Students campaign for White Ribbon

SCHOOLS: Yass High School’s Links to Learning students have been working for eight weeks on raising awareness about today’s White Ribbon Day campaign.

The students organised a special White Ribbon Day assembly complete with guest speakers, and sold specifically-designed merchandise in the main street to raise money for the cause, which aims to empower men to say no to domestic violence against women.

“Links To Learning is a Year 8 program funded by the federal government that employs a teacher one day a week to support students who are at risk of disengaging with their learning,” principal Sandra Hiscock said.

“They chose a project to work on. Last term they worked with [local artist] Al Phemister on making sculptures, this term they chose White Ribbon Day.”

“Eight students researched White Ribbon Day, made flyers and approached the [School Representative Council] SRC to have a special assembly to raise awareness for the rest of the school.”

Guest speakers at Monday’s assembly included domestic violence liaison senior constables Gary Mutton and Simone Houghton, and Year 10 student Brooke Hardy, who delivered a passionate and informative speech about the nature of domestic violence and how it is about more than more just physical abuse.

“They printed t-shirts, went down street over a couple of weeks with merchandise to sell, had a barbecue to raise funds, all of which will be sent back to White Ribbon.”

During the assembly, police asked boys to stand up and pledge the White Ribbon oath to “stand up, speak out and act to prevent men’s violence against women”. Ms Hiscock was proud to say that each boy responded well to the request.

“Every single boy at the assembly stood up and took the oath, it was a very moving assembly and it was really positive, lots of people have given really good feedback about it,” Ms Hiscock said.

Year 10 student Brooke Hardy speaking at the White Ribbon Day assembly. PHOTO: Supplied