More than 6000 people converged on the Queensland central highlands town of Springsure, population 1100, to attend the Doin’ it for Dolly rodeo. Organised by locals Shannon Bleakley and her partner, Dan Roberts, the event was a response to the tragic suicide of 14-year-old Amy (Dolly) Everett in January this year. Supported by a team of more than 200 volunteers, the event program included all the thrills and spills of a regular rodeo, overlaid with the very serious message of working to prevent bullying in our schools and online. Speakers included 13-year-old Dakota Lee Shaw, a Miss Teen Diamond Australia entrant, who explained that one in four students aged between seven and 14 experiences bullying and 64 per cent of girls are cyber bullied at some stage in their school careers. Others lending their voices to the campaign included Dolly’s cousins, Jayde and Tori Powell, who encouraged the crowd “to speak even when your voice shakes”, Burrumbuttock Hay Runners founder Brendan Farrell and awareness volunteer coordinator Jen Korn. At the end of the day, the rodeo raised more than $175,000 for Dolly’s Dream Foundation, established by Dolly’s family and friends to combat bullying in all its forms. For more information go to facebook.com/dollysdreamaustralia.
More Like This
![Riverside Reverie](https://da28rauy2a860.cloudfront.net/australiancountry/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/24092227/1-8-370x246.png)
Mon Bowring is icing a lemon drizzle cake as she chats via phone from her home in the South Australian river […]
![Longford Landmark](https://da28rauy2a860.cloudfront.net/australiancountry/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/23165332/2-6-370x246.png)
The village of Longford in Tasmania’s north-east is noted for its many historic buildings, most built with the symmetry and classic […]
![Livingroom with light accents](https://da28rauy2a860.cloudfront.net/australiancountry/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/23154216/1-4-370x246.png)
Looking to add a touch of style and personality to your space? Here are four ways to do just that using wall […]
![Pedal to the Metal](https://da28rauy2a860.cloudfront.net/australiancountry/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/04104321/1-3-370x246.png)
Outback sculptor Milynda Rogers confesses she had no intention of creating the world’s largest outdoor sculpture exhibition when she started planting […]
![Cactus Celebration](https://da28rauy2a860.cloudfront.net/australiancountry/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/01153205/1-2-370x246.png)
Jim Hall comes from a long line of English gardeners and his grandfather developed prize-winning gardens in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley. But […]
![katherine cup australian country](https://da28rauy2a860.cloudfront.net/australiancountry/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/17163402/edited-50-370x246.jpg)
Amid the fast-paced action, frocks and frivolity that mark the annual Katherine Cup, there was a very serious message behind the 2018 event.