Australia Day Award Winner Profile

Pictured L-R: Dave Harmon, Liz Ellis (special guest), Robyn Harmon, James Bracey (special guest), Jodie Shelley.

Rotary Club of Ballina-on-Richmond campaign to end domestic violence

The Rotary Club of Ballina-on-Richmond was named Volunteer Organisation of the Year in the 2021 Ballina Shire Australia Day Awards and when you learn about the important work they do, it’s easy to understand why.

For the past three years the club has been at the forefront of a powerful campaign to stamp out domestic violence. Vice-President Dave Harmon and Vocational Service Director Robyn Harmon have been a driving force behind this project, supported by the club’s dedicated members.

“In November 2019 we held our first ‘Say NO to Domestic Violence’ walk along the main street of Ballina. Hundreds of community members, including many youth, walked to raise awareness,” explains Dave.

The campaign soon gained support from other Rotary clubs in the district. In March 2020 – to celebrate 100 Years of Rotary in Australia – 56 clubs held walks to ‘Say NO to Domestic Violence’.

Education is a vital part of the project. The Ballina-on-Richmond club partners with social service agencies, police, health and education departments to deliver the Love Bites program in local high schools. This program educates young people about healthy relationships.

“We feel the best way to bring about long-term change is to educate youth about domestic violence, to bring about generational change,” says Dave.

While the Love Bites program is aimed at Year 10 students, Robyn is also delivering a junior program to Years 7, 8 and 9 students in high schools across the Northern Rivers, and a trial program for Years 5 and 6 students is underway in Ballina.

“COVID has only increased the pressure on families and relationships,” says Dave. “We plan to have a community walk down River Street on Friday 19 November, COVID restrictions permitting. We also plan to hold a community Mental Health Seminar in March next year to address the increasing mental health related illness resulting from lockdowns and COVID restrictions.”

Action on domestic violence is a major focus for the club, but its members help our community in so many ways. For example, during COVID lockdowns members teamed up with local businesses and charities to serve thousands of hot meals to those in need.

In June this year the Rotary club of Ballina-on-Richmond became the second largest Rotary club in NSW, with 76 members ranging in age from their 20’s to 80’s. Members come from a wide variety of backgrounds including tradespeople, real estate, law, teaching, administration, retail and hospitality.

“Anyone who wants to be involved with a progressive, engaged service club should come along to one of our meetings,” says Dave.

To connect with the club visit rotaryclubofballinaonrichmond.org.au or email info@rotaryclubofballinaonrichmond.org.au