Blacktown City Independent #008 November 2021 | Page 8

LOCAL LIFE

Commemorate wherever you are

Remembrance Day 11 November

This Remembrance Day , RSL NSW is asking everyone to “ Remember to Remember ”.
Wherever you are at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month , you ’ re asked to commit to pausing for just one minute to remember those who gave their
lives in service to their country , those who returned home injured or ill , and those who bravely serve our country today .
Official Remembrance Day services are being held by RSL sub-Branches , but will be scaled down events
due to the pandemic . St Marys RSL sub-Branch will be holding its Remembrance Day Commemorative Service at 10.45am on November 11 at the Guns Memorial , in the grounds of the Veterans Support Centre , opposite St Marys Diggers Club .
Above : Sydney crowds celebrating Armistice Day 1919 . Left : Celebrating Armistice Day , Sydney , 11 November 1919 . The view from Castlereagh Street looking down towards George Street , of a large crowd which has gathered in Martin Place to celebrate Armistice Day . The clock on the GPO building says twelve o ’ clock and a replica sailing ship float has been set up in the centre . A bandstand with a domed roof is visible in the background . Photos : Courtesy Australian War Memorial
“ Anyone who would like to pay their respects to the fallen are very welcome to attend ,” David Cuff , vice president St Marys RSL sub- Branch said .
“ The service will be very simple but will include prayers , a bugler playing the Last Post and Reveille , with the National Anthem to close the ceremony .”
The NSW service will be held at the Cenotaph , Martin Place , at 10.30am . You can watch this live online by visiting nsw . gov . au .
The national service at the Australian War Memorial will be broadcast live on ABC TV .
RSL NSW says there are many ways you can honour veterans on Remembrance Day – attend a local service , spend a quiet moment in remembrance at home or donate to help a veteran in need .
You can download a personal service from rslnsw . org . au from 6 November . It will be an audio recording and a video of a short Remembrance Day service .

Poppy appeal – plant a virtual poppy

Your donation to the RSL Poppy Appeal changes the lives of our veterans and their families . Donations help provide specialist services like crisis accommodation and health and wellbeing programs to thousands of veterans and their families .
Plant a virtual poppy and write a message in the RSL Poppy Appeal Remembrance Garden to honour the service and sacrifice of the men and women who have served our nation .
Visit : poppyappeal . com . au .

How can men make change ?

Violence perpetrated by men against women must stop and it is up to men to stop it .
White Ribbon Day is being held on Friday 19 November , with this year ’ s theme – How can men make change ? Learn . Give . Take Action .
Men ’ s violence against women is an ongoing epidemic which was made worse due to the pandemic , particularly the extended lockdown , according to White Ribbon Australia .
“ Lockdowns and social distancing have not only created a spike in violence , but also reduced the ability of victims to seek help ,” a spokesperson said .
Family and domestic violence is a violation of human rights . It is violence , abuse and intimidation between family members or people in intimate relationships and comes in various forms :
• emotional abuse
• physical assault
• sexual assault
• verbal abuse
• financial abuse
• psychological abuse
• isolating a person from their friends and family
• stopping a person from practicing their religion The aim of the annual awareness
day is to change attitudes and social norms that excuse or condone disrespect , sexual harassment , and abuse .
Standing up , speaking out and supporting are ways you can help raise awareness .
Some Blacktown City registered events include :
Blacktown North Public School is holding a fundraiser by doing a gold coin donation mufti day or wearing white for the day .
Jump Up to stop violence against women at Ropes Creek Road , Mount Druitt , is being held at 10am on Saturday 20 November . Tickets are $ 20pp for this event which involves an exercise circuit challenge including sit ups , star jumps , bear crawls , skipping , pushups , leg crunches , lunges , running and squats .
“ Each person who joins will have the chance to win a prize which will be drawn at random at the conclusion of the circuit challenge ,” organiser , Tara Weir said .
“ These activities have been chosen because little equipment is required , children can also get involved and the activities adhere to the White Ribbon guidelines for sports .”
Event information can be found on whiteribbon . org . au .
How will you be helping a Mo Bro or a Mo Sister this Movember ? Grow a moustache ; move for Movember ; host a Mo-Ment or Mo your own way ?
November is a month dedicated to the awareness of men ’ s mental health , suicide prevention , prostate cancer and testicular cancer – dubbed Movember .
It began in 2003 with the idea of growing a moustache to fundraise – 30 people joined up in fact – now its global with more than five million participants ,

ESCAPING VIOLENCE TRIAL PAYMENT

Women leaving a violent relationship now have access to a one-off payment of up to $ 5000 to help them establish a life free of violence .
Under the two-year Escaping Violence Payment trial women will receive financial assistance of up to $ 1500 in cash with the remainder available for goods and services or direct payments of bonds , school fees or other support to help establish a safe home . These payments help address financial barriers that may stop women leaving violent relationships , according to Minister for Women ’ s Safety Anne Ruston .
“ We know that financial hardship as well as economic abuse , reduces women ’ s ability to acquire and use money and makes it difficult to leave violent relationships ,” Minister Ruston said . “ The new payment aims to help address those issues , so women have more security when making that brave decision to leave any form of intimate partner according to the Movember charity . Money raised funds groundbreaking health projects across mental health and suicide prevention , prostate cancer and testicular cancer – a total of 1250 projects so far . The Movember charity aims to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25 per cent by 2030 .
Find your Blacktown City event , sign up or donate at : au . movember . com
violence – including physical violence , coercive control and financial abuse .
“ Often women bundle the kids into the car , maybe the dog too and they leave with nothing more than the clothes on their backs .”
Federal Member for Mitchell , the Hon Alex Hawke MP , said the Escaping Violence Payments would assist women in Mitchell who need financial support to leave . Women can apply for the payment through the UnitingCare Network . Eligibility includes financial stress and evidence of domestic violence such as a referral from a family and domestic violence service provider with a risk assessment and safety plan , an AVO , court order or a police report .
The payment is not taxable or reportable and will not impact on social security payments .
For details , visit unitingvictas . org . au / escapingviolence-payment .
8 ISSUE 08 // NOVEMBER 2021 theindependentmagazine . com . au BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT