By Jessica Anstice
Two outstanding men have been recognised for their continued efforts in raising awareness and preventing violence against women and in the Cardinia Shire.
Men and women from across the shire united as one through an online livestream of the White Ribbon relaunch in Cardinia Shire hosted by White Ribbon Australia, Cardinia Shire Council, Outlook Victoria and Aligned Leisure on Thursday 13 August.
Traditionally, two prestigious awards were given to worthy recipients who play a large role in the fight against violence towards women.
The awards were created in recognition of Tony Fitzgerald and Gary McQuillian’s work in preventing violence against women.
“As male role model leaders and legacy, they created for us the focus on this in the Cardinia Shire and respective organisations,” Aligned Leisure group operations manager Simon Bryson said.
“Having met these two gentlemen before, I can tell you they’re outstanding men.”
The Tony Fitzgerald Award was presented to Sikh Australian Support for Family Violence founder and director Jasbir Singh Suropada for his remarkable commitment to ending domestic violence.
Among the many organisations and communities that Jasbir works with, he is also the chairman of Sikh Interfaith Council of Victoria and senior practitioner of Anglicare Victoria Parentzone.
For more than 10 years now Jasbir has been delivering programs for parents from diverse communities including the Healthy Families Healthy Relationships programs and Dads Do Matter program.
He is also an active member of the Cardinia Together We Can steering committee.
The coronavirus pandemic has not diminished the work of Jasbir.
Along with other members of the Sikh community, he has worked tirelessly with Sikh organisations and Gurduaras preparing and delivering thousands of free meals to vulnerable communities such as those at risk of domestic violence.
“It was a surprise but it was a good surprise. It’s good to be acknowledged,” Jasbir said.
“I think it’s very humbling and it kind of helps to validate the work we’re doing and encourages us to do even more.
“We have been doing work within the space for many years. It is a good feeling and it also boosts the organisation that we are on the right track.“
The Gary McQuillian award is in honour of the CEO of Cardinia Shire Council for 11 years, who has a long history in local governance and led the council through an incredible period of growth.
“He is an outstanding man who has done some fantastic work for the Cardinia Shire, especially relating to bringing down and creating awareness of domestic violence,” Mr Bryson said.
“He was innovative and brave leading the Together We Can initiative and Together We Can campaigns.
“He is known for being hardworking, reliable and always remaining humble about his achievements.”
The 2020 Gary McQuillian award was awarded to Steven Sparrow, Cardinia Shire Council’s community strengthening manager.
Over the past seven years, Mr Sparrow has been an active leader in the prevention of violence against women at the council.
The dedicated role model founded the council’s Men’s Action Team, which was designed to education and support the organisation to implement various strategies to raise awareness and prevent violence against women.
He also played a key role in the council’s success in achieving White Ribbon workplace accreditation.
“These four men are outstanding gentlemen and when you think about the heroes you see on TV who might be sporting athletes, these men are just as important for the work that they do in the local community,” Mr Bryson added.
Both award recipients received a certificate and a voucher sponsored by Cardinia Shire Council.
White Ribbon Australia’s new executive director Brad Chilcot joined the livestream to discuss the changes that are being made by the organisation since partnering with CommuniCare.
ComminiCare took over White Ribbon in May, with the vision of creating a “nation that respects women, in which every woman lives safely, free from all forms of men’s abuse”.
“We relaunched six weeks ago now and there’s a lot of history to overcome and some trust and credibility to rebuild,” Mr Chilcot said during the event.
“One of the great things about CommuniCare getting involved like this is that they themselves are frontline women’s safety services – they’ve been in that area for 20 years.”
One of the big changes White Ribbon will be making is a shift from awareness to action.
“We think now that White Ribbon and many others have done an amazing job at ensuring that family violence is on the national agenda,” he explained.
“But we think now, as opposed to a decade ago, that work, although it’s never completely done, is a much different situation now.
“Australians know that more than one woman a week is being murdered by her current or former intimate partner. They know that police are receiving a callout every two minutes to respond to family violence.”
The organisation is shifting some of its well known programs to be more focused on community grassroots action.
Its Ambassadors and Advocates program is now going to be called Community Partners.
“The idea is rather than it being about a man on a pedestal for not using violence it’s going to be about how a man can come alongside their community and amplify the good work that’s already happening and initiate new things.”
