Men around Australia will stand up on November 25, put their hand across their heart and say no to domestic violence on National White Ribbon Day.
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Among those taking this year’s oath are Mount View High School teachers and students, who held their ceremony on Tuesday.
Cessnock Mayor and White Ribbon ambassador Bob Pynsent and Mount View High’s wellbeing head teacher Steve Quigley led the assembly which gave the males an opportunity to swear to stand up, speak out and act to prevent men’s violence against women.
Mount View High became involved in White Ribbon three years ago when then-male school captains Murray Thompson and Jordan O’Brien invited Cr Pynsent to address the assembly and lead the oath.
Since then Mount View has become a White Ribbon ambassador school, and Mr Quigley and principal Desley Pfeffer have undertaken training in White Ribbon’s school program Breaking the Silence.
Mr Quigley said the students take White Ribbon pretty seriously and said it is really important for them due to the statistics in Cessnock.
“It’s massive,” he said.
“It strikes a chord a far bit around here.”
He believes that starting the conversations with the students and talking about the issue in general makes them more responsible for their actions.
“The more you talk about it the better it is,” he said.
“I think if we are putting it out there in the public we’re making it accountable.”
Mr Quigley said the school is looking to extend the program throughout the year and hopes to incorporate different aspects of domestic violence education into the program.
