The FamilyCare Cup and Shield fixtures between the Bulldogs and Demons embarks on Tatura Park this Saturday for the round 16 senior men and women’s football and A-grade netball matches, as both clubs continue to promote zero tolerance of family violence.
National data shows that around one in four Australian women have experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner or someone close to them since the age of 15, compared with around one in fourteen men, depicting that women and children continue to be disproportionately impacted by family violence and are far more likely to experience serious injury, trauma and ongoing harm.
Since 2012, Tatura and United have used their popular community spaces as football netball clubs to platform the issue and acknowledge the work of FamilyCare in supporting victims of family violence.
“Sporting clubs are often at the heart of regional communities. They bring people together across generations, create a sense of belonging and help shape the values and behaviours that young people and adults take into everyday life,” FamilyCare chief executive officer Andie West said.
"Initiatives like the FamilyCare Cup are important because they create opportunities for education, awareness and conversation.
“They give us permission to speak openly about family violence and reinforce that harmful behaviour should not be ignored, excused or normalised."
“When sporting clubs, community organisations, players, volunteers and supporters come together to say that violence has no place in our homes, relationships or communities, they help create an authorising environment where people feel empowered to challenge harmful attitudes, support one another and speak up when something isn't right.
“We are incredibly grateful for the leadership shown by the Tatura Football Netball Club and Shepparton United Football Netball Club.”
Tatura operations manager Simon Pogue said the occasion’s importance goes far beyond the silverware on offer.
"The Tatura Football Netball Club is once again proud to collaborate with the Shepparton United Football Netball Club, and partner with FamilyCare in raising awareness of family violence,“ he said.
“We're also exceptionally proud to be the only two Goulburn Valley League clubs that compete for the spoils of its Senior football, Women's football & A Grade netball, each year.
“While the silverware is nice, Tatura and United are both more concerned about the impact of family violence, particularly gendered violence against women and children, in our community.
“Sporting clubs hold a privileged position to be safe places for all people, but particularly those that may not feel that safety in other areas of their lives.
“That message is even more relevant in our current environment, where populist politicians and political parties seek to minimise the impact of such violence.
“Those ill-informed views do not reflect the reality, nor do they reflect the stance of grassroots community sporting clubs. And long may it be."
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