A SEA of white balloons carried a serious message that showed Leeton shire residents will not stand for any type of violence against children.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A White Balloon Day march was organised by Vanessa Pages, with close to 50 school students and staff, community members and Leeton Shire Council representatives participating.
Starting at the Roxy Theatre, the march continued past Jarrah Mall before crossing the road at Mick's Bakehouse and coming back down Pine Avenue and finishing at council in Chelmsford Place.
White Balloon Day is held to raise awareness of children affected by sexual assault, with some funds also raised on the day.
Mrs Pages said the march achieved the aims of the day.
"We had very good support from across the community," she said.
"The one thing I said was that the Royal Commission (into child abuse) has exposed the horrors of our country.
"The call is now out that we must protect out children."
Launched in 1997, White Balloon Day is held during National Child Protection Week, with funds raised going toward education, prevention and case management programs for the one in five Australian children sexually assaulted in some way before their 18th birthday.
This year's campaign theme was #whoRUprotecting, with Mrs Pages hopeful the message had gotten across.
"What we want is for the world to be a safer place for children, so why not start that in Leeton?" she said.
Residents can contribute to Bravehearts' fund-raising efforts by visiting www.bravehearts.org.au.
ST JOSEPH'S Primary School banded together last Friday as part of White Balloon Day.
The school asked Jackie Puntoriero from Leeton Community Health, as well as parent Vanessa Pages to take part in the initiative to acknowledge the need to protect children from harm and abuse.
Staff, parents and students were part of the day and learned about child safety and how care and well being is a priority at the school.
Students were encouraged to bring a white balloon to school.
The school was also represented at a street march in Pine Avenue on Friday morning.