Interrelate’s ‘Say No To Bullying’ competition for primary schools was very popular, with 450 students from the region entering hand-drawn posters.

Two year six students from Telegraph Point Public, Millie Davies and Tayla Hiscock, received a highly commended certificate for their artwork.

More than 3000 students from across the state entered the annual competition this year, with over 20,000 students taking part since it began in 2014.

The theme of the competition focused on the importance of children learning to have respect for themselves and others, as a way to combat the rise of bullying and assist them in developing healthy relationships as they grow older.

“We start each year with a significant social skills program that focuses at building relationships between students and staff in the school, and part of that is an anti-bullying program,” said Telegraph Point Public School principal Leonie Cosgrove.

“I have noticed that we have very little bullying within our school, and we are constantly working with students.

“We continue the anti-bullying program all year, but in particular in the first term for students to build those strong and positive relationships.”

Millie’s poster featured two hands, with words relating to respect, and two anti-bullying quotes on the hands.

“I wanted to show that everyone should be able to fit in, and that everyone is the same,” she said.

“I have seen bullying at school and it shouldn’t happen. All places should be bully free.”

Tayla’s poster showed seven people, with a rainbow shining down on each person with an individual colour, along with an anti-bullying message.

“Bullying makes people feel upset, like they can’t do anything. I have been bullied before and it made me feel horrible and really sad,” she said.

“I hope that people will realise bullying makes people feel upset, and that they will stop. That is why I wanted to make the poster.

“If you see someone being bullied you can either be a bystander or go and tell someone, which is what we have learnt at school.”

All highly commended students have been invited to a special Awards Ceremony in Sydney this Friday (March 17), on the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence.

One of the 450 students will be announced as the finalist for the North Coast region and receive an art pack from Faber Castell.

The 10 regional finalists will then compete for the major prize, which includes accommodation for up to six people on the NSW South Coast.

The regional finalist’s posters will be on display in Chatswood Library for two weeks from this Friday, before travelling to regional libraries across NSW.