In a recorded message, Sydney Swans’ Harry Cunningham and Sam Reid praised the Ovens and Murray league’s White Ribbon round.

General manager Sean Barrett said the Swans’ recognition of the league’s fifth White Ribbon round was ‘fantastic’.

“We want clubs to show leadership within their communities, we think they’re really good mechanisms to show a great example for the rest of the community,” he said.

Superintendent Kerin Moloney said family violence across the state was at an ‘epidemic’ proportion, and across Wangaratta and Wodonga police respond to at least two domestic violence incidents a day.

“What has to be understood is family violence is a crime, it is a crime that is clandestine,” he said.

“What is reported to police is no where near the amount of criminal offending that does occur.”

“What has to be understood is family violence is a crime, it is a crime that is clandestine,” he said.

“What is reported to police is nowhere near the amount of criminal offending that does occur.”

Superintendent Moloney said the attitude towards domestic violence had changed over the past decades.

“We really are indebted to community clubs, if we don’t have the support of clubs like those in the Ovens and Murray our job would be much harder,” he said.

“Particular in the rural environment, I really see sporting clubs and leagues like the Ovens and Murray as being the barometer for what a community looks like.

“If they are functioning at a positive level and hold the appropriate values the broader community will see that influence.”

Teacher David Miles, who plays with North Albury, said the club aimed to be a family club and value respect. 

“The impact family violence has on the community, women and particularly the development of a child is significant,” he said.

North Albury netball captain Kirby Hilton said that the culture within clubs had changed for the better, with men who were disrespecting women getting called out by other men.

“I’ve always found it’s been quite a good culture but it definitely has changed, women are able to speak up and men are able to speak up against men who are doing the wrong thing too,” she said.