Backs turned on violence

CHAMPION boxers have spread an anti-fighting message at a local school last week.
Australian Champion boxers Sam Soliman and Sam Columban ran a workshop for Year 10 boys at Hallam Senior Secondary College teaching them to walk away from violence.
Commonwealth Games athlete Sam Columban said it was critical to talk to boys their age about making good choices in life.
“When I was younger I made some bad choices and got into a lot of dangerous situations which could have got me seriously hurt or killed,” Mr Columban said. “But I learnt from my mistakes and realised that walking away from violent situations is always the best choice because you never know what’s going to happen if you take the bait and react.”
Sam Soliman, who is the current world number 36 middleweight boxer, agreed.
“The best reaction is to always put your hands up and say ‘I don’t want to start any trouble’ and walk away.”
The workshop was part of Choices, which Crime Prevention Minister Andrew McIntosh said was an important program teaching young men about the importance of making good choices.
“We are grateful to the boxers for sharing their stories in the hope that the next generation will be able to deal with any violent situations they are faced with,” Mr McIntosh said.
Choices is part of the Live No Fear program which is run by the State Government but was developed by young people. It aims to spread the message that living without fear is the best way to reduce the chance of being involved in a violent or threatening situation.
Participants are presented with a series of real-life scenarios and then work their way through different choices which could be made.
The Choices program will be delivered to 15 schools in Victoria throughout June, July and August and is supported with an online forum at www.livenofear.com.au
Participants are invited to continue the Choices discussion online and share their experiences.