THREE Bendigo men have been named White Ribbon Day  ambassadors.
The Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre has named City of Greater Bendigo councillor Rod Fyffe, Senior Sergeant Grant Morris and Ronald Murray as the Bendigo region’s 2007 White Ribbon Day Ambassadors.
White Ribbon Day Ambassadors are men who have been recognised for promoting positive, non-violent relationships with women through their work and/or community.
The centre’s community development worker, Steve Womersley, said family and domestic violence was the most common problem faced by his clients.
“Sadly, this doesn’t surprise us: Australian Institute of Criminology statistics show that 57 per cent of Australian women experience at least one incident of physical or sexual violence by a man in their lifetime,” he said.
“For years, women have campaigned against violence against women.
“White Ribbon Day, held on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, is a chance for men to step up to the crease and say ‘violence against women is not on’.”
Bendigo’s ambassadors were nominated by the Bendigo Family Violence Prevention Working Group, with representatives from several Bendigo agencies including the community legal centre.
“As well as helping women and children to deal with the repercussions of family and domestic violence, we aim to reduce violence in the first place. The ambassadors are a key element in this strategy,” Mr Womersley said.
“Rod Fyffe is well-known and respected for his work in local government and as a teacher at Bendigo Senior Secondary College.
“Grant Morris, officer-in-charge with Bendigo Police, has been proactive in responding to violence against women, and Ronald Murray is recognised for his work as an Indigenous advisor to Victoria Police and legal services dealing with violence against women, and as a cultural awareness trainer and musician.”
The ambassadors were honoured at a breakfast at the  
Hotel Shamrock yesterday.