'Even if your voice shakes, it's important to speak up and seek help'

Amy 'Dolly' Everett was just 14 when she took her own life due to bullying. Her parents have bravely spent their time making Australia a better place for other children suffering at the hands of bullies.

2 min read

April 28, 2025 - 1:30PM

Parenting

Don't miss out on the headlines from Parenting. Followed categories will be added to My News.

The family of a girl who tragically took her own life in 2018 vowed to keep her memory alive by establishing anti-bullying organisation Dolly’s Dream.

Amy ‘Dolly’ Everett was 14 when she took her own life in January, 2018.

Her parents Kate and Tick, and sister Meg, will celebrate a very different milestone on May 9 this year, the eighth anniversary of Do it For Dolly Day - a day to unite against bullying and promote kindness.

Recent studies have found one quarter of Australian kids between the age of four to nine experience bullying, and one in seven are not seeking help or support.

“Time and time again, we’ve heard stories of parents losing children that had no idea they were being bullied,” Ms Everett told the Herald Sun.

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this

Dolly’s Dream was founded after Dolly Everett tragically took her own life in January 2018 at the age of 14. Image: Supplied

"It all comes back to being engaged as a parent"

The Everetts have created a new ad showing a girl coming home from school surrounded by the noise of bullying.

The community, featuring Kate and Tick, come together to support the girl and encourage her to speak up.

“The message is that even if your voice shakes, it’s important to speak up and seek help, to help break the silence,” Kate said.

The Everett’s are encouraging parents, carers and educators to create safe spaces for kids to open up about challenges they are facing in their lives.

“It all comes back to being engaged as a parent,” Kate said.

“It’s breaking down those habits that we create and having that family time, sitting down device-free.

“If you’re not engaged in your children’s conversations and you’re not across what they’re using online, it’s really easy to miss things.

“Some of the warning signs that pop up are changes in friend groups or they’re complaining of being teased or ignored or left out or children are all of a sudden avoiding group situations that they normally wouldn’t.”

Kate and Tick Everett – parents of Dolly Everett started Dolly’s Dream and Do It For Dolly Day, a national day dedicated to bringing the community together, spreading kindness and uniting in taking a stand against bullying. Picture: Jane Zhang

"Our dream is that one day we won’t be losing children to bullying"

Kate said the difference Dolly’s Dream was making numbed some of the pain she felt knowing her daughter was lost because of bullying.

“I had a message from a young lady just this week saying that she was struggling when she saw Dolly’s story and she bought herself a pair of boots,” she said.

“And every day that reminds her to speak up and get help. And there is a brighter world out there. It’s those stories that I just think, God, what if I said nothing?

“One of Doll’s favourite things was to sit quietly and have a cup of coffee and she’d always take a big breath in and say ‘oh, tastes like hopes and dreams’.

“Well, her dream, our dream, is that one day we won’t be losing children to bullying. Because no one ever saw the good in people like Doll did.”