Cherry Street Sports Group and Ballina RSL Club say they are proud to support Rotary Ballina-on-Richmond in their impactful partnership with DV Safe Phone, an initiative aimed at providing crucial communication tools to victims of domestic violence.
Collection boxes have now been installed in both club receptions, allowing members of the community to donate old mobile phones which will then be repaired and distributed free of charge to those in need.
Once the collection boxes are filled with donated phones, Rotary will post them to DV Safe Phone, where they’re refurbished and then distributed free of charge to domestic violence victims via a national network of registered agency partners, including DV support services, police stations, hospitals, and safe houses.
This initiative is part of Rotary Ballina-on-Richmond’s broader Domestic Violence and Family Abuse project, strongly championed by local Rotarians Dave and Robyn Harmon, and Jodie Shelley. Rotary has been instrumental in forming numerous successful partnerships locally, nationally, and internationally, significantly advancing efforts to address domestic violence.
Tere Sheehan, CEO of Cherry Street Sports Group said, ‘As with Purple Fridays, the Purple Shop, and our ongoing collaboration with Rotary, any opportunity to help provide additional support channels for those experiencing domestic violence is something we enthusiastically embrace.
‘It’s about providing practical solutions that can truly make a difference.’
Ballina RSL Club CEO Guy Diven highlighted the dual benefit of the DV Safe Phone initiative, saying, ‘This fantastic project not only promotes recycling and environmental responsibility but crucially, it also ensures that individuals experiencing domestic violence have a means of reaching out for help at critical moments.
‘It’s a simple yet profound way to provide genuine assistance.’
Help for those escaping abusive situations
Dave Harmon, from the Rotary Club of Ballina-on-Richmond, said, ‘The DV Safe Phone initiative complements the broader community model we’ve championed since 2019 to combat domestic and family violence in the Northern Rivers, an initiative that Rotary has taken Australia wide.
‘This initiative provides refurbished phones with prepaid credit, completely free and without question, to those escaping abusive situations.
‘Having immediate, reliable access to communication can be life-changing—allowing victims to safely reach out to family, friends, and support agencies at the critical moments they need help most.
‘We’re proud to partner with Ballina RSL and Cherry Street Sports Group, whose support has been invaluable in bringing this initiative to the local community,’ said Mr Harmon.
‘If you have an old phone, please bring it down. It’ll go to a good cause.’
Both venues are now officially registered collection points, and the community is encouraged to donate unused mobile phones to help support this essential cause. The DV Safe Phone box is located at the reception of both venues.
Anyone needing a safe phone can register directly through DV Safe Phone’s dedicated webpage at https://dvsafephone.org/gethelp.
For further details about DV Safe Phone, please visit https://dvsafephone.org/.
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