THE organiser of an anti-bullying event said bullying on the Border had become worse.
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Calling bullying an “epidemic”, Marcia Beyer said after two years co-ordinating the annual event, she was disappointed to see relentless cyber-bullying on public Facebook pages related to the Border.
“It does happen, it is happening here, it’s an epidemic here,” she said.
“It’s probably getting worse.”
Ms Beyer created the anti-bully event last year in honour of her 18-year-old niece who had been, and continues to be, a victim of bullying.
She said parents needed to be aware of what was being said on social networking sites, and talk to their children about bullying.
Albury Council youth development officer Mandy Wilson said bullying, particularly online, could have horrific consequences.
“Bullying does lead to depression and it also leads to suicide, and we’ve had a lot of that recently,” she said.
“At the end of the day, parents probably need to be asking their kids whether they want to be responsible for someone harming themselves.”
Tomorrow’s anti-bully event at Albury’s QEII Square will begin with a walk at 11.30am along Dean Street and back to release balloons to remember those who had been lost to bullying.
Information booths will be set up, with live music and a free sausage sizzle continuing to 3pm.
People are asked to dress in purple, the colour recognised internationally to symbolise the fight against bullying.
Meanwhile, Tallangatta Secondary School students will broadcast a one-hour show related to headspace and mental health on Radio Upper Murray on Monday, from 1pm to 2pm.