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FIREFIGHTERS and officers from Bendigo CFA will be among those proudly marching in Bendigo for White Ribbon Day on Tuesday.
It will be the first time Bendigo firefighters - along with a number of other local organisations - have taken part in the annual, male-led campaign to stamp out violence against women.
Leading the march will be CFA north west district assistant chief officer Mike Wassing, whose experience of being an ambassador for the recent Violence Prevention, It's Everybody's Business convention had been a "real eye-opener".
"When you look at the stats, that one in three women will be affected by violence, it brings it home," he said.
Mr Wassing said on a local level, it was important the CFA take part in the campaign for multiple reasons.
"What really resonated with me was that we have a lot of contact points with the community," he said.
"We have a responsibility as an emergency service to act.
"More fundamentally, in my region, we have over 11,200 volunteers and 350 staff that have voice and this is a powerful way of creating awareness within our own membership and be able to carry the message onto others."
He said this was especially important given the CFA was a male-dominated workforce.
"It really reinforces it personally, for our people to say it is our responsibility to act, not just to be aware, but to act. If we see something wrong, to act. Not to be silent, because to be silent is to condone the behaviour."
He said it was important for all CFA volunteers and staff, from an education perspective, to be aware of the some of the warning signs of violence.
He said events like Black Saturday in 2009 highlighted the increased stress placed on communities after a disaster, when violence had the potential to flare.
"We now now from research that often post any major emergency or crisis within community, that violence increases," he said.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au.
In an emergency, call 000.
