{{Short description|2018 suicide in Queensland, Australia}} {{infobox person | name = Dolly Everett | image = Dolly_Everett.jpg | birth_name = Amy Jayne Everett | birth_place = Katherine, Northern Territory | birth_date = 1 May 2003 | death_place = Queensland, Australia | death_date = 3 January 2018 (aged 14) | education = Scots PGC College | occupation = Student | known_for = {{bulleted|Teenager who committed suicide after being a victim of Cyberbullying|Inspiration for charity "Dolly's Dream Foundation"|Former Akubra brand ambassador}} | death_cause = Suicide }} '''Amy Jayne''' "'''Dolly'''" '''Everett''' (1 May 2003 – 3 January 2018) was a 14-year-old Australian teenager who died by suicide after extensive bullying.<ref name="bbc"/> Her death sparked debates about teen suicide, racial and gender imbalance in media reporting of suicide<ref>[https://www.welcometocountry.org/dolly-everett-exposed-australias-indifference-to-aboriginal-suicide-crisis Dolly Everett exposed Australia's indifference to the Aboriginal suicide crisis], Welcome to Country website. Retrieved 8 April 2018.</ref><ref>Georgatos, Gerry (18 January 2018) [http://thestringer.com.au/the-death-of-a-child-by-suicide-12738#.WsnB6OQh3IU The passing of a child by suicide], ''The Stringer''. Retrieved 8 April 2018.</ref> and the dangers of publicity around suicides and emphasising victim playing, glorifying and promoting suicide.<ref name=mindframe/>
Everett was from Katherine in the Australian Northern Territory and had attended Scots PGC College in Warwick, Queensland.<ref name=warwick>Wurm, Elyse (13 January 2018) [https://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/news/goodbye-warwick-farewells-dolly-in-intimate-servic/3308995 Goodbye: Warwick farewells Dolly in intimate service], ''Warwick Daily News'', News Corp Australia. Retrieved 6 April 2018.</ref> When she was younger, Everett had been a face in advertisements for Akubra hats.<ref name=bbc>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-42631208 Akubra girl Dolly's bullying suicide shocks Australia], ''BBC News'', British Broadcasting Corporation, 10 January 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.</ref>
==Tributes and legacy== Everett's suicide prompted tributes and reactions, including many from those who had not known her.<ref>Sullivan, Rebecca (10 January 2018) [http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/tributes-for-14yearold-dolly-everett-flow-in-following-her-tragic-suicide/news-story/aabdb67a476a5347f5859b793330167a Tributes for 14-year-old Dolly Everett flow in following her tragic suicide], ''news.com.au'', News Corp Australia. Retrieved 6 April 2018.</ref><ref>Roe, Isobel (12 January 2018) [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-11/online-bullying-suicide-sparks-national-discussion/9321226 Dolly Everett: 'Heartbroken' Malcolm Turnbull joins bullying debate in wake of 14-year-old girl's suicide], ''ABC News'', Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 6 April 2018.</ref><ref>Marsh, Vanessa (14 January 2018) [http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/jeff-horn-pledges-to-beat-bullies-after-suicide-of-amy-dolly-everett/news-story/fc4e642ed8db73c97bff6ee923a2d825 Jeff Horn pledges to beat bullies after suicide of Amy 'Dolly' Everett], ''The Courier-Mail'', News Corp Australia. Retrieved 6 April 2018.</ref><ref name=ntnews>Sorensen, Hayley (13 January 2018) [http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/heartbroken-mourners-say-goodbye-to-amy-dolly-everett-in-katherine/news-story/31033a695f5ac52ae7bea1cbafc1e536 Heartbroken mourners say goodbye to Amy 'Dolly' Everett in Katherine], ''NT News'', News Corp Australia. Retrieved 6 April 2018.</ref><ref>Ingall, Jennifer (22 January 2018) [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-22/tamworth-country-music-festival-starmaker-winner-2018/9343620 Star Maker winner pays tribute to 'Dolly' Everett], ''ABC News'', Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 6 April 2018.</ref><ref>Smith, Ella (17 January 2018) [http://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/story/5174095/tamworth-teen-busks-to-help-take-down-bullies-video Tamworth singer-songwriter Hattie Oates pays tribute to Dolly Everett], ''Northern Daily Leader'', Fairfax Media. Retrieved 8 April 2018.</ref> Memorial services for Everett were held in Katherine and Warwick<ref name=warwick/><ref name=ntnews/> at which mourners were encouraged to wear Everett's favourite colour, blue.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-42657228 Bullying suicide: Mourners were blue for Akubra girl], ''BBC News'', British Broadcasting Corporation, 12 January 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.</ref><ref>Wurm, Elyse (12 January 2018) [https://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/news/blue-day-wear-dollys-favourite-shade-today/3308799 Blue Day: Wear Dolly's favourite shade today], ''Warwick Daily News'', News Corp Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.</ref>
Everett's parents launched a social media campaign using the hashtag #DoItForDolly to raise awareness of the effects of bullying and a foundation called the Dolly's Dream Foundation, with support from the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, which raised over $106,000 in three months by GoFundMe,<ref>[https://www.gofundme.com/DollysDream Dolly's Dream], gofundme. Accessed 8 April 2018.</ref><ref>McKay, Pam (13 February 2018) [https://www.cqnews.com.au/news/cq-rodeo-raises-huge-amount-for-dollys-legacy/3334422 CQ rodeo raises huge amount for Dolly's legacy], ''Central Queensland News'', News Corp Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.</ref><ref>Shafik, Danni (23 January 2018) [https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/news/ale-and-hearty-drinkers-top-up-dollys-dream-fund/news-story/0db17d2e8a16c9fe30f449003bb18796 Ale and hearty drinkers top up Dolly's Dream fund], Danni Shafik, ''Townsville Bulletin'', News Corp Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.</ref><ref>McCormack, Madura (7 February 2018) [https://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/koumala-to-do-it-for-dolly/3328568 Koumala to do it for Dolly], ''The Daily Mercury'', News Corp Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.</ref><ref>De Kruijff, Peter (23 February 2018) [https://thewest.com.au/news/the-kimberley-echo/cattlemens-drive-helps-dollys-charity-ng-b88750247z Cattlemen's drive helps Dolly's charity], ''The Kimberley Echo'', News Corp Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.</ref> and shared a drawing by Everett, depicting a figure underneath the words "stand up, speak even if your voice shakes", a quote which has since been used to encourage young bullying victims to speak up about their experiences.<ref>Graham, Ben (11 January 2018) [http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/dollys-family-release-their-daughters-final-drawing/news-story/06b23b4a39d3e8976861ce7b3c019cfc?from=rss-basic Dolly's family release their daughter's final drawing], news.com.au, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 8 April 2018.</ref><ref>O'Brien, Kristy (10 January 2018) [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-10/dolly-everett-nt-suicide-cyber-bullying-campaign-launched/9317056 Cyber-bullying campaign launched after suicide of Akubra face Amy 'Dolly' Everett], ''ABC News'', Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 6 April 2018.</ref>
The New South Wales Liberal/National Government passed legislation criminalising certain cyberbullying which was referred to as Dolly's Law.<ref>[https://www.justice.nsw.gov.au/Pages/media-news/media-releases/2018/dolly-law.aspx "Dolly's Law" - putting cyberbullies on notice] ''NSW Government'' 22 November 2018.</ref>
==Reporting issues== The Australian Government media initiative, "Mindframe",<ref>[http://www.mindframe-media.info/home/about-mindframe About Mindframe], Mindrame website. Accessed 8 April 2018.</ref> raised a number of concerns about the way the media were covering the death of Everett.<ref name=mindframe>[http://www.mindframe-media.info/home/news/news/2018/media-alert-reporting-on-passing-of-dolly-everett Media alert: Reporting on passing of Dolly Everett], mindframe website, 12 January 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.</ref> It criticised the media for sharing a memorial video<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-11/a-video-pays-tribute-to-amy-dolly-everett/9321964 Video: Amy 'Dolly' Everett's family released this video montage as a tribute to their daughter], ''ABC News'', Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 11 January 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.</ref> released by Everett's family, suggesting that the promotion of such public memorials should be avoided, due to the risk it posed to those experiencing similar life circumstances, or who were having suicidal thoughts.<ref name=mindframe/> Mindframe also urged the media to stop implying Everett's suicide was caused solely by cyberbullying.<ref name=mindframe/>
In the wake of Everett's death, there were also calls to ban or police social media apps known to be used for cyberbullying, such as Sarahah.<ref>Marsh, Vanessa (12 January 2018) [http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/cyberbullying-parents-want-app-shut-down/news-story/3196be2d81de8fb6c5714901ca52ec35 Cyberbullying: Parents want app shut down], ''The Courier-Mail''. Retrieved 6 April 2018.</ref><ref>AAP (15 January 2018) [http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-mothers-petition-to-ban-social-media-app-sarahah-passes-100000-signatures/news-story/43b312c6917246f5779ef448699bced7 Queensland mother's petition to ban social media app Sarahah passes 100,000 signatures], ''The Courier Mail''. Retrieved 6 April 2018.</ref> However, some commentators, such as Ginger Gorman, described the calls as knee-jerk reactions that would likely be ineffective and could potentially remove online support for bullying victims.<ref>Gorman, Ginger (15 January 2018) [http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/banning-social-media-wouldnt-have-saved-dolly/news-story/60da0f9039730cce493649fe4d5793d2 Banning social media apps wouldn't have saved Dolly], news.com.au, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 6 April 2018.</ref>
Other commentators viewed the substantial media interest and public outcry generated by Everett's death as an example of what they perceived to be an indifference to an ongoing youth suicide crisis among Aboriginal Australians, which attracts little media interest.<ref>[https://www.welcometocountry.org/dolly-everett-exposed-australias-indifference-to-aboriginal-suicide-crisis Dolly Everett exposed Australia's indifference to the Aboriginal suicide crisis], Welcome to Country website. Retrieved 8 April 2018.</ref><ref>Georgatos, Gerry (18 January 2018) [http://thestringer.com.au/the-death-of-a-child-by-suicide-12738#.WsnB6OQh3IU The death of a child by suicide], ''The Stringer''. Retrieved 8 April 2018.</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Everett, Dolly}} Category:2018 suicides Category:2018 deaths Category:Youth suicides in Australia Category:Deaths by person in Australia Category:Female suicides Category:Suicides in Queensland Category:Victims of cyberbullying Category:Bullying and suicide