Socking it to violence

THE anticipated return of the Sunraysia Football Netball League (SFNL) this weekend was also to double as ‘Family Violence Round’.

The SFNL and clubs were about to throw their support behind the themed round to help raise awareness about family violence, violence against women and discrimination in sporting clubs, despite spectators not being allowed into grounds, before yesterday’s latest lockdown.

The Irymple Football and Netball Club (IFNC) was among the hosts for the round, gearing up for a ‘Pull Your Socks Up’ campaign at Henshilwood Reserve tomorrow.

President Dennis Mitchell had been working with Respect Victoria and, through this connection, the club’s committee was able to develop some policies from which the campaign emerged.

“Pull Yours Socks Up was created on the back of a need to address and improve our club actions and to help raise awareness associated with family violence, violence against women and discrimination in sporting clubs,” club secretary Wendy Bartels said.

“We needed to pull our socks up and develop a ‘not tolerated’ action plan, which we have begun to roll out.

“Preceding this, we received the updated Respect and Responsibility Code of Conduct policy provided by the SFNL, which aligned with our action statement and core values.

“We knew we wanted to do something significant; however, we wanted to ensure this was not seen as a tick-a-box campaign; this had to be the beginning of change.”

Irymple players were to wear white socks in all senior netball and football grades at the weekend, replacing the usually donned white armband.

“The support already received has been quite overwhelming,” Bartels said before the lockdown.

“This is an ongoing commitment and one likely to pivot and evolve … we know this is only the starting point.”

When the initiative finally gets rolling, the IFNC will sell ‘Pull Your Socks Up’ merchandise in the form of bumper stickers, with 100 per cent of proceeds going directly to the club’s commitment to providing ongoing education and support services to players, officials, members and committee.

“We want to ensure IFNC is a safe place to be treated with respect, valued and accepted for who you are,” Bartels said.