The 111 Files: Stories spark a movement

Chiefs player Hika Elliot was one of the keynote speakers at the Rotorua launch of Mates.

I think we all love a great story because great stories are powerful.

Really great stories inspire us to become better people, and to do things that will benefit others.

Last Thursday evening I attended the launch of Mates in Rotorua.

Mates is support group/networking programme for men.

I can honestly say that within five minutes of my being in the room I was feeling really encouraged as I found myself surrounded by people who were passionate and committed to helping others.

The keynote speakers were well-known rugby players, Hika Elliot and Ben Tameifuna from the Chiefs rugby franchise.

Both spoke from the heart about their personal experiences of losing loved ones to the despair of depression and suicide.

As the evening progressed and others shared their stories, two themes began to emerge.

The first was that nearly everyone who spoke had experienced first-hand the awful destructive force of family violence and been scarred by it.

It was a stark reminder of how prevalent family violence is in our community, and why it is so important that we continue to work hard to stop it.

The second theme was more encouraging. Those who shared stories of violence and abuse had not just survived, but they had found a way to thrive.

They spoke with gratitude for those who had helped them; and of their determination to help others.

Part of the power of a great story is that it causes people to have conversations.

One of the most impressive examples I have ever heard is the story of the White Ribbon campaign.

Two years after a man murdered 14 women at a university in Canada, a woman challenged three of her male friends to do something about the issue of men being violent towards women.

Her message was a simple one, "this is a men's issue and you are men - so you need to do something about it".

That conversation was the genesis for the White Ribbon campaign.

Within a couple of years, conversations resulted in White Ribbon becoming a movement across all of Canada.

The message began to spread to other countries, and within 10 years of that first conversation taking place between one woman and three men, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the White Ribbon as an international symbol for standing against violence against women.

So if you are looking for help, or are keen to help others - drop me a line.

There are plenty of people and agencies I can put you in touch with who are keen to help others turn their lives into a better story.

bruce.horne@police.govt.nz

Inspector Bruce Horne is the Rotorua police area commander.