White Ribbon Day is a chance to speak out against ending men’s violence against women, a problem that plagues our society and continues to escalate.

A woman is murdered at least every week, another hospitalised every three hours and around the country every two minutes a police officer deals with an incidence of domestic violence.

Unfortunately, police estimate they only get called out to about 40-50 per cent of cases.

On average a woman will endure 35 assaults before she makes her first complaint.

The common pattern of abuse goes like this – “isolate the victim, reduce her to a state of total dependence, then use intimidation and abuse to gain total control and escalate if she resists”.

This abuse does not have to be physical; it can take many other forms – emotional, economic or social.

And our community is not immune.

In Singleton, 63 cases were reported over a 12-month period from March 2014 -15.

Unfortunately nothing was held to mark White Ribbon Day in Singleton last year, so the organisers are determined this event will be the catalyst to much bigger things.

The breakfast will start at 8am, and continue through to about 9.30am at the Singleton Youth Venue on Pitt Street. 

They are asking for a gold coin donation in exchange for breakfast, tea, coffee and juice. 

The funds raised on the day will go towards much-needed services to protect women from domestic violence.

At the breakfast, artwork created at a prior workshop will be displayed - the works are a symbolic representation of all the lives lost to, and affected by, domestic violence.

In addition to this, Love Bites artworks created by high school students from Singleton will also be on display.

These pieces were created to raise awareness among young people, and to help foster positive relationships. 

Most importantly, those who attend the event will also have an opportunity to “pledge” their commitment to stopping domestic violence against women.