Following her emotional interview with Dolly Everett’s parents, Tracy Grimshaw has urged viewers to consider another, often overlooked facet of school bullying.
Speaking on A Current Affair, the 57-year-old host issued a warning not to engage in a “verbal pile-on” with school bullies because they, too, are just children.
“A lot of you turned your comments on the bullies, but please remember that they are kids too and they all read social media,” she said.
“That’s a key point of this.”
“It’s not for adults to get involved in a verbal pile-on against a bunch of schoolkids.”
Amy ‘Dolly’ Everett took her own life after a vicious campaign of bullying. Image via Facebook.
Amy Everett — affectionately known as Dolly — took her own life after suffering a vicious campaign of bullying at the hands of her peers. She was just 14.
In a heartbreaking new interview with A Current Affair, her parents Tick and Kate recalled the unimaginable: the moment they discovered their daughter’s lifeless body.
“There was nothing we could do,” said Tick. “It’s the most horrible thing you, anybody, any parent … you just, you should never have to do that.”
Owing to the isolation of their bushland family home, the parents were forced to wait for nearly four hours before emergency services arrived.
“You know, being isolated was another battle, you know sort of three and a half hours before anyone else could get there. The longest night of our lives really. You know, she’s right there and there’s nothing you can do.”
“I actually just laid with her for hours,” said Kate. “Cuddled up with her for hours and just, I just made a promise to her that, this wouldn’t be in vain … that I was so, so sorry that I hadn’t made better decisions.”
WATCH: Kate and Tick are determined to raise awareness of youth suicide in their beloved daughter’s honour. Post continues…
“There was nothing I could do to save her. I don’t know if anyone thinks this is the answer to their problems, it’s not. It just gives them to somebody else.”
“She had so much to live for,” Kate continued.
“I wish she could see herself through my eyes and not through the eyes of the people who made her feel like that.”
If you or anyone you know is suffering, please contact Lifeline (lifeline.org.au) on 1311 14 or visit Headspace at (headspace.org.au). Visit Beyond Blue at (beyondblue.org.au) or call 1300 22 4636. You can also contact the Kids Help Line on 1800 55 1800.
