Seymour College staff Lisa Macheras, Leanne Hayek and Greg Gibson with Year 11 students Christian Pleab and Catryn Sutherland at the school’s Do It For Dolly Day display.
Photo by
Billie Davern
A “splash of blue” sparked conversations about bullying and supported an important cause at Seymour College on Friday, May 8.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The college’s support of Do It For Dolly Day appears to grow annually, with a huge blue display set up by Vocational Major students helping to raise awareness about Dolly Everett’s story.
After taking her own life when she was just 14 as a result of bullying and cyberbullying, Dolly lives on through the colour blue and her dream.
The annual Do It For Dolly Day supports not-for-profit organisation Dolly’s Dream to prevent bullying and cyberbullying.
“This day affects a lot of people, even if they might not talk about,” VM program manager Lisa Macheras said.
On the day, the school’s defence garden was filled with blue, crocheted poppies, honouring the PTSD many in the defence community suffer with.
Christian Pleab made the blue statue he and Catryn Sutherland stood beside.
Photo by
Billie Davern
A huge banner filled with blue hand prints was also hung on the wall opposite, an artwork which the school displays on the day annually.
Ms Macheras said the “driving force” behind this year’s fundraiser was Year 11 student Catryn Sutherland.
As it is with many young people, the cause is close to the student’s heart.
“There’s a lot of people that we know, collectively, that have probably dealt with these kinds of things — to shed some more light on it is important,” Catryn said.
“I think it’s important to get people to talk about it.
“It’s like that effect where one person will say something to their friends, and then it ends up as this big conversation where everyone’s sharing with no judgment.”
Agricultural science teacher Amanda McLaren brought in a Robert Milton painting to spark discussions about PTSD among defence personnel and emergency services staff and volunteers.
Photo by
Billie Davern
Christian Preab, who’s also part of the Year 11 cohort, had a meaningful input on the day, too.
The student made a large statue representing Dolly, which was situated in the middle of the blue garden display.
“They needed help, and I wanted to help out and do as much as I could,” he said.
“It’s good that people can know about this so they won’t (engage in bullying) themselves.”
The college’s agricultural science teacher Amanda McLaren also made a contribution on Do It For Dolly Day, which is intended to have a lasting impact.
Ms McLaren, during her time as mayor of Strathbogie Shire, commissioned a piece of art by military artist Robert Milton, who once served in the Queen’s Guard.
The blue piece represents the PTSD faced by many defence force personnel and emergency services volunteers and staff.
The blue banner is displayed yearly on Do It For Dolly Day.
Photo by
Billie Davern
Ms McLaren is hoping to display Milton’s work in the school’s library, where the Defence Club meets.
“I thought it would be a really nice display to have reminders around mental health and the amazing jobs that so many in our community, particularly around Seymour, do,” she said.
“It’s about sparking conversations, looking out (for each other), and also being kind and realising that everybody’s going through something and sometimes we don’t realise what people are going through.”
While money was raised through an out-of-uniform donation, Do It For Dolly Day at the college was all about raising awareness about the harms of bullying and cyberbullying and starting important conversations — objectives that will be carried out long after the day’s end.
21°C