Men walk the talk for anti-violence

Tumanako Waikare, left, in red shoes, and Henry Sanford, in green wig, both of Masterton, support the message of non-violence. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Men in high heels helped lead the Walk a Mile in her Shoes anti-violence march down the main drag of Masterton yesterday to celebrate White Ribbon Day.

About a hundred men and women set out from a muster point near St Luke's Church in Queen St and made their way to the Masterton town square where guest speakers addressed the marchers and supporters.

Included in the procession were Wairarapa MP Alastair Scott in open-toe cork platforms and Stopping Violence Services Wairarapa manager and White Ribbon Ambassador Jeremy Logan, who fell only once during the march in a pair of red high heels.

Men and women police officers also turned out for the event alongside firefighters in full emergency kit, including Murray Pike who fashioned his own high-visibility pink high heels from fire safety boots and blocks of wood.

Louis Witbooi, left, David Winter, Joe Harwood, Jeremy Logan, Manager, Stopping Violence Services, MP Alastair Scott, Sam Rossiter-Stead, John Slater and Kaine Jaquiery. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Marchers were met at the square by a half dozen Wairarapa policemen in a White Ribbon Day cycle team that had completed a 100-kilometre trip through each of the Wairarapa towns from Masterton through Martinborough, Featherston, Greytown and Carterton.

The team had on the way stopped at schools to help spread the message of anti-violence and St John paramedics were stationed at the marchers' destination to offer first aid for any injuries suffered by men in tall shoes.

Speakers addressed the crowd of marchers and supporters at the town square and the day's events in the region ended in Featherston with a picnic that included music, an art installation, and a late afternoon barbecue with free sausages.