Grandmother's urgent plea for regional areas after losing granddaughter to bullying
“We feel like we are fighting it alone... we need help."
A grandmother reeling the death of her 13-year-old granddaughter has issued a desperate plea after six more teens have committed suicide because of bullying.
Corrine Lee Cheu ended her life in September 2023. She was “pushed around in the playground, told to kill herself and called an ugly rat to her face and online” her grandma said.
Her grandmother Trish Stewart told news.com.au on Tuesday that a dozen “forgotten” kids had died since Corrine’s death.
“We need more school counsellors, we need politicians to listen, we are the forgotten ones up here, it’s got to stop,” Corrine’s nanny Trish Stewart told news.com.au this week.
Together with Corrine’s mum Jodie and dad Monty, Ms Stewart has been working tirelessly to help support families around the state trying to help their children fend off bullies.
Desperate for help
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“Since we lost our girl there would be another six that I know of; one in Chillagoe, one in Cairns, two in Townsville, one in Brisbane and one in Harvey Bay.
“Families are reaching out to us, desperate for help because there is no one else to help. We are treading water keeping Corrine’s charity going, raising money and being the support people for all the families.
“It feels like we are the forgotten ones in far north Queensland. While the focus is on Sydney and the big cities, we are up here struggling alone.”
The harrowing death of Corrine had tragic similarities to the suicide of Sydney 12-year-old Charlotte O’Brien, who died one year ago on Tuesday.
Corrine’s One More Light Foundation has raised thousands of dollars to raise awareness about bullying – the main aim is to get more counsellors on the ground, in schools where it counts.
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“We want to spend the money in the right places,” Ms Stewart said.
“We want free counselling, someone to go into the schools and talk about bullying.
“It needs to start in primary school, nip it in the bud.
“We feel like we are fighting it alone up here, we don’t get the attention of big cities, we don’t get the politicians visiting. We need help.”
Ms Stewart said her family was rocked recently by the death of a 14-year-old boy from Chillago.
“He was the same age as Corrine, grew up in the same area,” Ms Stewart said.
“That family is not coping well. It can’t keep happening.”
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Ms Stewart said she had been contacted by a mum who has a nine-year-old boy on suicide watch.
“There are so many like him. This is an epidemic and we just need help.”
Last week, a Townsville family was dealt the harshest of blows when they too lost their 13-year-old schoolgirl Clarrissa Nicholson.
“Our beloved Clarrissa’s life was tragically taken far too soon,” Clarrissa’s nanny Trish Hamilton told news.com.au.
“For the last few years she battled with in-person and online bullying. Despite the pain she carried, she always wore a smile and did her best to protect her family from knowing the depth of her struggles.
“Bullying in any form is never okay. It’s important to remember that it’s okay not to be okay, and to speak up. If someone confides in you, please ensure they get the support they need by reaching out for help,” Ms Nicholson said.
"Speak out"
Clarrissa’s grandmother had an urgent message for children everywhere: “If someone confides in you that they have intentions of doing something bad to themselves, speak out,” she said.
“Tell your parents, anonymously, call the police … with Clarrissa, apparently one of her friends knew her plans, but said she did not think it was her place to say anything.
“Clarrissa was a wonderful daughter, granddaughter, sister, and friend. Everyone who had the privilege of knowing her was touched by her kindness and beautiful spirit.”
Education experts Dr Charlotte Keating and Dr Jo Robinson have conducted a six-month fact-finding mission to produce a rapid review to inform a national anti-bullying standard.
State and territory education ministers will be briefed on the findings of the rapid review at a meeting in Brisbane on October 17, which eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman will also attend to advise on the government’s incoming social media age ban for under 16s.
So far the experts have conducted 110 consultations and received more than 1700 submissions, and are meeting with education ministers, schools and students around Australia.
RELATED: Girl, 10, found dead by sister, 6, after bullying
A spokesman for the Queensland Department of Education said: “Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with the families and loved ones affected during this incredibly difficult time”.
Addressing bullying requires a “collective effort” from all members of the community—students, families and schools, the spokesman said.
To support the prevention of bullying, the Queensland Government has announced a range of anti-bullying initiatives, including:
- A new Anti-Bullying Stakeholder Reference Group to provide expert advice to guide current and future anti-bullying initiatives;
- Rapid Support Squads that will ‘fly in’ and provide on-the-ground support and expertise to schools in response to critical, high frequency or high intensity bullying incidents;
- Additional funding for chaplains and student wellbeing staff to place on-the-ground support in hundreds of additional schools;
- The expansion of Parentline to offer free, confidential and immediate support to concerned parents and carers, including a new Parent Navigator service. Parentline can be contacted on 1300 301 300. Alternatively, you can find information at www.parentline.com.au; and
- Developing new and updated professional development resources to upskill teachers, teacher aides and support staff with targeted resources to effectively prevent and respond to bullying.
To help Clarrissa’s family visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/our-beautiful-clarrissa
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Originally published as Grandmother's urgent plea for regional areas after losing granddaughter to bullying
