LOCALS flocked to the Gunnedah Rugby Club on Saturday for a touch football family gala.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
More than 250 people turned out to support White Ribbon Day and take an oath against domestic violence.
Gunnedah Family Support Homebase team leader Jess Blair said the event was successful.
“It was a fantastic event,” Ms Blair said.
“Everyone who attended was very excited and there was a great buzz in the air.”
Ms Blair said the event raised much needed-funds for domestic violence.
“All up I think we have raised $2039.60,” she said.
“We are really happy with the fundraising effort.”
Ms Blair also said that organisers experimented with new techniques to attract more people to the event.
“For the first time we decked out the main street and Wandobah Road with black and white balloons,” she said.
“I think balloons really helped get people talking and helped draw more people to the event.”
Ms Blair said she was pleased with the growth of the event.
“We have been running this event for about three years now and it has continued to grow each year which is fantastic,” she said.
“This year was the first time we really formalised the event by having an official opening and closing the event with the awards presentation.”
The Koalas took out the lucky team prize, a $100 gift voucher to the Gunnedah Services and Bowling Club for the non-competitive touch football tournament, while Liam Novley claimed the Alex Costello Memorial Sportsmanship Award.
Ms Blair said everybody embraced the spirit of the day.
“The buzz of the day was fantastic,” she said.
“Liam particularly got in the spirit of the day and showed great sportsmanship while including everyone.”
Going forward, Ms Blair hopes to see the number of domestic violence cases in Gunnedah decrease.
“In Gunnedah we are actually ranked eighteenth out of 155 towns in the state for highest number of domestic violence reports,” she said.
“It is really important we use the momentum of Saturday and encourage people to stand up and speak out that domestic violence is not okay.”
If you or someone you know needs assistance call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
