A DAY at the races has been organised to put the spotlight on Inverell’s family violence burden.
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The Winter Race Day on August 15 invites the public to have a classy day on the green while raising funds to end the cycle of fear and abuse in homes.
Inverell anti-violence committee member Sally Sweeney hopes the event will prove as successful in spreading a message as the recent Highlanders White Ribbon Day.
The rugby day raised over $12,500 for White Ribbon, the national charity committed to changing male attitudes toward violence.
Sally is a member of the Inverell Picnic Race Club committee. She proposed a race day event to share the White Ribbon message of ending violence.
The committee agreed and reached out to the Inverell Jockey Club which enthusiastically climbed on board.
“They’re very excited to support it; happy to do anything,” Sally said.
The money the club collects at the gate will be donated to the White Ribbon cause.
“This is another event, getting a different group of people to again, try to get the message out and keep this momentum going that we’ve created,” she said.
A broader base of voices might make the connection needed to make a change.
Sally was approached by a woman a week after the rugby day.
Roger Yeo, whose daughter Rachelle was murdered by a former partner, spoke on the day about changing attitudes.
The woman said she had previously spoken to her husband about the toll of domestic abuse, but it was Roger’s speech that caused the penny to drop.
“The more people talking about it, hopefully, something starts to change,” Sally said.
Entry for the Winter Race Day from 1-7pm on Saturday, August 15 is $50. The ticket price includes gate and marquee entry, two drinks tickets, food by Relish of Narrabri, music and entertainment.
Tickets are available at the Union Bar and phone Debbie Mepham 0427 028 818