The spirit of the outback was on full display today as the Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash turned the desert plains a sea of blue – and set a brand-new World Record in the process.
An incredible 9,000 festivalgoers, dressed from head to toe in blue, came together on the iconic Mundi Mundi Plains to form the largest human image of a country, while young Aussie songstress Amy Ryan belted out a spirited rendition of John Williams’ legendary True Blue. The effort smashed the previous record of 7,243, set right on the same iconic red dirt at last year’s Bash.
It wasn’t just about the record books. The event put a spotlight on the importance of mental health support in regional and remote communities, with participants rallying behind Beyond Blue. Through ticket and merchandise sales, the initiative has raised an incredible $224,000 to help fund mental health support services across the country – with the total still rising.
“Thank you to the 9,000 people at the Mundi Mundi Bash at Broken Hill who took part in breaking this world record today and for putting mental health on the map (literally!), encouraging people to reach out for help at the first sign of symptoms,” said Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman.
“Proceeds raised through the event will go towards the Beyond Blue Support Service which provides free, 24/7 counselling, advice and referrals to up to 800 people every day, no matter where they live in this vast country. This contribution will make a real difference to people’s lives allowing them to get support when they need it.”
With 15,000 festivalgoers on site this year, a whopping 60% of attendees joined in today’s record-breaking effort – a striking show of unity, generosity and the famous “true blue” Aussie spirit.
Beyond the morning’s achievement, the next three days are set to deliver unforgettable performances from a star-studded line-up including Missy Higgins, Hoodoo Gurus, The Cat Empire, Birds of Tokyo, The Angels, Kasey Chambers, Kate Ceberano, Leo Sayer, Chocolate Starfish, Brad Cox, Rose Tattoo, Ross Wilson, Shannon Noll, Pierce Brothers, Thirsty Merc, Dragon, Mi-Sex, Ziggy – 50 Years of David Bowie, 19Twenty, Chantoozies, Caitlyn Shadbolt, Mick Thomas and more.
Now in its fourth year, the Bash has grown into the largest ticketed music festival ever staged in Outback Australia, drawing thousands of families, retirees, grey nomads and road-trippers to Belmont Station near Broken Hill. More than just a festival, the Mundi Mundi Bash has become a celebration of music, mateship and giving back, proving once again that when the outback comes together, incredible things can happen.