Clubs Driving Change Through Purple Friday
12 months ago, Revesby Workers’ Club made a powerful and public commitment to our community — from our Board and leadership team through to every staff member — to say yes to respectful relationships and no to domestic violence.
Twelve months on, the Club is proud to reflect on embedding this commitment into the fabric of the Club. What began as a declaration of intent has evolved into a sustained, organisation-wide effort grounded in awareness, education, and prevention, ensuring that the Club remains a safe, supportive environment for members, guests, and colleagues alike.
The Initiative was first pioneered by Cherry Street Sports Club following the tragic death of local woman Lindy Lucena in 2023, it began as a simple yet powerful gesture of solidarity. It has since developed into a broader movement embraced by clubs across New South Wales.
This year, the movement reached a significant milestone with the support of ClubsNSW, which launched a statewide campaign bringing registered clubs together to raise awareness and support domestic violence prevention. On Friday, 8 May, more than 200 clubs participated in Purple Friday – ‘Clubs Say No to Domestic Violence, demonstrating a united commitment to driving change across the industry.
Industry bodies including ClubsNSW and members and staff from the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) attended a Purple Friday event at Revesby Workers’ Club. ILGA Chairperson Caroline Lamb praised the club’s ongoing efforts, stating, “Revesby Workers’ Club’s continued involvement highlights its strong commitment to raising awareness of domestic violence.” Radio station 2GB broadcast live from the Club, speaking with special guests including Mayor Bilal El Hayek about the vital role clubs play in supporting their communities and the importance of the Purple Friday initiative.
To further support the initiative, from May 4-10th the Club “went purple” as a visible demonstration of our unwavering commitment to ending domestic, family, and sexual violence.
Over the course of Purple Week, the Club delivered a Purple with Purpose campaign which turned the Club purple including purple beers to purple burgers and our Purple Payday raffle — collectively raising just under $6,000 for Biyani House – Revesby Women’s Shelter. Building on the impact of these efforts, the Club has also introduced two Purple Benches at Revesby Village Centre. Each bench also provides access to help and educational resources via a QR code, connecting individuals to support services such as 1800 RESPECT, which offers free, confidential assistance 24/7.
While both the Club and the broader industry are making important strides, the reality of domestic and family violence in Australia remains deeply concerning:
- 1 in 4 women will experience domestic or family violence in their lifetime
- Over 50% of women seeking crisis accommodation are turned away each night
- The economic cost is estimated at $26 billion annually, with nearly half of that burden carried by victims themselves
- In 2025 alone, 77 women and 26 children lost their lives due to domestic violence
Domestic violence thrives in silence — and as a community organisation, Revesby Workers’ Club believe it is our responsibility to help break that silence.
Together, we stand strong.
Together, we raise awareness.
Together, we say no to domestic and family violence.
