Easier to be kind than to be cool
Local paramedic Trish Tomlin has raised more than $4000 for Do It for Dolly Day to take a stand against bullying.
Ms Tomlin was joined by community members and students from Neerim District Secondary College, Neerim South Primary School, Jindivick Primary School and Labertouche Primary School for the fundraising walk.
The community fundraising page also is sitting at almost $4000.
Funds raised through Do it for Dolly Day go toward changing the culture of bullying by addressing the impact of bullying, anxiety, depression and youth suicide through education and direct support to young people and families.
The charity was created in honour of Dolly, a 14-year-old girl from Western Australia who died by suicide in 2018 after being cyberbullied.
Ms Tomlin said she wanted to use the day to bring local schools together, raise awareness and encourage conversations about mental health and bullying. She walked 17.5km in total, from Neerim South Primary to Labertouche Primary School, with students and other community members joining her for small stretches of the journey.
Ms Tomlin also was joined by fellow paramedic Sian Clarke, Georgia Custance, who rode her horse “Freddy” from Jindivick Primary to Labertouche, and her son, Will Tomlin.
Many of the schools created signs and cheered the group on as they walked past. Neerim South Primary also held a disco at the end of the day.
Ms Tomlin said she hoped the fundraiser would start conversations among students, teachers, parents and community members. “Bullying is much more invisible now.” We wanted to teach kids that “it’s easier to be kind than cool,” she said.