Taking a stance against violence
Wania Taeipa and Ryan Leonard know it takes a real man to control his temper.
Both of them regret past lives when they beat their wives, knowing it was wrong in the back of their minds but they were not strong enough to face the truth.
On November 22, they will be two among a group of men riding against domestic violence for White Ribbon Day.
Mr Taiepa, a father-of-two, said he was still undoing a lot of the mistakes he made with his wife of 30 years.
“The moment my partner said, ‘I’m leaving,’ it was like I kicked into panic mode and I’d think, ‘I’ve got to get her to stay,” he said.
“All she saw was this ugly dude who wanted to hammer her; inside I’m going, ‘but I love you,’ but that’s not how you show it."
The White Ribbon Ride leaves Kalgoorlie-Boulder for Laverton on Saturday, November 22 and returns for the White Ribbon Day march along Hannan Street on Sunday. Phone Wania on 0409 630 292.
