This Saturday, May 10, archrivals the Rennie Football Netball Club and Tungamah Football Netball Club are joining forces in support of White Ribbon Australia, the only male led campaign in Australia to end men’s violence against women after the tragic death of Yarrawonga’s Kylie Sanders.
In Australia, a woman is now being violently killed every four days.
According to The Australian Femicide Watch tally, in 2024, 103 Australian women and 16 children were killed. The 2025 toll currently stands at 24 women and five children in the first week of May.
Groups and campaigns such as White Ribbon Australia are advocating for better funding and legal changes from state and federal governments to put a stop to male abuse and harassment of women.
To show their support for the campaign, all players on the day will wear white armbands with pins also available for purchase at the Rennie Recreation Reserve on Thursday.
Rennie A Grade netball coach Kayla Johnson, who was also friends with Kylie, came up with the idea of the two local teams uniting to raise awareness for social change.
“I was lucky enough to know Kylie. We were friends and worked together for five years caring for the elderly,” Kayla said.
“After her tragic passing, I knew straight away that we had to do something as a club to show our community that we all stand united, and to teach our younger members that all look up to the senior players and club people, that we need to be part of the social change.
“We want young people to see just how helpful they can be in putting a stop to violence against women for good.
“We thought it was important to show that even if you are rivals on the football ground or netball court, that life is much bigger than a game and we are one community not tolerating violence and standing up for Kylie so her life wasn’t lost for no reason.
“By chance the Rennie v Tungamah game was coming up so the opportunity was taken by both clubs with open arms.
“Both clubs support lots of causes throughout the year and try to share them around but we would love to make white ribbon round an annual league feature and will endeavour to put a request into the league.
“The community is in mourning and if our small, country football netball clubs can help people start having conversations to reduce future incidences and build positive relationships, I think Kylie would be proud.”
Tributes flow for Kylie
Throughout social media and down the streets of Yarrawonga Mulwala, tributes continue to flow for Kylie Sanders with many local people attending a candlelight vigil in her honour last Friday night at Hargrave Park.
Kayla Johnson became close friends with Kylie when they started working together at Woods Point Aged Care.
“Kylie made every shift fun and the residents adored her,” Kayla said.
“She used to bring them in presents, from a plant, to stamps and collectables or things she had made from scratch.
“Kylie was fierce, strong, brave and always true to herself. She was hard not to love.
“She had a very loud, veracious character with a wicked laugh and loved her animals.
“She had time for anyone, whether you were a homeless person on the street or the president of a club, she treated everyone equal and accordingly.
“Kylie was not backwards in coming forwards and as it's been heavily documented that no one, including myself, were surprised that she ran to the girls aid on that night.
“Kylie lived a colourful life, with loud music always blaring, a passion for her friends and family and a ‘my way or the highway attitude’.”
