Clubs in the Peter Jackson VFL and TAC Cup competition will this weekend be supporting the group “Step Back Think”. Step Back Think is a youth-led organisation campaigning to raise awareness about the dangers of street violence. Their aim is to engage the community to become active participants and advocates of the message that violence has consequences.
Part of their campaign – of which the VFL and TAC Cup sides are supporting - is to have clubs wear orange laces in their football boots to represent a cultural shift in people’s perceptions of street violence.
The orange laces at these games will hopefully help to stimulate conversation between coaches, friends, parents and kids; discussing what the consequences might be from a violent physical act off the field.
CEO of Step Back Think Sophie Rowe thanks the support of AFL Victoria’s two competitions in bringing awareness to the campaign.
“Step Back Think is incredibly proud to be partnering with AFL Victoria.
“Step Back Think aims to engage the community at all levels to actively share the message that violence has consequences; the willingness of AFL Victoria to support the distribution of orange laces to clubs across the state has been pivotal to the realisation of this goal,” Rowe said.
“Step Back Think is extremely excited for this local campaign to kick off!”
Peter Jackson VFL clubs will support the campaign this weekend, whilst TAC Cup regions will get behind the concept this Saturday April 14 for the country teams at QEO, Bendigo and then the metro teams on the following Saturday, April 21.
Last Monday in the AFL, the Geelong Cats supported the campaign by wearing splashes of orange in their uniform, with Cats, with Cats players Jimmy Bartel, James Kelly and David Wojcinski all being Just Think campaign ambassadors.
AFL Victoria hopes the wearing of the orange laces across the next two weekends will bring the issue of street violence to the attention of Victorians, and help begin the cultural shift in attitudes and awareness.
Step Back Think Background
Step Back Think was formed in the wake of the horrific injuries sustained by James Macready-Bryan in 2006. James – better known to his mates as MB – was assaulted in the CBD on his 20th birthday on October 13th, 2006. A single punch knocked MB to the ground where his head smashed against the pavement, resulting in catastrophic brain damage from which he will never recover.
In the year after Step Back Think’s formation, Matt McEvoy, 24, and Justin Galligan, 16, died from brain injuries similar to MB’s, in two separate incidences that mirrored the tragic senselessness of MB’s assault.
The sole mission of Step Back Think is to educate people on the catastrophic consequences one punch can have, and from this, reduce levels of street violence.
Last Modified on 13/04/2012 16:42
