Say No to Violence: Kyabram Football Netball Club secretary Paul Shortis, reads the Say No to Violence round message at the start of the Kyabram and Seymour match.
Kyabram’s GV Creamery Oval hosted the Goulburn Valley Football Netball League’s Say No to Violence Round last weekend in its blockbuster against Seymour.
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The round was held on the back of the league being a successful recipient of $147,000 in funding support.
This year’s Say No To Violence Round, as well as an expansion of the league’s current Indigenous Round, is being played over two rounds with all football and netball teams to be outfitted in Indigenous-designed apparel.
The funding is from the Preventing the Cycle of Violence — Strengthening Families Fund and will offer an expansion of the Cultural Sporting Prevention program.
GOTAFE's Koorie Unit coordinator Tracy Hardie is organising the event in partnership with the GVL and AFL Goulburn Murray.
The whole-of-league initiative will see all 12 member clubs host a match.
“We are proud to partner with project lead Tracy Hardie and our Major Naming Rights Partner GOTAFE to deliver this project to our clubs,” GVL board member Jacqui Hudgson said.
“The opportunity to create greater understanding and knowledge of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders history and culture while promoting the No Violence message is incredibly powerful.
“We look forward to ensuring the success of the project in 2023 and beyond.”
GVL operations manager Josephine Spencer said The Say No to Violence round contributed to a near-regional response from communities to raise awareness of violence.
“The expansion of the current Indigenous Round will also see a launch dinner and cultural understanding session for all clubs that will take place prior to the Indigenous round,” Ms Spencer said.
“This fixture sees 26 club requests met, which will go a long way in assisting clubs financially with key games, premiership reunions and traditional clashes scheduled.”
– Kyabram will host Rochester on July 8 for the Indigenous Round, with the Kyabram club identified as the feature game for the Goulburn Valley league.
Footballers and netballers will all wear uniforms paying tribute to the region’s Indigenous heritage, with the round — like Sir Doug Nicholls round in the AFL — spread across two weekends.
A-grade netballer Jemma Hall and senior footballer Reuben Rode were recognised with fair play awards during the Say No to Violence round.
Sending a message: Kyabram footballers in front of the Wilf Cox Communty Centre on GV Cramery Oval at the start of the Say No to Violence match against Seymour.
Friends before foes: Kyabram coach Paul Newman (front right) and Seymour coach Ben Davey shake hands as their players do the same in a gesture to mark the GVL’s Say No to Violence round.
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