A young girl took her own life after getting bullied at school.
13-year-old Corrine Lee-Cheu was a bright and outgoing teenager who took her own life on September 13 after having one final dinner and chat with her loved ones.
According to the reports, the young girl went to her room after a family dinner before ending her life as a result of bullying that the Year 8 Atherton State High School student suffered in silence.
“We are devastated. Completely lost. That afternoon, she gave me a kiss and cuddle and offered to mow my lawn,” devastated grandma Patricia Stewart said.
“There was no indication something was wrong. Now, we just keep asking ‘why?’ She had a heart of gold. To me, she was nanny’s baby. Her and I just had a strong bond. A lot stronger than any other grandmother and granddaughter I know.”
Grieving parents Jodie and Monty went on to say that they would often ask their daughter how she was doing and how she was feeling about her studies. Each time, however, the teen reassured them that she was okay.
“She didn’t talk about a lot of it. She kept it to herself. [When asked about it] she would say, ‘Shut up mum. Nothing is wrong with me,’” Stewart added.
The tragic incident comes two months after the girl was confronted by a group of bullies while walking through the Australian town of Atherton.
While the incident was reported to the police, Lee-Cheu’s school didn’t take any action against the bullies because the confrontation didn’t take place on school grounds.
“The worst part is they don’t talk about it [bullying]. They are ashamed to talk about it. And the Far North is forgotten. Doctors are virtually nonexistent. We had to take her to Cairns for her to be able to see somebody,” Stewart continued.
“Why haven’t they got the resources? Why haven’t we got the doctors? It is a vicious cycle. When I was a kid, we had places like youth group, where kids would get together and have a chat to somebody. Those are the things kids need.
“And when there is bullying in the schools up here, the offenders get a bit of detention, or they are suspended for a week and are back again. A week is a holiday to them. They need to try something else. That doesn’t work.”
Not willing to let her death be in vain, the grandmother said she now wants to raise awareness about bullying while urging other parents not to give up in trying to get their children to open up to them.
“Get your kid to talk to you. No matter how small it is. Push them to talk. If they won’t, go and take them to somebody so they will,” Stewart concluded.
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