On a day when men were asked to swear an oath against domestic violence, a collaborative effort has ensured Maitland residents won’t be able to escape the message.
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Variable message signs were placed on the New England Highway approaching Ashtonfield and at Rutherford yesterday as part of White Ribbon Day.
The message was simple – Maitland says no to domestic violence.
The signs will be in place for the duration of the 16 days of White Ribbon Day activism until midnight on December 10.
Central Hunter police domestic violence liaison officer Senior Constable Di Love said she hoped the signs would help reinforce the significance of the day.
“We’ve done this to help raise awareness that in the Maitland LGA we’re not going to accept domestic violence,” she said.
“They are there to educate and highlight the fact, hopefully, that it is unacceptable.”
Senior Constable Love said it was critical that men took the oath against domestic violence.
“The whole idea behind White Ribbon Day is men standing up and saying we’re not going to remain silent,” she said.
“It’s also to show that [domestic violence] is everyone’s problem, it is a community issue.”
The signs were an initiative of the Maitland Domestic Violence Committee and Maitland City Council, and were sponsored by Coates Hire.