DROUIN resident Kerry “Kez” Kistemaker has taken her campaign to prevent deaths and injuries from king hits to the streets of Warragul.
This article was first published in the 15 August 2014 edition of the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen.
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Kez sells bar mats and other paraphernalia emblazoned with the message “Be Smart, Don’t Start, One Punch Kills” to pubs and clubs across Australia as part of the campaign.
She also promotes her message through a popular Facebook page called “One Punch Campaigns Aust-ralia”, which has gained just over 28,000 likes since its launch in January this year.
Kez took to the streets of Warragul late in July to promote the campaign and tell locals it was better to walk away from a fight than to throw a potentially lethal punch.
With her was a friend who filmed her discussions with locals. The finished video was uploaded to YouTube.
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Kez told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen the reaction to her advocacy and the video had been entirely positive.
“It’s the only street talk I’ve done, and afterwards I had people coming over to my Facebook page telling me they watched me and what a fantastic message it was,” she said.
It is always an overall positive response. I’ve not yet had a single negative.
“The reaction on the streets and social media is exactly how you see in the video.”
Kez was inspired to start her campaign after a friend of her son’s was killed after being king hit in Pakenham.
“My son lost one of his best friends, called Cameron, to one punch in Pakenham,” Kez said.
“I began a strong social media campaign for his family called Cam’s Law, which I later handed to his family.
“That was where my social media spark came from and the passion I have for this cause.”
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The page and its message have been shared by a number of celebrities, and a number of pubs and clubs across the country have supported Kez’s campaign by purchasing her promotional material.
“All support I have was gained through social media,” Kez said.
“My aim is is to get this message into pubs and clubs right across Australia and continue to support victims and families.”
Kez has big hopes for the campaign. On social media she has stated she aims to get material branded with her slogan into a majority of pubs and clubs in the country.
Everything going to plan, her efforts in Warragul could be the start of a larger, national street talk campaign.
“I would also like to be able to one day take to the streets in every major city across Australia,” she said.
Kez is not trying to profit from her campaign and produces and sells artwork to help subsidise the merchendise she sells.
“I’m an artist and I sell my paintings on the page, and that money goes towards helping pubs and clubs purchase products with the ‘one punch kills’ message on them to put out at their bars,” she said.
“No money is being made at all and I take no royalties from the artworks I sell.”
Promotional products include bar mats, coasters, t-shirts, stubby holders, posters and stickers.
You can find the One Punch Campaign Facebook page at: facebook.com/KingHitCowards
