The Newcastle Knights and nib have joined forces with local charity, Got Your Back Sista to champion an antidomestic violence campaign.
The health insurer has been working with the Knights to use its match day sponsorship at half-time during the Canterbury Bulldogs game on Friday 12 July to invite the crowd to ‘Say No’ to domestic violence.
More than 8,000 ‘Say No’ banners will be handed to the crowd by volunteers of Got Your Back Sista on their way into McDonald Jones Stadium. They will be asked to hold their banners up while Knights legend and nib ambassador, Paul ‘The Chief’ Harragon along with White Ribbon Ambassador Clint Newton and Got Your Back Sista CEO, Melissa Histon-Browning ask what ‘we should say to domestic violence’.
Knights and Got Your Back Sista team up
This will be the third year that the charity, which assists women escaping domestic violence, has used a half-time break at the stadium to raise awareness of violence in our community.
It is also expected that about 400 people wearing ‘Say No’ t-shirts will be seated in a dedicated Got Your Back Sista bay at the stadium. This will include the charity’s supporters, partners and volunteers as well as representatives of local services.
Newcastle Knights CEO, Mr Philip Gardner said; “sadly, most of us know, or are related to someone who has experienced violence in their lives.
“It is never acceptable. That’s why I am proud to say that since 2017 the nib Newcastle Knights have come together with Got Your Back Sista to say no to domestic violence. In Round 17, we will come together once again and be vocal in ending the silence and supporting those impacted by domestic violence in our community.”
Got Your Back Sista Founding CEO, Melissa Histon-Browning, thanked nib and the Newcastle Knights for their commitment and contribution to highlighting the issues of domestic violence.
“Together we hope to unite all sectors of the community to say that we will not tolerate violence in our community. Sadly, most of us work with, live near, or are related to someone who has experienced violence in their home or in their lives. It is not acceptable and it is never okay. We must do everything in our power to stop people being violent to each other,” Ms Histon-Browning said.
“We are most grateful to nib and the Newcastle Knights as well a number of local businesses that help us take this message to one of the region’s most popular community events. It is such a tremendous opportunity to invite thousands of local people to join this important conversation,” she said.
nib foundation Executive Officer, Amy Tribe said that nib, through its charitable foundation was proud to support Got Your Back Sista by providing funding to their Stand Tall Sista for Teens self-defence program for students in the Hunter.
“We’ve partnered with Got Your Back Sista off-field to help empower women to stand up and speak out in the face of domestic violence. Now, we’re excited to be taking this message on-field to make a pact together with the wider Hunter community to stand up and take responsibility for our actions and look out for one another,” Mrs Tribe said.
