By Goya Dmytryshchak
Twelve year old Harry Lidyard of Seabrook Primary School has received a Fred Hollows Humanity Award for comforting a bereaved classmate.
The award recognised his “compassion, integrity and kindness”.
His teacher Michael Newport said he nominated Harry for the award after seeing him console another boy during a wellbeing class.
“Once a week, we get a wellbeing teacher coming in and talking to us about different aspects of life and depression and all that kind of stuff, just to get the students to understand the world, in that everyone might be going through something differently and we can’t be judgemental,” Mr Newport said.
“In one lesson, a particular kid in the classroom who has had trauma through their family just broke down because of what was being talked about.
“Harry … saw him in a bad way and comforted him and easily took him outside … I don’t know what was said but whatever was said was done well. I just thought that was something special that was done without even thinking.”
Harry said the class had been discussing feelings when a classmate became emotional.
“The teacher said, ‘Put your hand up if something made you sad’, and my friend put his hand up,” he said. “He started talking about it but then I could see in his eyes that he felt really sad about it so I just helped him out.
“I talked to him, got a drink with him.”
Williamstown North Primary School year 6 pupil Jordan Lawrence was also recognised in the awards. She was honoured for taking care of her prep buddy at lunchtime, helping a neighbour with her new baby daughter and volunteering in the school canteen.
The awards were presented by former Victorian premier John Brumby, who chairs the foundation.
“Fred believed that Australians had an amazing ability to care for others and help those in need,” he told recipients. “He would be incredibly proud to see you all sitting here today.”
