Cyber-bullying crackdown boosted by Springsure rodeo proceeds

Digital licences for school students that show they can negotiate the twists and turns of social media could be one of the positive outcomes of the Springsure rodeo held earlier this year to raise money for efforts to curb the effects of cyber-bullying.

Attended by 6000 people, the event became a meeting place for Queenslanders to share their sorrow at the passing of Northern Territory teen, Amy “Dolly” Everett , early in January, after she was bullied.

As a result, $176,000 was raised, an amount that has organiser, Shannon Bleakley, still shaking her head in gratitude and disbelief.

“I still don’t have the words – it was totally overwhelming,” Shannon said. “The support we received was massive.”

She understood the Dolly’s Dream Foundation, which they were raising money to help, was joining with the Alannah and Madeline Foundation to help keep children safe.

“One of the programs they have is a digital licence that children sit for, to see if they’re internet savvy,” she said.

“It’s good for cyber-bullying but it helps identify scams and possible predators too.

“I understand 200 schools have signed up, but I think it should be mandatory for all.

“Children have to be internet savvy these days, and their parents have to be in the know too, especially as they’re handing devices over to their children.”

Shannon applauded the state government’s cyber-bullying taskforce while wishing it had a couple of younger faces around the table, seeing it as proof that people were paying attention to cyber-bullying.

She said they were planning another rodeo for February 2019.

“We’ve got to keep the awareness going,” she said.

She was pleased to see that the Member for Gregory, Lachlan Millar, had hosted cyber-bullying workshops in Longreach and Emerald in the past week.

Meanwhile, another fundraising event will be held under the stars for the Dolly’s Dream Foundation at the Katherine Showgrounds on Friday night.

Among the items to the auctioned on the night is an original artwork titled “Dolly’s Place”, painted by talented outback artist, Belinda Williams, who was the resident artists at the Sydney Royal Easter Show earlier this year.

Like many others across Australia, Belinda was touched by Dolly’s story and painted the work using Dolly’s favourite blue colour at the show.

It proved so popular that Belinda has reproduced it as a fine art Giclee reproduction donated it to the Katherine evening.

Article courtesy of Fairfax Digital and Queensland Country Life