Father asks web bullies to come to girl’s burial
AUSTRALIA: The father of a teenage girl who killed herself last week has invited her online bullies to the funeral to witness her family’s ‘‘complete devastation’’.
Amy ‘‘Dolly’’ Everett, 14, whose family run a cattle station in Australia’s Northern Territory, was the face of Akubra Hats when she was 8, appearing in television advertisements that depicted her rural upbringing.
She took her own life last week after being bullied online, according to her father, Tick Everett. He said those who harassed her should come to her funeral today.
He wrote on Facebook: ‘‘If by some chance the people who thought this was a joke and made themselves feel superior see this post, please come to our service and witness the complete devastation you have created. You will never know what you have until it’s gone. If we can help other precious lives from being lost and the suffering of so many, then Doll’s life will not be wasted.’’
The family have called for more to be done to prevent others experiencing such trauma.
Amy, who attended boarding school in Queensland, was on holiday when she killed herself.
Her mother, Kate, and sister, Meg, said in a statement: ‘‘We just want to save another family going through the sadness and tragedy. Stop bullying. Be kind. Do it for Dolly.’’ – The Times