Tradies, police officers, councillors and office workers were among the many that took part in the annual walk to bring an end to violence against women and children.

It was quite a different picture to last year’s community walk, where just five men marched for the White Ribbon charity.

One of those five men was Inspector Mark Edwards, who said the difference between this year’s event and last year’s was outstanding.

“If you were here last year you would have seen me standing here pretty much in disgust because of the lack of men, but as you can see this year it has turned right around,” he said.

“It’s gone really well and the numbers here are really encouraging.

“As I said last year you can have as many women as you like marching in this, but the fact of the matter is it’s the men that need to be made aware of this issue, because it’s a serious problem.”

Before the walk, Bendigo ambassadors were honoured for their services to the White Ribbon cause.

YMCA Youth and Community Engagement officer Paul Johns described the opportunity to be an ambassador as an ‘awesome’ experience.

“I got to meet over 1000 blokes and got them all to sign a pledge,” he said.

“From those results it is obvious our campaign has worked very well.

“It’s just been an awesome opportunity.”

Arnold, Dallas Macpherson solicitor John Macpherson said his role as a White Ribbon Day ambassador opened his eyes to some very serious issues.

“What we are called on to do as blokes is accept some of the responsibility in the heavy lifting to end violence against women,” he said.

“I was just gobsmacked to discover that women aged between 18 and 44 in this state, and in this region – the principle cause of death and disability is intimate partner violence.

“It is obviously incumbent upon men to speak up about this issue.”

Supporters of the Bendigo White Ribbon Day event also had the opportunity to view Catholic College Bendigo’s theatrical rendition of White Ribbon Day following

the walk.