by Janine Hill

Heathcliff might not have been so heartbroken had he attended the Wuthering Heights of Mapleton.

There was no shortage of Cathys at the Mapleton Lilyponds on 30 July to mimic Kate Bush in her operatic epilogue to Emily Bronte’s romantic classic.

Dozens donned Kate-style red dresses to dance their way through the lyrics of the 1978 hit and enjoy a fun day out.

As Michelle Bull sang, “Heathcliff, it’s me, I’m Cathy, I’ve come home, I’m so cold, let me in your window,” Karen Towne, from Cultivate Movement and Mindfulness, led participants in the Wuthering Heights dance.

Organiser Wendy Turton was inspired by the ‘Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever’, a global event where people relive the Kate Bush music video to raise money for charity.

“I’d seen other events out there, always in capital cities, and thought they looked like marvellous fun, so joyful,” she said. “Mapleton is a very caring community and I thought they deserved some fun too.”

The turn-out proved she was correct.

“Almost everyone had something red on. We sold 123 wristbands and then, of course, there were children and people who stopped in to see what it was all about,” she said.

More than $4300 was raised for DV Safe Phone, which provides free second-hand and reconditioned mobile phones to domestic violence victims.

A DV Safe Phone representative said the amount equated to 59 phones.

A jewellery box by Jack Wilms of Obi Valley Woodwork was auctioned for $500 and a bake sale, driven by Heidi Becker of the Mapleton State School P&C, made $940.

Wendy thanked the Mapleton and District Community Association, the Blackall Range Lions Club, ShakeItUp Music, MC Michele Gusman, entertainer Miss Bollinger Darling, and other businesses and individuals who contributed sponsorship money, prizes, equipment, help or advice.

A $2000 Sunshine Coast Council grant made the event possible.

• The next Wuthering Heights of Mapleton will be on 28 July, 2024. Go to https://wutheringheightsofmapleton.au/ or Facebook for information.