Newcastle City Council has chosen to partner with a local domestic violence charity ahead of the Newcastle 500 to raise some much needed funds.
Got Your Back Sista is dedicated to helping women who have experienced the trauma of domestic violence. Their vision is to see women and their children happy, thriving and living independently after escaping the trauma of domestic violence.
Newcastle Council selected the charity as the first partnership for the inaugural event after 1,300 staff went around and spoke to the community about the issues they felt most strongly about. The issue was domestic violence against women.
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| Newcastle Councillors with Melissa Histon and Mark Winterbottom on the Newcastle 500 track. |
Melissa said it will be great to raise some money they can use to buy furniture and household items for women who have had to leave a violent home and start again.
"At the end of the day we wish that we didn't have to exist, we wish there was no violence but the sad problem is that domestic violence is a problem in our region and we really need to get the message out there that domestic violence is never acceptable and it's not alright," said Melissa.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said this is just the beginning of a number of events and partnerships to come in the future.
"It's been an initiative of many of the staff at Newcastle City Council led by our CEO to actually look at how they can better volunteer their time and work and support local charities."
Fellow councillors are in agreeance that the Supercars event is a great opportunity to support White Ribbon Day and Got Your Back Sista.
"There are two big events on Friday, the first is Supercars, the second is the White Ribbon Breakfast. This money will go to helping people who have already suffered from domestic violence but the White Ribbon is all about prevention, its all about a message to men that domestic violence is not acceptable," said Councillor John Church.
2015 Supercars Champion Mark Winterbottom is also happy to announce one of his sponsors Brut is donating $100,000 to White Ribbon Day as well over the next 12 months.
"If you can change one perosn's life that's a massive thing. Speak up and obviously, there's lots of support out there through these organisations. It's great that Brut has chosen them as a charity, it's a very manly product but its out there portraying the right message," said Mark.
