White Ribbon Night luncheon renews commitment

Celebrated across Australia in July, #WhiteRibbonNight events promote respectful relationships and gender equality within the workplace, and demonstrate a culture of zero tolerance of men’s violence against women.

The Cardinia Shire event included a presentation of the inaugural Garry McQuillan and Tony Fitzgerald Award, as well as a silent auction and raffle to raise funds for White Ribbon.

The award recipients for 2018 included Mark Howard from Cardinia Shire Council and Michael Wright from Outlook Inc., who were both recognised for their continued efforts in raising awareness and preventing men’s violence against women.

The silent auction and raffle successfully raised a further $2,615 to the event’s total fundraising efforts of $4,469.47, which consisted of generous donations from local businesses and gold coin entry contributions.

The event was a great opportunity for Outlook Inc. to launch a new, plain-English resource and video for people with a disability and/or limited English to use when reporting violence or abuse, which is now available at the Pakenham centre.

Attendees also heard from special guest speaker Carolyn Pethick, author and retired police officer, who spoke about standing up for what you believe in, no matter how hard and to not give up.

She shared that sexism was rife in the police force during her serving time, and that this sexism was key to building her resilience and strength as a woman in what was traditionally a man’s domain.  Carolyn’s strength has paved the way for women to be treated equally and with respect in the force. 

Some of the key takeaways?

• Do not ignore someone making sexist, crude or disrespectful remarks about women. Speak up.
• Challenge biases on stereotypical constructions of masculinity and femineity.
• Ensure women have the same independence and decision-making ability as men have.
• Strengthen, teach and promote positive, equal and respectful relationships.

Cardinia Shire Council and Outlook Inc. are proud to be accredited White Ribbon workplaces, recognised for their work in preventing and responding to men’s violence against women in the workplace and in the community.

Resources

For more information and to get involved in the Cardinia Shire Together We Can collective impact initiative working to stop, prevent and end family violence, visit www.togetherwecan.org.au

For more information about White Ribbon, visit www.whiteribbon.org.au/night

For copies of Outlook Inc. new, plain-English resource for reporting violence or abuse, visit Outlook Inc., 24 Toomuc Valley Rd, Pakenham or call (03) 5941 1535.