Rugby Coach Joins Crusade Against Family Violence

Crusaders Assistant Coach Daryl Gibson has signed up for a new role – Ambassador for Christchurch Women's Refuge.

Gibson is a well-known Canterbury sports personality, being a former All Black and Crusader, and is also dedicated family man with four children. That made the decision to lend his voice to Christchurch Women's Refuge’s work against family violence an easy one. “I didn’t have to think twice about it” says Gibson. “Family is so important to me; as a father and husband you want to know that your family are protected. I’m proud to stand up and say I’m against family violence and, if by lending my voice and support to this cause I can in any way make a difference, then I am keen to do it.”

“We’re absolutely delighted to have Daryl on board as an Ambassador” says Christchurch Women's Refuge CEO Nicola Woodward. “He is known and respected as a local and national sporting icon, as well as being a family man, and to have him lending his support to our work is a huge thing for us. Daryl totally gets that it is about providing families with a range of opportunities to become safe and then move forward, positively and responsibly, free from violence. ”

Christchurch Women's Refuge is well known for its family violence intervention work with women and children and recently announced its intention to open a residential support service for male perpetrators. The service will provide both a place to go when men are forced to leave the family home due to violence and, most importantly, offer support and opportunity for them to begin to take responsibility for and to address their own behaviour.

“I totally support all the work Christchurch Women's Refuge has been doing to help keep women and children safe” says Gibson. “And it just makes so much sense to offer men the opportunity to take personal responsibility for the hurt they cause through their violence and to try to sort out their problems so that maybe they can learn how to keep their family together, but in a safe, positive way.”

The Crusaders management promotes a strong anti-violence message amongst their team and is very supportive of Daryl’s new role. “It just fits with our whole spirit here – it’s all about demonstrating respect for other people and encouraging them to be their best” says Gibson. “That’s something I try to do for my kids, and that’s what we do as a team.”

Gibson and Crusader Head Coach Todd Blackadder both recently added their names to the official White Ribbon pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence towards women. White Ribbon Day is internationally observed on 25 November and is a day on which men wear a white ribbon as a personal pledge against violence towards women.

For any concerns related to family violence, please call our 24-hour free-phone 0800 1 REFUGE (0800 1 733 843)

ENDS

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