Ultramarathon runner Kirrily Dear told a crowd of Canowindra school students to “believe we can bring an end to domestic violence” during a White Ribbon Day ceremony last week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ms Dear spoke at memorial park following the White Ribbon Day march on Friday, attended by student leaders from St Edward’s Primary School, Canowindra Public School and the entire Canowindra High School.
Ms Dear has been supporting White Ribbon Day since 2014, completing “Run Against Violence” ultramarathons to help raise awareness.
During September this year, she passed through Canowindra on a 1300km, 19 day run from Broken Hill to Sydney.
“I decided to contact White Ribbon [in 2013]. I sat down and had a chat [to an ambassador] one day and then I decided it’s something I want to support,” Kirrily Dear said.
“It’s about prevention. I don’t think I’ll ever have the emotional strength to work at the pointy end with the support of the victims but I tell you what we can all play a big role in prevention.
“I was just went out there running but it started a conversation.
“Believe in yourselves, believe we can bring an end to domestic violence and get out there and do what you can.”
The march was Canowindra’s second White Ribbon Day march against domestic violence following the inaugural event in 2016.
Cabonne mayor Kevin Beatty believes it’s an event that will continue to grow.
“The first Canowindra march last year was highly successful and with the support of the local community I can see it expanding and helping to make a real difference in our region,” Cabonne mayor Kevin Beatty said.
“Cabonne council is committed to the principals of White Ribbon Day and is proud to have provided some financial assistance to today’s march through our events assistance program.”
Senior Constable Granton Smith of Canobolas Local Area Command said police want to see “barriers broken down”.
“See something, talk about it, offer support if you’re in a position to do so and help to prevent the violence from continuing,” Senior Constable Granton Smith said.
“We want people to be prepared to truly stand up, speak out and act to prevent men’s violence against women.”
Everyone at the ceremony took the pledge to make a stand against domestic violence.
