Hundreds in show of support for White Ribbon Day

The Hills showed their support for White Ribbon Day.

Locals from across the Hills showed their support for White Ribbon Day by marching through Castle Hill on Friday. Pictures: Peter Kelly

• The Hills marches against domestic violence
• Nathan Hindmarsh to speak at White Ribbon breakfast
• Take a stand against violence against women

The Hills community came together to march against domestic violence on Friday.

The 1000-strong march, from the Castle Towers Piazza to the Castle Hill RSL, concluded with two breakfasts to mark White Ribbon Day.

Local police joined politicians, school students and community members to march against violence against women.

The Member for Castle Hill Ray Williams, Member for Seven Hills Mark Taylor, Member for Epping Damien Tudhope and Member for Baulkham Hills David Elliott attended the breakfast, along with community members and local businesses, including staff from Event Cinemas Castle Hill, Castle Towers and Castle Hill RSL.

Castle Hill RSL was recognised for becoming a White Ribbon accredited workplace, after meeting 15 criteria for creating a safer and more respectful workplace.

Politicians, business owners and local community members came together for the White Ribbon breakfast at Castle Hill RSL.

Castle Hill RSL chief executive officer David O’Neil said stopping violence against women was everyone’s responsibility.

“When we come together as a collective, we’re a movement,” he said.

The march began at the Castle Towers Piazza.

Hills Domestic Violence Prevention Network’s Robyn Waite said the march and breakfast was an “opportunity to become better informed about the issue” of violence against women.

“We do live in a remarkable community, a community that wants to make a difference,” she said.

The march from the Castle Towers Piazza to the Castle Hill RSL.

Former Parramatta Eels player Nathan Hindmarsh and Conviction Group co-founder Marco Capobianco at the first White Ribbon breakfast for high school students at the Castle Hill RSL.

Hills Local Area Commander Superintendent Rob Critchlow said there were 242 assaults in the Hills since last year’s White Ribbon Day.

“It’s far too many, it’s basically 20 a month,” he said.

“In NSW we’ve had 29,000 assaults since this day last year.”

Police school liaison officer Rob Paterson and Nathan Hindmarsh with students from The King’s School.

Supt Critchlow said it was “important to understand that this is everyone’s problem and this is why we’re here today”.

“Violence can happen to anybody … there’s no postcode involved, there’s no demographic, it can happen to anyone from any cultural group or ethnic group or language group, it’s across the board,” he said.

Superintendent Rob Critchlow speaks at the main breakfast.

Hills Domestic Violence Prevention Network’s Robyn Waite.

A separate breakfast was held at the RSL for more than 150 school students, with former Parramatta Eels player Nathan Hindmarsh and police school liaison officer Rob Paterson speaking to the group and Conviction Group co-founder Marco Capobianco as MC.

Take the pledge and find out how you can make a difference at whiteribbon.org.au