The GOTAFE GVFL and clubs over the last 18 months have shown a strong focus of supporting the community internally as well as externally. Last weekend saw all hosting clubs provide dairy farmers with free entry, food and drink vouchers as a show of support for their recent plight. The dairy community is an important part of this region and was great that clubs were able to jump on board without hesitation in a short time frame.
At last year’s fixture meeting, clubs decided they were happy to have 2 “themed” rounds for the year which for season 2016 were agreed to be blue ribbon and white ribbon round.
Blue ribbon round supports the local Blue Ribbon Foundation which provides focus and fundraising in our local community whilst also acknowledging the brave men and women of our police force and those who have passed away providing safety to our community. All games will support this initiative in Round 12 with the highlighted venue being Mooroopna v Shepparton Swans.
White ribbon round is supporting Australia’s only national, male led Campaign to end men’s violence against women. The campaign works through primary prevention initiatives involving awareness raising and education, and programs with youth, schools, workplaces and across the broader community. This will be held over the two weekends of the round 16, the split round, and all venues will engage in this round with the Mansfield v Shepparton game on the 2nd weekend being the main focus of the initiative.
While the above campaigns are more relative to the broader community the GOTAFE GVFL and clubs are also continuing to ensure that their players, volunteers and supporters receive awareness and education on other issues also.
The Cool Heads program has been running since April 2008, and is more than just a road safety message, it is an opportunity for young drivers and parents to understand fully the consequences associated with road trauma and to discuss safe driving with police and guest presenters. Clubs all across the GOTAFE GVFL have taken up the opportunity to attend this free event with the next session to be held 20th July, 2016 at the Eastbank Centre. There is also a bus subsidy for those clubs that would need to travel in.
Out of the Locker Room (OTLR) is another initiative that has engaged out local football/netball clubs. Last year Rochester, Kyabram and Echuca received the benefit of this fantastic mentoring program with ex AFL stars Glen Manton and Jake Edwards presenting to our footballers and netballers. This year clubs within the Greater Shepparton region receive the same opportunity.
For those that don’t know OTLR is a program for teens involved in sporting clubs, focusing on education and support in relation to their daily challenges, the ethos is to educate young men and women at the early stage of their careers before they have even played their first senior game, and to not only develop better footballers and netballers, but better people. The program workshops will teach the young players strategies and tools to combat issues such as alcohol, drugs, peer pressure, promiscuity, self-respect, self-belief and the power of social media.
These are just a few initiatives taken on by individual clubs and also provided by AFL Goulburn Murray and partners. In this day and age we need to remember we are not just about what happens on field but also creating better people off it.
For more information on some of these initiatives please go to the GOTAFE GVFL Website.
Last Modified on 27/09/2016 14:12