By JARROD POTTER
WEARING its unwavering stance, St John’s Old Collegians Football Club will don the white ribbon and aim to defeat domestic violence on 21 May
The club will swap its black and green traditional gear for a one-off white guernsey for the round seven home match against Eltham.
Supporting White Ribbon, the JOCS will prominently place the ribbon on the heart of each player because it’s a message that needs to be near and dear to everyone in Greater Dandenong and beyond.
Defeating more than its Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) rivals, St John’s vice-captain Liam O’Connor said the club will never give up on the cause to stamp out violence against women.
“It’s gotten to the point now that we have the white ribbon jumper to really make a statement that this is what we stand for,” O’Connor said.
“No one should be subject to domestic violence, especially women, that’s the big thing that everyone was taught as a kid – don’t touch girls.
“I just reckon it’s a cause that everyone should be behind – we started the White Ribbon Day Luncheon about three or four years ago now and year after year it’s just been getting bigger.”
The JOCs will host their annual White Ribbon Day Luncheon on the day with tickets still available from the club.
“May 21 is the game against Eltham out here where we will be wearing the strip and, I mean, it’s always a cracker of a game against them regardless,” O’Connor said.
“But being able to represent, not only St John’s but the entire community to say we stand against this, that makes a big statement.”
Club captain Glenn Costas believes the jumper and luncheon highlight the cause externally as people from around the community embrace the luncheon and take away it’s important message.
“It’s important to raise the awareness outside of our football club, we have a lot of people who come in, not involved in the club at all with family, friends, friends of friends who come to the luncheon to support the cause,” Costas said.
“It’s really important that we include the wider community and not just the football club itself and it brings a lot of people together and raises awareness.”
For more information on the luncheon, contact Chris Swinburne on 0414 459 967 or visit the St John’s Old Collegians Football Club Facebook page.
