By RUSSELL BENNETT
THERE’S no avoiding the pre-conceived notions many people have when it comes to Doveton.
It’s never been one of Melbourne’s most desirable postcodes and the suburb is part of a wider area with alarming rates of family violence.
The Doveton Football Club’s reputation isn’t squeaky clean either, but some of its favourite sons have come together to take a stand.
Narre Warren police Sergeant Graeme Stanley, Doves president Shane Viney and club legend Steve Henwood have all thrown their weight behind the white ribbon cause in the hope that others follow suit.
The Doves’ commitment to helping stamp out violence against women is unprecedented among sporting teams anywhere in the country.
For the next three years, the Doves’ under-17, under-19, reserves and senior sides will all wear guernseys featuring the iconic white ribbon, a symbol of the anti-violence movement, and Mr Viney couldn’t be more proud.
“We have to show some sort of initiative on this,” he said.
“We have to start at the top and, hopefully, it filters right down to our 16-year-old kids.
“They’re all going to have girlfriends eventually – and that’s where it starts.”
The statistics paint a horrifying picture.
One Australian woman every week is killed by her current or former partner, and one in three women will be a victim of family violence during their lifetime.
“From a club point of view, we’re lifting the profile,” Sgt Stanley said.
“We’re trying to get men throughout the whole community to stamp out violence against women.
“Doveton Football Club has been around for a long time, it’s centrally located within this community and everyone will acknowledge that we’re coming out on the front foot.”
Local area police commander Inspector Wayne Viney has applauded the club’s involvement with the Challenge Family Violence Project – an effort to get 70 community leaders from across Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia to influence their communities and change attitudes toward women.
“From my perspective, family violence is the number one priority for us in this area because we’ve got the highest rate in the state,” Insp Viney said.
“The Doveton footy club – let’s be frank – hasn’t had the best reputation over the journey…(but) for Shane and Steve to get on board and be two of those community leaders and be willing to get into their footy club and start influencing the attitude of men, it’s great.
“We’d love all Casey Cardinia footy teams to get on board and for all the Southern football teams and the amateurs to follow suit.
“These guys at Doveton are the leaders in this now, and it’s time for everyone else to stand up and be counted.”
For more on the White Ribbon cause, visit www.whiteribbon.org.au.
