Men say no to family violence

The Cherrypicker’s Mark Foreman, former Rotary president Cliff Sheridan, deputy mayor Ben Cooper, Magistrate Peter Dare S.C., Young North Public principal Kel Smerdon, paramedic Andrew Long and president of the Young Crisis Accommodation Centre Senior Constable Ray Mitchell have all spoken to The Witness in an effort to help stamp out this prevalent  problem in our community.

The Cootamundra Local Area Command Domestic Violence Office recorded 185 domestic violence incidents reported to Young Police from January to June of this year. 

While KPMG has calculated that in Australia at least one woman is killed every week by a former or current partner. 

Mr Foreman said from both a club point and personal point of view, violence against women was not acceptable.

“It’s prevalent in our society and we need to do something about it and it starts with this,” he said.

“We want to bring it out of the darkness and into the light and if that means shaming people, then that’s part of the cost. 

“If you see a mate doing something wrong on the football field, you’d pull each other up, so why should it be different in our personal lives.” 

Mr Foreman said the problem wasn’t limited to physical abuse but included mental abuse and men needed to address it before it was too late and they lost their wives, families and homes. 

Meanwhile, Senior Constable Mitchell said violence against women still had a culture of being behind closed doors which needed to be addressed.

“Men in all positions – whether or not they are in authority – need to make a stand to eliminate violence against women,” he said.  “You need someone you respect in your circle to speak up – like Mark Foreman in the Cherrypickers, people listen to him.” 

 Mr Sheridan, who had supported women through their ordeals, said although sexist attitudes were changing, violence against women stemmed from some men’s bad attitudes towards women.

“If everyone stood up like with racial vilification - if men were prepared to stand up - the fact that it’s out in the open will make a difference,” he said. 

And Mr Long said as one of seven paramedics in Young he saw at least one serious family violence incident a month. 

“As a paramedic, I see the affect of violence against women,” he said “I think it’s a cowardly act and more men need to take action against this.”