Ararat Rural City Council to mark White Ribbon Day

Beginning at 5.15pm on Wednesday, November 22 from J-Ward, Ararat Rural City Chief Executive Officer, Allan Bawden and Mayor, Cr Glenda McLean will lead a march through Alexandra Gardens to Alexandra Oval Community Centre where official proceedings will take place.

The 2017 event will be extra significant for Ararat Rural City Council employee Danielle Jenkins, who has recently been named a White Ribbon Advocate.

Mrs Jenkins said she felt privileged to be announced as an advocate for the next two years.

“This is my passion, it is my journey and it helps with my own healing process,” she said.

“Talking about my own experiences helps me move forward and hopefully it can help other women who have been exposed to violence, because there are a lot of people living in silence.

“Ararat Rural City Council as an organisation has been great at getting behind the White Ribbon initiative. It was actually at one of our Act@Work training days which was the turning point for me.”

Mrs Jenkins said during a scenario regarding what to do as a bystander, those in training where asked a series of questions and it dawned on her how little information some participants had on domestic violence.

“I plucked up the courage to answer quite a few of the questions about my own personal experiences and all of a sudden it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders and I actually felt empowered,” she said.

“I really encourage everyone in the community to take the time to attend the White Ribbon Day Ararat event. It is about educating, engaging and acting to stamp out violence against women – that is everyone’s responsibility.”

Ararat Rural City Council is also part of the Communities of Respect and Equality (CoRE) Alliance and will be participating in the 16 Days of Activism campaign.

Mayor, Cr Glenda McLean said the 16 Days of Activism campaign involves engagement of millions of people and thousands of organisations worldwide, with the goal to prevent violence against women and children.

“The campaign brings attention to many issues such as sexism, cultures of violence, homophobia and calls for the implementation of human rights obligations,” she said.

“We want to bring together families, businesses, students, community centres and organisations from across the Ararat Rural City for one common purpose: to unite to end violence against women and girls.”

Ararat Rural City Council’s White Ribbon Day march and commemoration ceremony on Wednesday, November 22 is a public event. For further information, please visit www.ararat.vic.gov.au/whiteribbonday.