Amy “Dolly” Everett would have turned 20 on May 1st. Tragically the young country girl took her life at age 14 after facing persistent and cruel bullying. Her family, parents Kate and Tick and sister Meg Everett, vowed to keep her memory alive by establishing anti-bullying organisation Dolly’s Dream.
Recent studies found one in four Australian school students aged four to nine experienced bullying, with a concerning one in seven not seeking help or support, equating to more than 340,000 young people who suffer in silence.
This year marks the fifth anniversary of Do it For Dolly Day – a national day to unite against bullying and promote kindness in the community.
Event organiser for the Wakool Do It for Dolly event Tam Adams was blown away with the support.
“It was absolutely amazing, bigger than I ever anticipated.”
“I’m feeling very overwhelmed and emotional about it and just so proud of the community for coming together the way they did for a cause that’s close to a lot of our hearts, not just mine.”
With an initial goal of $2,000 to raise, Tam and the team of volunteers rocketed past the goal raising over $5,000!
“I’d just like to thank everyone who supported it, Maree and Chantelle and the pub, all the businesses who contributed, and the community.”
With baked goods selling well throughout Friday at the Wakool Café, the night then started with 12 riders donning blue and riding into the Wakool pub.
The pub was a hive of activity, also holding the Wakool Bowls presentation night. Packed to the rafters, the kitchen fed the hungry horde with a three-course meal that delighted the masses. The libations flowed, and the crowd cheered as birthday boy Jason Mathers took to the podium to announce raffle winners and host the auction.
Dave Wilson looked right at home assisting Jason with the auction, showcasing the auction items, and soliciting the bids from the boisterous crowd.
A tremendous effort by all involved, well done!
This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 15 May 2025.
