Kate Bush will soon light up the streets of Cootamundra to raise funds for Coota CanAssist.
For any Bush fans, Kate’s signature red frock (as seen in her music video for Wuthering Heights) is as familiar to them as her dance. Those skills will now be put to the test as Cootamundra hosts their first Wuthering Heights Day.
Often falling on the singer’s birthday (July 30), The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever is a global flashmob phenomenon whereby participants don a signature red dress and curly wig and replicate Kate Bush’s dance. Held worldwide, the event is usually held to raise awareness and funds for a local charity.
Canberra’s recent notable Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever raised funds and awareness for the ACT Domestic Violence Crisis Service.
Julianne Collingridge, a long-time fan of Kate Bush and self-proclaimed “non-dancer”, has decided to bring the beloved event to our small slice of the world.
“It’s a celebration of Kate Bush’s song,” she says.
“Originally it started out as fundraising for domestic violence in the UK.
“CanAssist does such a great job and I thought it’d be a good place to donate money to.”
Released in 1978 by then-19-year-old Kate Bush as her debut single, the song was so popular that it knocked ABBA from the number one single chart in the UK for a period of time in 1978. That same year, it peaked at number one internationally in Ireland, Italy, Australia and New Zealand.
Kate Bush also became the first female artist to top the UK charts with a song she wrote herself.
The song itself is about Emily Bronte’s book (of the same name). Bronte shares the same birthday as Kate Bush, and the song quotes lines from the author’s protagonists: Cathy and Heathcliff.
Wuthering Heights has recently resurfaced after a recent movie adaption featuring Australian actors’ Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie was released in 2026.
The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever Cootamundra event will occur over two days (dates to be confirmed).
For anyone interested, Julianne has created a Facebook page that has three dance videos with additional information about what to wear. Each video contains a different level of difficulty of the same dance, ensuring everyone can have a crack at it.
But what exactly does it entail?
“People wear the same outfit as Kate Bush,” says Julianne.
“It doesn’t have to be the same, as long as something’s red.
“Men, women, children, any shape, size, ability, age, copy the dance that [Kate Bush] does.”
If they don’t get enough participants, Julianne says they won’t continue, but those left will likely still have a spot of fun by dancing in the park.
For more information, or to express interest in joining in Cootamundra’s first Wuthering Heights Day, contact Julianne at 0419 986 590, email mostwuthering@gmail.com, or visit their Facebook page at Wuthering Heights Day Cootamundra.
The first practice rehearsal will be at 11am on May 1 in Jubilee Park.
Elizabeth Kovacs
