Hay needs your vote to bring the ‘Big Rainbow’ to the Plains

Vote for Hay!

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Vote for Hay! 〰️

Back in March, dating app creator Tinder announced that it would be unveiling their ‘Big Rainbow’, in a regional town, somewhere in Australia.

After receiving thousands of suggestions, Tinder has worked with the community to unveil a deserving shortlist of just four regional towns — Broome, WA, Daylesford, VIC, Hay, NSW and Katherine, NT.

Hay is home to the Rainbow on the Plains Festival and festival organisers quickly mounted a campaign to attract the large, colourful sculpture to the 2711 postcode. In what is shaping up to be a state of origin type race, the tiny Riverina township on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River will represent NSW against the other finalists.

“The response from supporters was overwhelming,” said Hay Mardi Gras Chairperson Kerri Mijok.

“And all that love has obviously helped get Hay onto the shortlist. Now it would be great to see Hay recognised for all it has done for youth in regional areas. A town like Hay has been a rainbow for a lot of people – locals and visitors alike and having our efforts recognised would be a huge boost for regional NSW.”

Hay has the smallest population of all four finalists, just 2456 official residents, closely followed by Daylesford (2548). Katherine has more than 6,300 residents, while Broome is one of Western Australia’s premier holiday destinations and boasts a population of almost 14,000.

“We need all the help we can get,” said organising committee member Krista Schade. “We need to pull out all the stops to beat towns with such large populations.”

Hay’s Mayor Cr Carol Oataway has also thrown her support behind the bid.

“Well done Hay on being shortlisted alongside Broome, Katherine and Daylesford to be the home of ‘The Big Rainbow’” she said.

“Locals are asked to get their army of supporters behind this to spread the word and vote. People power will get us over the line!”

Will Miller is part of the organising committee for the 2022 Rainbow on the Plains Festival scheduled to be held in late November, and has been instrumental in launching Hay’s campaign.

“This could be a reflection of how our town understands and supports others and their identities,” he said. “Not only do we embrace diversity, we celebrate it.”

You can cast your final vote for the town you think should be the home of the Big Rainbow at www.bigrainbowproject.com.au until June 30.