Do It For Dolly: St Joseph’s slimes the staff

By Emily Donohoe

May 13, 2024

For Dolly: St Joseph's principal Liz Trewick gets slimed. Photo: Aidan Briggs Photo by Aidan Briggs

St Joseph’s Primary School students covered teachers and staff in slime to fundraise for Do It For Dolly Day, raising thousands of dollars in the process.

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The Rochester school raised $2632 for Dolly’s Dream, a significant amount for a school of only 101 students.

Dolly’s Dream is an anti-bullying and suicide prevention charity created by Kate and Tick Everett after they lost their 14-year-old daughter Dolly to suicide after she suffered constant bullying.

Every May 10, schools, groups and individuals fundraise on Do It For Dolly Day by wearing blue, Dolly’s favourite colour, and promoting anti-bullying strategies.

Teachers Jess Carmichael and Amy Eade, learning support officer Dee Palmer and principal Liz Trewick were slimed in the name of charity.

The school’s pavilion hosted the event, with the wider community joining in to watch and support.

The goal was to raise $1000 as a school so that Mrs Trewick could be slimed. This number was reached easily, with the school more than doubling its goal.

Making a splash: Organiser and teacher Jessica Carmichael was the first to be slimed. Photos: Aidan Briggs Photo by Aidan Briggs

Mrs Carmichael organised the event and was happy to see the fundraising goal reached.

“We’ve done (Do It For Dolly Day) before, but not to this scale,” Mrs Carmichael said.

“I just think with everything that’s been happening in the world, a little bit more kindness goes a long way, so we just wanted to do something bigger than what we did last time.

“We’ve raised over $2000 ... we’re really excited that we could do that and we did it in two weeks.”

Best day ever: Students Jaxon Wolfe, Olivia Mundie, Archie Watson, Max Lea, Patrick O'Sullivan, Seth Hunter and Mila Cottam are very happy to make the slime. Photo by Aidan Briggs

The 2.30pm event finished the school’s Family Wellness Day, which saw district businesses Yoga Spot, Tiny Tails, Bendigo Laughter Club, Enchanted Rainbow, Quality Mind and Body Echuca and Kelly Sports, as well as Rochester Lion's Club, bring activities for students and their families to enjoy.

“We were given a grant, which was amazing,” Mrs Carmichael said.

“(It was) a lot of reconnecting and resilience-building, being in a space they haven’t been in for a little while.”

All smiles: St Joseph's students make the slime. Photo by Aidan Briggs

Students were overjoyed to slime the staff, with Year 6 students tasked with preparing the mixture.

Mrs Carmichael was the first to be slimed, dancing her way into the pavilion. She had one bucket of slime poured over her.

Protective gear: Dee Palmer had her goggles on for the occasion. Photo by Aidan Briggs

Next was Ms Palmer, with two buckets poured over her as the students chanted “Dee! Dee! Dee!”.

Miss Eade was third up, receiving three slowly poured buckets, which the school raised $632 alone to see.

Slow burn: Dee Palmer and Jess Carmichael chose a slow pour over Amy Eade. Photo by Aidan Briggs

Finally, Mrs Trewick was slimed, with the biggest buckets saved for last.

Four buckets were poured by students, followed by a tub poured by Mrs Trewick’s son and another tub poured by her husband on behalf of Sportspower Rochester.