With the annual White Ribbon Cup between Forbes High and Parkes High schools growing even stronger this year, organisers are hoping its message will also be driven more strongly.
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The carnival will this year be hosted by Forbes High at Forbes' Duncan Sharpe Oval on Monday, July 29.
It is the third year of the carnival which aims to drive home messages about domestic violence, values and personal strength to take a stand.
This year, the White Ribbon Cup carnival has been expanded to include a girls' league tag match between the two schools - an invitation to Stage 3 students at Forbes Public and Forbes North Public schools and a Girls Night Out to complement the Boys Night In program that follows the cup match.
Forbes High School Deputy Principal, Jason Nottingham said that while the hosts have held the White Ribbon Cup since its inauguration two years ago, he believes however the results of the match are secondary to the valuable message the day reinforces with students.
"White Ribbon promotes respectful relationships, gender equality and engagement of men in preventing violence against women," Mr Nottingham said.
"Combining this message with a day of sporting activity and the chance to explore a number of positively-themed information stalls has proved an effective vehicle for building students' understanding of these important values.
"We are looking forward to this year's White Ribbon Cup carnival building on the success of the past two years."
As well as the on-field action, Mr Nottingham expects that information booths of Uniting, Banaal Billa Legal Service, Centrecare Forbes, Domestic Violence Committee Forbes, NSW Police, CMOC Northparkes Mine and the National Association for Loss and Grief will capture students' interest.
Uniting will also be distributing water and healthy apples provided by Woolworths.
An integral part of the White Ribbon Cup carnival activities is the Boys Night In and, for the first time this year, a Girls Night Out.
Held on the banks of Lake Forbes following the football, the Girls Night Out aims to raise awareness and educate students about domestic violence.
With fun activities, afternoon tea and a chat, the girls will hear from inspirational women about their roles in the community, including Stacey Kelly (Northparkes Mine), Robyn Favell (NSW Rural Fire Service), Carly Fisher (Forbes Shire Council) and Brooke Sargent (Forbes High School Youth Worker).
Following the successful formula of previous years, boys will attend the Boys Night In with a significant male in their lives.
They will enjoy a meal together, hear speakers and watch videos on health relationships, legal issues, being a first responder and be inspired by the themes: On Our Watch and Crossing the Line and engage in sports and games together.
You can find the results of the 2017 White Ribbon clash here.
The results of the 2018 White Ribbon match can be found here.
