By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
TWO causes, each promoting respect and understanding, came together in Casey this week.
The Casey Multi-faith Network held its sixth annual White Ribbon Dinner at the City of Casey offices on Monday night – the first to which men were invited.
It was something of a milestone moment in support of the campaign to stop men’s violence against women, endorsed by a network that strives for harmony in a municipality that is ranked as one of the worst local government areas (LGAs) for family violence.
The event was attended by a host of members from wide-ranging religions and faiths – Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and Sathya Sai – as well as a number of prominent Casey figures including Mayor Geoff Ablett, Deputy Mayor Amanda Stapledon, Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley and councillor Wayne Smith.
Victoria Police Sergeant Craig Millar, Family Violence Advisor for the Southern Metro Region, was the special guest for the evening and spoke in length about his efforts in supporting victims of family violence and endorsed the White Ribbon pledge.
“Family violence is a crime, it’s up to us if we see it to speak up, contact police, make a phone call.
“It takes a lot of guts to speak up but we owe it to ourselves to do it.
“We all have wives, girlfriends, sisters and daughters,” he said.
“The White Ribbon Day pledge is not just a feel-good statement, it’s an act of commitment which promotes positive attitudes.”
Sgt Millar drew on his own experience in the force to highlight how perceptions and knowledge of family violence had improved over several decades.
In 1990 Sgt Millar was called to a family violence incident in Dandenong where the offender had fled and the victim was suffering from significant facial injuries.
The police filed a one-page form in two minutes and told the victim to go to a friend’s place until the dust settled.
Nothing else was done, and the one-page form was never looked at again.
“When I think of the attitude when I first joined the police force, family violence was at the bottom of the pecking order.
“We didn’t really know a lot about it. I think in my first 10 years I didn’t take out any intervention orders at all,” Sgt Millar said.
“White Ribbon Day means standing up and not remaining silent.”
Sgt Millar also credited the 2004 Victoria Police Code of Practice as influential in changing expectations regarding family violence, with many police units now co-housed with members of the Child Protection Division and an emphasis placed on recidivist offenders.
During dessert, guests at the dinner were treated to a musical performance by Multi-faith member Andrew Williams, who played a range of original songs and covers which encapsulated the night’s message.
Casey Multi-faith Network president Jim Reiher, who hosted the evening, echoed Sgt Millar’s words.
“It’s wonderful that we’ve come so far, there really is hope,” Mr Reiher said.
“If we can do that, we can do more.”
