Final preparations are being made to turn Club Taree into a white, woolen wonderland for Manning Great Lakes Police District’s White Ribbon Day initiative.
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Next Friday, November 23, kilometres of knitted wool will be laid across the Taree golf course in an attempt to break the world record for the longest awareness ribbon.
Detective Sergeant Natalie Antaw said contributions have been sent from across the country.
“We’ve received contributions from all over Australia, in every State and territory, including our counterparts at the Northern Territory Police Communications Section.
“Not only policing departments but communities from a far.
“A massive shout out to our local community in the Manning Great Lakes Police District who have been amazing with their contributions also,” Detective Sergeant Antaw said.
On the back of multiple reported domestic violence related murders this year, Chief Inspector Christine George said the awareness campaign serves as a timely reminder.
“It’s time to raise awareness in this community and across Australia,” Chief Inspector George said.
“People are really interested in this initiative and we’ve had some great support.”
It’s a surprise Chief Inspector George is still able to use her office at Taree Police Station as bundles of knitted wool for the record attempt line the walls.
She estimated one and a half kilometres of wool is bundled together in her office, with many more contributions still to be collected.
“There has been a substantial contribution from the community.
“It actually warms our hearts to know when something good is going on, all the community gets involved.
“It’s been humbling the whole community got on board with this initiative.
We may or may not get that but we’ve hit our mark already for the amount of awareness we have raised because of how far reaching the initiative has gone.
- Detective Sergeant Natalie Antaw
“Both Natalie and I are stopped in the street on a regular basis to tell us that people are knitting for us,” Chief Inspector George said.
There have been many stories of individuals and community groups banding together to support the initiative.
One woman contributed pieces that used 60 balls of wool.
The MidCoast Knitting Nannas dropped off several bags worth to the station after holding a ‘knit-in’ in Taree.
“We have stories of ladies who are recovering from cancer who have said the initiative has given them something to do,” Chief Inspector George said.
Whether the record is broken or not, Detective Sergeant Antaw said domestic violence awareness is still getting out to the community.
“We may or may not get that but we’ve hit our mark already for the amount of awareness we have raised because of how far reaching the initiative has gone,” Detective Sergeant Antaw said.
Detective Sergeant Antaw said cards and thank you notes have been sent with the contributions that share personal stories that relate to domestic violence as well as thanking police for their ongoing work.
The White Ribbon Day event at Club Taree will begin at 10.30am.
