire recently approached the MCDFNL to support the #SayNO2FamilyViolence campaign which the league had no hesitation in supporting. A big directive from clubs earlier in the year was to focus themed rounds on more local issues and family violence is certainly a factor that many clubs within the MCDFNL may have dealt with in the past.
MCDFNL Operations Manager Scott Carey was excited to launch the #SayNo2FamilyViolence round in conjunction with the Maryborough Rotary Club and the Central Goldfields Shire.
“The MCDFNL is more than pleased to support this worthwhile campaign”, Carey mentioned recently.
“Our clubs are very family focused and oriented, and part of supporting this cause is to increase awareness of this issue for everyone involved in the league”.
“We encourage anyone within the MCDFNL who has been touched by this issue to come forward and let it be known that we, as a community, say no to family violence”.
“We hope that by involving clubs and creating awareness of this issue that members will feel more comfortable to confront this situation and know that they have a support network within their local football and netball club”.
Family violence in Australia has escalated to unprecedented levels. According to a 2013 study by Victoria’s Sentencing Advisory Council, family violence soared a staggering 72.8 per cent during the period 2004-2012. And tragically in the first half of this year communities have already been witness to many fatal incidents.
The impacts are significant, for the affected families and the perpetrators, as well as externally, where the flow-on affects to blue light services, healthcare and courts are taking their toll. One in three women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence perpetrated by someone known to them.
Economists estimate the issue is costing upwards of $10 billion a year affecting both local communities and the nation at large.
Maryborough Rotary is taking positive action by introducing initiatives aimed at reducing incidents of family violence in this town and working with local, state and national agencies in tackling the issue.
Everyone in the community has a responsibility to act. It’s a problem that can’t be ignored.
Like other regional towns, Maryborough has its share of the problem. Whether it’s one or 100 individual incidents, the effects are as equally damaging for each of those victims and their families.
It’s difficult to evaluate the numbers to determine what constitutes an increase in reporting versus an increase of incidence, but the numbers are definitely soaring. Regional towns often have their own particular challenges where the impacts can be amplified.
Last Modified on 14/08/2014 10:58