Do it for Dolly Day: Temora High School students say no to bullying

Temora High School students will take a stand against bullying on Friday, May 13 as they commemorate Dolly Everett, 14, who died by suicide in 2018.

Temora High School classrooms will be a sea of blue on Friday, May 13 in a bid to stamp out bullying.

Students will dress in blue along with thousands of others across the nation taking part in Do It For Dolly Day, an annual event to commemorate 14-year-old Dolly Everett who tragically died by suicide in 2018 due to ongoing bullying.

Her parents Kate and Tick Everett created a foundation, Dolly’s Dream, to raise young people’s awareness of the impacts and harms of bullying.

On the annual awareness day, participants wear blue - Dolly’s favourite colour - and raise funds to support the foundation’s anti-bullying programs.

The Murrumbidgee region has a suicide rate almost three times that of Sydney in all age groups.

Co-ordinator of Temora High School’s student representative council, Brenton Hawken, said participating in Do It For Dolly Day was a student-led initiative.

“The planned activities are student-driven and have been designed to start powerful conversations about kindness and supporting others, while addressing the impacts of bullying,” Mr Hawken said.

A key activity of the day will see years seven to 10 participate in a lesson focusing on kindness, compassion and understanding and equip them with the tools to speak out against bullying within the school and broader community.

Messages of kindness in the shape of butterflies will adorn the windows of the school as a reminder that students must be kind, and ‘do it for Dolly’.

Messages of kindness in the shape of butterflies will adorn the windows of the school as an reminder that students must be kind.

Taking part in the annual day is an important reminder of the effects of bullying and the importance of kindness, but Brenton said that Temora High School placed an emphasis on teaching kindness year-round.

“Kindness is embedded throughout the programs that we run, our student leadership and Aboriginal education teams and classroom practises. It is spoken about and routinely practised throughout the school year,” he said.

The planned activities are student-driven and have been designed to start powerful conversations about kindness and supporting others, while addressing the impacts of bullying. Picture: Temora school media

Do It For Dolly Day is on Friday May, 13, 2022.

To find out how to get involved or for more details visit dollysdream.org.au/do-it-for-dolly-day/

If you or someone you know needs help contact: Lifeline: 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au; Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au; Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 or kidshelpline.com.au.