Bulldogs will carry White Ribbon logo on Nines jersey

Canterbury players will march arm-in-arm to support of White Ribbon Day to help raise awareness and eliminate violence against women and children.

THEY were once the ratbag club. How times have changed at Belmore.

On Wednesday, Canterbury players will march arm-in-arm to support of White Ribbon Day. Such wonderful gestures are often overlooked in the turbulent and controversial world of rugby league.

The Bulldogs will also carry the White Ribbon logo on their Auckland Nines jersey in attempting to help eliminate violence against women and children.

Bulldogs players are inviting fans to walk through Lakemba with them this afternoon starting from 6pm at the corner of Gillies and Quigg Street and finishing in Parry Park.

“Nearly seven women are victims of domestic assault every day in the Canterbury-Bankstown area and we are working very hard with White Ribbon Australia to reduce this statistic,” said Bulldogs CEO Raelene Castle.

“We hope that exposure generated by featuring the White Ribbon on our Nines jersey will spark conversation around domestic violence and prompt men and women to use the support services available to them.”

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Josh Reynolds in the Bulldogs Jersey for the Auckland Nines tournament. Picture Gregg Porteous

White Ribbon Day will see events held across Australia to highlight domestic violence, which killed 68 woman in 2015.

“I’m marching, mate,” said Bulldogs five-eighth Josh Reynolds. “They have a couple of walks going so I am going to the one over in Liverpool at the start of the day.

“It’s a great initiative for the club and White Ribbon because we told last year that, in the Bankstown area, it is the highest violence against woman area in NSW.

“That’s not the best news and we definitely don’t stand for it. We want to show everyone in the community that it’s not on.”

‘Canterbury and White Ribbon Australia have been together now for 12 months.

A club spokeswoman said: “The club has driven extensive awareness programs and fundraising initiatives on match days and has provided funding for five schools in the Canterbury-Bankstown district to participate in a program that aims to change behaviours that lead to violence. Domestic violence is a critical issue for the Canterbury-Bankstown district with an average of five assaults per day and the club has urged members and fans to join them for the walk.”

The Bulldogs are also working with local services across Auburn, Liverpool, Bankstown and Canterbury to deliver violence prevention programs.

Nevine Atlagic, head of welfare at Belmore Boys High, which has participated in the program, praised Canterbury’s involvement.