- The Perth Wildcats will create history at RAC
Arena on Friday night by wearing orange socks in support of the Cook
Government's 16 Days in WA campaign
- The Wildcats become the first WA professional
sporting team to wear the campaign colour in a competitive fixture
- Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister
encouraging all Wildcats fans to join the campaign and wear something orange
The Perth
Wildcats will create history on Friday night by wearing orange socks in support
of the Cook Government's 16 Days in WA campaign, during their home National
Basketball League (NBL) clash with the Brisbane Bullets at RAC Arena.
The Wildcats
become the first Western Australian professional sporting team to play a
competitive fixture wearing the campaign's theme colour, which seeks to end
gender-based violence.
Prevention of
Family and Domestic Violence Minister Sabine Winton today joined club captain
Jesse Wagstaff to announce the orange sock initiative and has encouraged fans
to add their own splash of orange amid the traditional sea of red worn at
Wildcats' home matches.
The 2024 16 Days
in WA campaign theme is 'Stopping Family and Domestic Violence: Play Your Part'
- and the Wildcats will embody that message by stepping on court in orange
socks in front of over 10,000 thousand Western Australians.
The distinctive
orange hue will also be worn by the Brisbane Bullets, who have added their
support, helping boost the campaign to a national audience.
In backing 16
Days in WA, the Perth Wildcats join other elite WA sporting clubs such as the
West Coast Eagles, Fremantle Dockers, and West Coast Fever in promoting the
call to prevent gender-based violence.
Sporting
organisations including Basketball WA are playing their part in stopping
violence before it starts by participating in the State Government's Respectful
Relationships Sport and Recreation Program pilot, which focuses on promoting
healthy relationships in sport.
Women's NBL teams
Perth Lynx and Canberra Capitals also held a dedicated domestic violence
roundtable to raise awareness last year.
Now in its eighth
year, 16 Days in WA continues to grow bigger every year as more communities,
industries and organisations join the campaign to make change.
Further
information about 16 Days in WA can be found online via the official campaign website.
Comments attributed to Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence
Minister Sabine Winton:
"I am thrilled the Perth Wildcats have joined the 16 Days in WA campaign
to prevent gender-based violence.
"I want to encourage all Wildcats fans to get behind their team and wear
something orange to RAC Arena.
"As someone who is passionate about sport, I know Western Australians
look up to their sporting heroes. The impact of professional athletes saying no
to violence cannot be understated.
"I would like to thank the NBL for supporting the Wildcats' orange sock
initiative for 16 Days in WA. I believe this can be the start of something big,
not only for basketball, but for our community."
Comments attributed to Sport and
Recreation Minister David Templeman:
"Sport has an important role to play in helping change attitudes and
behaviours in a positive way.
"This initiative by the Perth Wildcats should be commended - it is a
great example of sporting codes and teams showing leadership and taking
initiative. Congratulations to the team and the club for taking this positive
action."
Comments attributed to Perth Wildcats
Owner Mark Arena:
"We're proud to make history as the first professional sporting team in
WA to change our socks to the 16 Days in WA campaign's orange during
competition in support of such an important cause.
"As a family-first club, we want to help play our part in calling out
violence against women.
"We urge the Red Army to follow suit with the players and wear orange to
the game against Brisbane on Friday, 29 November at RAC Arena.
"We appreciate the support of the Bullets in also donning orange socks
as we unite to shed light on the issue of gender-based violence."
