The Territory's biggest music festival, BASSINTHEGRASS, has teamed up with one of the Territory's most important charities, Dolly's Dream, to raise awareness about bullying and the devastating effect it has on children and families.
Dolly's Dream was founded by Kate and Tick Everett from Katherine, after the death of their 14-year-old daughter Dolly Everett. Dolly took her own life following ongoing and sustained bullying.
This is the first charity partnership for BASSINTHEGRASS, and the collaboration has launched just ahead of Do It For Dolly Day, which this year falls on Friday 13 May. The day is about bringing the community together to celebrate kindness and unite in taking a stand against bullying.
Every year thousands of people come together on the second Friday in May to honour Dolly, take part in fundraising activities, dress in blue (Dolly's favourite colour), support the important anti-bullying work of Dolly's Dream, and share the message to be kind and speak, even if your voice shakes.
The partnership with BASSINTHEGRASS is part of the event's focus on wellbeing and harm reduction, which involves some of the best festival initiatives in the country. There will be a Dolly's Dream marquee in the chill-out zone where festival goers can take a Kindness Pledge, as well as other activities.
Other initiatives at BASSINTHEGRASS include peer-based harm-reduction group DanceWize on site to advise how to party safely; Event Champions roaming the festival; multiple St John NT sites; and a National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre medical facility.
To find out how to support Dolly's Dream, visit [http://www.dollysdream.org.au]
Quotes from Minister for Major Events, Natasha Fyles:
"This charity partnership is a first for BASSINTHEGRASS, and part of the event's evolution as it continues to grow and develop into something far bigger than a music gig for the local community, which is what it started out as.
"Dolly's Dream is an incredibly important organisation that helps spread anti-bullying messages and educates people of all ages about what bullying is, and how it can be stopped.
"With 16,000 tickets sold and almost 35,000 followers on social media, BASSINTHEGRASS is an ideal channel through which Dolly's Dream can spread those messages to a new audience. We are proud to support this great charity."
Quote from Dolly's Dream co-founders Kate and Tick Everett:
"We're extremely proud Dolly's Dream is the first official charity partner of BASSINTHEGRASS. It is such a huge event for the Northern Territory and we are very touched and honoured that so many are supporting Dolly's Dream."
