White Ribbon 2021

Despite Covid-19 looming DCAFV was able to host a White Ribbon Event in the Octagon for 2021. This was DCAFV’s first community event since Ōtepoti/ Dunedin went into lockdown in August 2021.This year we teamed up with The Perc Café Central Dunedin, Allpress and Anchor to give away free coffee vouchers to the public. This was our draw in to the stall and conversations organically flowed from there. We started this at 10am and finished up shortly after 1pm.

This event received a good level of media coverage with Channel 39 The South Today conducting a segment that included interviews with Michaela Corcoran (DCAFV Coordinator), Jamie Addison (White Ribbon Ambassador), and Rhys Clarke (Peer Support Counsellor at Otago Corrections Facility). They discussed the message behind White Ribbon, the need to reach out for help and the emotions that sit beneath anger and violence. This message was also covered in an Otago Daily Times Article (‘Emotional Tools Crucial to End Violence: Ambassador’). This event offered a platform for conversations within the community and facilitated connections to be formed between services and members of the public. Many agencies offered support during the day, such as Stopping Violence Dunedin, Arai Te Uru Whare Hauora and Anglican Family Care. This meant we were able to engage with the community and present a united front against family violence.

The event kicked off at 10:00am with the sun shinning in true Ōtepoti/Dunedin fashion. Shortly after the event started, we were joint by Jamie Addison and a large group of White Riders on their motor bikes. This stepped up the atmosphere and caught much of the public’s attention. It was a fantastic day in the sun.