GoRV - Digital Magazine Issue #77 | Page 104

BIRDSVILLE TURNS BLUE FOR CHARITY

This year ’ s Birdsville Big Red Bash was Big Blue Day – a first of its kind fundraiser of epic proportions that saw 5467 punters , kitted in blue from top to toe , herded into the shape of Australia inside an area mapped out by GPS .
The festival ’ s bold feat broke the world record for ‘ the largest human image of a country ’, previously held by Romania with 4807 participants . It was adjudicated by The Australian Book of Records .
None other than Aussie legend John Williamson provided the most fitting soundtrack , True Blue , which rallied the patriotic pack into place .
With each participant encouraged to dress in blue and purchase a charitable $ 15 blue wig , the colossal effort raised an impressive $ 74,897.90 for a cause close to festival founder , Greg Donovan ’ s heart , type 1 diabetes research . An additional $ 20,000 was raised through raffles during the event .
“ Big Blue Day was unbelievable . It was a beautiful site to see the sea of blue , and with John Williamson singing , it doesn ’ t get more Australian than that ,” festival owner and managing director of the Outback Music Festival Group Greg Donovan said . “ We feel so lucky to be here 10 years on . Drought , covid , floods … we ’ ve seen it all and keep coming back bigger and better than ever .”
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