You can be part in a Guinness Book of World Records event at the Kyogle Showgrounds on Saturday, June 14: the World's Biggest Happy Dance.

At present, there is no official record for the World’s Biggest Happy Dance. 

However, in 2015, 448 people danced to Pharrell Williams ‘" Happy " song in Singapore, setting an informal record. The Guinness Book of Records does not officially recognise this “happy dance.”

So, Kyogle Mayor Danielle Mulholland helped form a small committee and started investigating whether the Guinness Book of Records had a record for the largest group “happy dance.”  

"We discovered that no official record had yet been set. So we registered and will present our evidence after the day of dancing is done," Mayor Mulholland said.

"So, on the 14th June 2025, we will be hosting “The World’s Biggest Happy Dance” at the Kyogle Showgrounds between 2pm-4pm.  There will be a barbecue run by local service clubs, who will also have cold drinks for sale. Please note that the entry fee is $5, with all proceeds going towards the fundraiser. The colour theme for the day is purple (for domestic violence), and the motif is a butterfly."  

"The event will not only set a new world record, it will also be a fundraiser for a domestic violence program delivered in schools about healthy relationships and to provide crisis assistance to DV victims. Please note this is an alcohol free event, and this was a deliberate decision by the committee, knowing that alcohol can be a contributing factor to domestic violence."

"The school program, Growing Strong Kind Kids, is aimed at primary school children. This 6-week program will focus on reducing domestic violence by providing education to children, with a focus to empower children with knowledge and skills about healthy relationships, to increase safety and reduce violence in the Kyogle and village communities. Depending on how much we raise, we hope to be able to roll this program out across the region, then the state and hopefully nationwide. The feedback on this program after it was rolled out following the last fundraiser, was incredibly positive." 

"The program is being delivered by trained facilitators and has been developed by Sarah Daley, who is an accredited Social Worker with the Australian Association of Social Workers and a Registered Play Therapist with Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association (APPTA). The program covers various themes, including safety, emotions, gender, healthy relationships, power dynamics, consent, and non-violent communication."

The Program Goals:

* To increase children’s awareness of who and what makes them feel safe, identifying safety in the body and safe people.

* To increase children’s awareness of gender and promote gender equality

* To learn how to have a respectful relationship with friends and family

* To learn about boundaries, consent and non-violent communication

* To learn about power dynamics in relationships and learn how to have power with.

"It's not just about raising money and awareness regarding DV - it's also about bringing a little happiness into everyone's lives. After coming out of years of disasters - drought, major bushfires, Covid, the catastrophic floods of 2022 and subsequent flood events, and obviously, there are political tensions across the world at present, the escalation of domestic violence has reached crisis point.

"Victims can be men or women, although in reported statistics, the largest proportion is women. Men tend not to speak out because of Australian “macho” stereotypes, but there is no shame in asking for help. In Australia, 1 in 5 adults (20%) have experienced family and domestic violence (FDV) since the age of 15, with women (27%) more likely to experience it than men (12%).  

"In Australia, on average, one woman is killed every nine days by a current or former partner, and one man every month. Irrespective of background, domestic violence is a scourge on our society we need to eliminate and it is only together, we can start to address the underlying behaviours.

"It is hoped that everybody is going to jump on board with the Happy Dance Project. People can do it individually, with friends and family, workmates, clubs etc. It doesn't have to be a organised routine.. just get your happy on. It is about teaching the next generation that healthy relationships are about honesty, trust, respect and open communication between partners.

"Relationships take effort and compromise from both people. There is no imbalance of power. Partners respect each other's independence, can make their own decisions without fear of retribution or retaliation, and share decisions. Help our young generations make the right choices and break the cycle of domestic violence."

For Facebook Event and Information please join or follow this page; https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574179198286

PRE-ORDER NOW OPEN FOR COMMEMORATIVE SHIRT

Biggest Happy Dance Shirt Pre-order (Option 1): https://a9a4ec-0e.myshopify.com/products/mass-happy-dance-shirt-pre-order?utm_campaign=share_orders&utm_content=android&utm_medium=product-links

Biggest Happy Dance Shirt Pre-order (Option 2 DV): https://a9a4ec-0e.myshopify.com/products/pre-order-mass-happy-dance-shirt-option-2?utm_campaign=share_orders&utm_content=android&utm_medium=product-links

To make a donation, please visit the mycause Link: https://www.mycause.com.au/p/330607/the-worlds-biggest-happy-dance-project?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR17HadWDs8YoZ1X7NyHB_EcWWHj_cv9p2a_RSlvfj8ACsusF_3Iaxjy_rY_aem_5foHp7UQxO7OUq1g0jZ8kA

If you want to purchase a 3D Butterfly brooch for $5 to raise money for the cause. Contact Luna and Wombat Creative: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/169kLsgYk7/?mibextid=qi2Omg.