SUPPORT NEEDED

Following at least four reported cases of bullying last week (one resulting in yet another suicide) I am now 'working' in co-operation with a journalist from our newspaper in Western Australia.  It appears that quite a few victims or loved ones approach their local MPs about their problems, obviously wanting to 'vent' but also hoping that something might be done.  NOW there IS a hope that SOMETHING just MIGHT be done.  My own MP is offering to send these people onto me (ONLY with their permission) with the chance that their stories might be publicised.  I will decide whether they are newsworthy or not.  Having also had a very unsatisfactory (but typical) response from our Minister for Education (to which I will be responding, politedly but pointedly telling her that I will NOT back down and let them deal with it...their 'dealing' is not working...not from what I can see anyway and we want action...we want EFFECTIVE handling and outcomes/results to be known).  BUT we are also looking for 'ammunition' with this fight....PLEASE if you have been a victim or a loved one, I NEED TO HEAR YOUR STORY.  Please inbox me at abccalligraphy00@hotmail.com.  The more the better.  This offer is also being made to all electorates in WA as I continue to hassle the government   Please just remember that the more GENUINE stories we have the more likely it will be that the government will take notice.   NO NAMES WILL BE MENTIONED, NOR SCHOOLS OR ANY INSTITUTIONS AT ALL.  EVERYTHING WILL REMAIN TOTALLY CONFIDENTIAL.  Cases of cyber-bullying are particularly of interest but we are looking for any form of bullying.  PLEASE HELP WITH THIS...WE NEED YOUR HELP.   Thank you.

GETTING TO THE GOVERNMENT

Seems we are reaching the SA Government....and hoping the other states will follow suit.  Have been given some invaluable advice from a journo here, which I will be following this week.  All sorts of things are happening...we are determined to change/tighten up the anti-bullying policies nationwide.  For those who are interested in seeing something positive being done about bullying and supporting our advocacy, PLEASE sign our petition:  www.thepetitionsite.com/1/change-anti-bullying-laws-and-policies/   .  Have also had an excellent review for 'Bullseye':   written by a teacher in the USA:  'I spent some time with 'Bullseye' and think that it's a powerful book for two reasons:  it's poignantly real and it's in the voices of many people who were brave enough to share their story.  This is a great book for those who have faced similar problems and will give strength to their voices.  Inasmuch as bullying is so timeless and so pervasive and takes on so many forms, it would be hard to write solutions for every problem inscribed.  As a reader, I wanted to know more background of the victims, such as age, and situation.  Also, it would be nice to revisit with the victims after 10 years and get again, in their own words, how they've come to grips as they've faced their memories of the bullying.

INTERVIEWS INTERVIEWS

Things are really starting to happen quickly now.  Have just done another radio interview which is terrific.  Also had a brilliant weekend down south at Dwellinghup with the leader of 'Against The Grain', the awesome group of disabled men that I am now writing a book about, along with around twelve other men, all of whom are in a riding group.  It really was a heck of a lot of fun and laughs.  Am turning up the heat with both causes now as things are really starting to happen.  All soooo good.

SUPER GRANNY IS ON A MISSION - Press Release

With the bullying epidemic becoming a horrible and often deadly phenomenon, Perth author and anti-bullying advocate Lannah Sawers-Diggins is using her own experience as a victim to 'fight' back.  Lannah is offering to speak with students and community groups across Australia, to educate and raise awareness about bullying.
Published last year, Lannah's book 'BULLSEYE' is a collection of 36 case histories of victims and perpetrators of bullying.  'Doing this book was extremely therapeutic for me and for the contributors to the book,' says Lannah.  'With this in mind, I decided to take it further and with my growing little army, we are trying to make a difference in the 'fight' against bullying.'
Schools are breeding grounds  for bullying, resulting in a recent spate of youth suicide.  One of the more grim case studies featured in 'BULLSEYE' describes how a victim tried to hang himself.  He would have succeeded had the knot on his jacket not come undone.  The victim's family further suffered, with this mother mis-carrying due to emotional stress.  While his mother was involved with the school committee and was actually on the school grounds for most of the day that her child tried to take his life, she was mortified to be informed not by any of the staff, but by the daughter of a friend.  This case, says Lannah, like many others, highlights the lack of action and naivety of the victims' school staff, who commonly think that just by simply having an anti-bullying policy, bullying is being addressed and will be eliminated.
While many schools have anti-bullying policies, Lannah has little faith in their effectiveness.  'I am increasingly hearing stories about bullies almost being rewarded and the victims are the ones being penalized,' explains Lannah.  'Bullies have virtually been given a slap on the wrist with so-called punishment being 'fun tasks' - a simple distraction from class or sometimes no punishment whatsoever, as opposed to serious discipline,' she says.  In one case, Lannah tells of a victim who had problems when she began at a new school.  She was kicked by a group of girls who said they would be her friends.  When she met them, they kicked and punched her, tearing her dress.  The incident was brought to the Principal's attention where he merely asked, 'What do you want me to do about it?'
Lannah is encouraging victims to come forward and speak of their suffering in complete confidence, to prevent what many see as their only way out - suicide.  She is also reaching out to perpetrators themselves, so they can understand the consequences of their damaging behaviour.  It is this awareness that Lannah hopes will make bullies think twice and curb incidents.  She says that students are often too scared to come forward and subsequently schools cannot truly address the issue, as they only have a minority of complaints to go by.  'There is something very wrong with the system or the schools themselves.'
Lannah has also recently personally experienced cyber-bullying and can fully understand why this form could be as lethal as any other for vulnerable young people.
In her ongoing campaign to raise awareness and educate, Lannah is determined to make a difference.  'If we can stop one victim from committing or considering suicide or turn a bully's thoughts and actions around, or change the attitudes of the schools themselves and parents, then it will all be worth it,' explains Lannah.  
LOOK OUT BULLIES - SUPER GRANNY IS ON A MISSION!

PS TO LAST ENTRY

Due to my tell-all interview in 'Take 5', I am receiving enquiries from people trying to purchase copies of 'Bullseye'.  It is available (in paperback and eform I believe) from the Amazon site (put my name - Lannah Sawers-Diggins in the appropriate box) and for Perth locals, it is also available in paperback from the Newspower Broadway News, Shop 29 Broadway Fair Shopping Centre, 88 Broadway, Nedlands.  6009.

SORRY FOR THE SILENCE

Hello....I'm baaaack.  Apologies for the silence.  I have been and continue to be very busy working on my anti-bullying fight.  I have gained considerable support and the interview with 'Take 5' magazine was published last week.  Gaining a lot of response from that which is very sad, but also excellent.  I am now looking at issuing a Press Release within the next few days (once my current contract as expired) for my own fight and recently I have been fortunate enough to meet an extremely inspirational group of paraplegic men, the 'Quad Squad'.  And what inspirational and wonderful men they are...I consider myself extremely priviledged to know them and the really wonderful aspect is that I have been 'taken onboard', even though I am able bodied.  I am about to start writing a book about them, about their group, their achievements thus far, their goals, aims and inspirations for the future.  All very very exciting.  This is now being done alongside my continued fight against bullying.

THINGS ARE MOVING

The last couple of weeks have been very intense and even more exciting than usual.  YES!  I am starting to gain a lot of very positive response from the schools in WA - I am about half way through the list and will continue after repeating this with the SA schools.  I am going over to SA at the end of May and hope to visit a few if possible.  One of the recipients of one of my school letters in WA is a freelance journalist and I have been busy putting together an interview, 'breaking my silence' about my own experience, also those of both my daughters, both their partners, my niece, my husband, my niece and countless others that I am constantly hearing about.  I am now starting to gain a lot more interest and support locally, nationally and overseas.  All so very sad yet so very good.