Councillor Column Councillor Amanda Hall

Bullying. Just say no.  
In light of the recent Bullying No Way: National Week of Action which ran from 12th August to 16th August I would like to highlight the fact that bullying takes many forms, including cyber.  
Cyber bullying is perhaps one of the most heinous things to grace our media devices. It affords people the opportunity to say hurtful things and make awful allegations that they otherwise would not have the courage to say to someone’s face.  
Statements can escalate rapidly when others choose to jump on the bandwagon and misinformation can spread like wildfire. We need to respect the fact that we are all different and simply be kind to one another.  
A great initiative by the Burdekin Shire Youth Council is the “Community Notes of Kindness” campaign which has been running throughout the month.  This initiative aims to spread positivity and kindness within our community, encouraging everyone to participate in simple acts of goodwill. The steps to participate are simple:
Collect a ‘note of kindness’ from various locations around the Burdekin, including Ayr and Home Hill Libraries, cafes, schools and businesses. Look for the signs, they’ll guide you to where the cards are located. Take a moment to write a kind message for a friend, loved one, teacher, coworker or even a stranger.  
You can choose to keep your note anonymous or include your name. Leave the ‘note of kindness to brighten someone’s day. Through initiatives such as this, we will hopefully foster a compassionate and supportive community.
On another note, Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort, Councillor Fina Vasta and I attended the Vietnam Veterans Day commemorating the battle of Long Tan at the Deep Creek Veterans Retreat on Sunday 18th August.  
This secluded retreat serves as a quiet, serene getaway for our veterans and congratulations must be extended to the organisers and all those who attended.  It was a lovely day.

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