BOLWARRA Public School students have been covered in colourful powder in an event that celebrated fun, while raising awareness of the importance of kindness and standing up to bullying.
School parents and citizens association vice-president Emily Aafjes said the school held the Do it for Dolly Colour Explosion on Friday and raised $20,000 for Dolly's Dream, an organisation that aims to change the culture of bullying by increasing understanding of the impact of bullying, anxiety, depression and youth suicide and by providing support to parents.
"The students were all really, really excited," Ms Aafjes said. "It was the last day of term and the perfect day to do it, the weather was beautiful.Our wonderful families raised over $20,000, which is a huge result and we can't thank them enough for showing their support in this way."
Ms Aafjes said the event was a "happy accident", born from the desire to both hold a fun run and raise funds for Dolly's Dream.
The P&C association then found out that company Australian Fundraising, which helps schools organise fundraising events, already had a relationship with the charity. It provided the school with powder, sunglasses, advice and an online fundraising platform.
Ms Aafjes said funds raised through colour explosion fun runs usually go back into school communities, but Bolwarra chose to donate the funds from their event to Dolly's Dream.
"We all really value our students' wellbeing," Ms Aafjes said. "Bullying is an issue all across Australia and we want to make our students' wellbeing our most important priority.
"No matter where you are it's everywhere. Some of our children experience it and every school in Australia has that concern.
"There were some conversations from parents around how parents and families are involved in the process and how the P&C could be involved in the process and how to support the fantastic work the school does in supporting the wellbeing of our kids at school."
Ms Aafjes said the event complemented conversations teachers were having with students in class and families were having at home.
"Kindness and fairness and respect is part of our school ethos," she said."Safe, respectful learners is Bolwarra's ethos and respect plays a huge part in that."
Students who didn't want to join the colour explosion participated in a bubble and confetti run.
Every child who donated funds to Dolly's Dream "whether it was 50 cents or $1000" received an entry into a draw to pour slime over principal Steven Richard.
Kate and Tick Everett set up Dolly's Dream in memory of their daughter Dolly, who died by suicide in January 2018 aged 14.
