Garry Ponder

Gary completed the Trek for Respect: Larapinta in 2017 “Having worked in Law Enforcement for 20 years, I’ve seen the results of family violence all too regularly. As a society, we need to change this and it all starts with Respect.” In my long-term career with the NSW Police, I witnessed the outcomes of Family Violence on far too many occasions. And it is not only the bruises, it is the ripple effect that this violence and abuse has on the children, other family members and society in general; the physiological and emotional scars that if not addressed, can create generational violence. For me, this was a life changing event. Our Trek team included six survivors of domestic violence. Hearing their stories, knowing where they came from, and what they have achieved was truly inspiring. They allowed me to share in their journey and for this I will be eternally grateful. We were an eclectic group, most of whom did not know each other and we all became instant friends. I think coming together for such an important cause was the catalyst that united us so easily. Pictured with me is Trek Ted, my training partner. My wife, and biggest supporter, brought to life Trek Ted, so I wouldn’t be doing all my training in Bowral on my own. Ted became an integral part of the training walks in Sydney. All the Trek for Respect team got on board involving Ted in whatever they could, and had a lot of photos taken with him. I considered the Trek for Respect my opportunity to promote the great work done by White Ribbon. I am grateful that White Ribbon has given me the opportunity to participate in events that promote education programs to change the behavioral landscape to improve the life of women and girls. It is all about respect. If you are passionate about stopping violence and abuse against women and girls, then White Ribbon is the forum for you.

Total raised $11,918