This year, students were asked to illustrate how they would help a friend if they were being bullied,
with 5,127 students entering the competition from 175 schools across NSW. Jodi Govender, from
St Joseph’s Primary School in Charlestown, was chosen as the winner while Dante Di’cola, from St
Catherine of Siena Primary School, was named runner-up.
Interrelate hosted the Anti-bullying Poster Competition Award Ceremony at the Power House
Museum. The special guest speaker was Julie Weber, who published a book about bullying at
the age of 14 and is now an anti-bullying campaigner. Over 300 people attended the event, with
distinguished guests including His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d)
Governor of New South Wales, The Honourable Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Parliamentary Secretary
to the Minister for Social Services and Senator for New South Wales, officially representing the
Honourable Mr Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Alan Gibson, Chair of Interrelate
Board and other esteemed Board Directors. Other guests included representatives from Association
of Independent Schools of NSW, Board of Studies, Department of Human Services, Department of
Social Services, YWCA, Campbell Page and NSW Parents’ Council.
The competition itself resulted in a number of positive outcomes. The organisation’s profile grew
through increased social media traffic and media exposure in print, radio and television. Most
notable coverage included interviews with Patricia Occelli on 2GB with Alan Jones and ABC statewide drive with Fiona Wylie, in addition to a television appearance by Patricia Occelli and Julia Weber
on Channel 7 Weekend Sunrise. Other outcomes included increased School Services enquiries and
positive feedback from the education sectors, parents and teachers.
At the event, a Crowdfunding appeal was launched to deliver the Bullying Awareness Program
to students in need free-of-charge. The campaign raised $2167, which will allow us to deliver the
program to 145 students in 2015-16.
Watch our video highlights from the Awards Ceremony at https://youtu.be/As3pfFmVizw
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