On Friday, 25 November 2011 Hobart primary school students will witness the swearing in of a new group of Ambassadors for Australia’s campaign to stop violence against women and children, White Ribbon Day.

Senior members of Tasmania Police, Tasmania Fire Service, Ambulance Tasmania, Forensic Science Service Tasmania and the Department of Education will today take an oath to become Ambassadors for White Ribbon Day.

The Ambassadors are making a commitment to work to reduce violence and help change attitudes and behaviours that lead to men’s violence against women.  

Each new Ambassador will swear never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women.

More than 300 school children from Lansdowne Crescent Primary School will witness the eight new Ambassadors take their oath.  The children will wear white for the White Ribbon Day assembly.

“It is a minority of men who think it’s ok to insult or assault women and our role as  Ambassadors for White Ribbon Day is to help change that attitude,” said the Commissioner of Police, Darren Hine, who has been an Ambassador since 2008.

“By taking the oath today before an audience of children, the Ambassadors are making a promise to the next generation that violence is never acceptable,” said Mr Hine.

New Ambassadors for White Ribbon Day sworn on 25 November 2011:

• Mark Byrne, Children and Youth Services.
• Dominic Morgan, Ambulance Tasmania.
• Mike Brown, the Tasmania Fire Service.
• Laszlo Szabo, Forensice Science Service Tasmania.
• Scott Tilyard, Phil Wilkinson, Steven Bonde and Peter Edwards, Tasmania Police.
• Peter Marmion, Lansdowne Crescent Primary School Principal.