Wild Frontier Square Dance Club

Brian Josie and the Wolston Mavericks Square Dance Club

Roger M — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:19:57 +0000

Wolston Mavericks Square Dancers

Double click on Image to Enlarge (click again to make even bigger)

Whilst ravelling through Warwickshire meeting Roger’s childhood friends, we took the opportunity to catch up with Brian and Josie Welsh who visited Adelaide in 2009 and attended many Wild Frontier dances including our annual trip (at Victor Harbour that year).

The Furniture Van and Brian / Josie’s Caravan

Brian and Josie travelled from Nottingham down to Rugby with their caravan and their club caller Barry Gardener and his wife Irene who also came along with their van. Helen and Roger travelled up in their hired motor home they affectionately called “the furniture van” (23 feet long, 10 feet high and 7.5 feet wide). We all met at a caravan park just outside Rugby staying for a couple of days. We all went to the Wolston Mavericks Square Dance club which meets on Mondays at the Village Hall in the Main Street of Wolston, a small village 20 minutes drive from Rugby. The Maverick dance a mix of Mainstream & Plus to the calling of John Warren.

The Wolston Mavericks Out of Focus - But Nice

Some Maverick Club Members (not so blurred)

We had a wonderful night; the club members were very friendly and gracefully accepted our rusty dancing (perhaps rustic sums up how much we need to brush up). It really goes to show that you need to regularly attend dances if you wish to retain your skills (if you don’t use them you lose them). Again as with our dancing at Silver Spurs, we did seem to get into the swing of things by the end of the evening.

Josie & Brian in a Wolston Mavericks Square

One square just couldn’t get the moves right for one of Johns calls (I recollect it was teacup chain from a different to usual starting formation). It was great to see how he enthusiastically straightened out the square. He went right down into the square and directed traffic with some pointed remarks (which our caller Jeff would have applauded) and did not let up until they got it right.

John Waren the Mavericks Caller

John Directing Traffic - Get it right! Dancing is by definition!

We were presented with a couple of Wolston Mavericks badges which we will proudly wear on those occasions when we wish to strut our stuff!

All in all, a great night and a great club. Well done John and the Wolston Mavericks. Come on down (under) and we will return your hospitality at Wild Frontier.

Brian Barry Josie & Irene

Barry’s 28 Years of Calling at Dixie Derby (does have some side effects)

This is what its all about. FUN & FRIENDSHIP!

TUKWS ? (Travel UK with Square-dancers)

Also it was great to catch up with Josie and Brian. Josie did a magnificent job hosting us and cooked us all a memorable meal which we washed down with ample quantities of wine ale and spirits. We all slept like babies that night and it was sad when we had to say our farewells and hit the road. Who knows what the future may bring, Brain, Josie, Barry and Irene will certainly be most welcome at Wild Frontier if they ever decide to revisit (visit) Oz.

The Silver Spurs Square Dance Club

Roger M — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 07:10:51 +0000

As usual click on the photos to enlarge, click again for even bigger

On Friday 30^th July, Helen and I paid a visit to the Silver Spurs Square Dance Club who dance in Goodleigh Village Hall near Barnstaple North Devon. The club has two callers, Chrissie Bennet who visited Wild Frontier last year and Peter Johnson. But looking at her club badge her emails etc is it Krissie, Chrissie, Chrissey, Krissy or Chrissy? Locating the place was a most interesting exercise considering our mobile home was about the size of a furniture removals truck and the roads were about as wide as a cycle path. We missed the Goodleigh Road turning and drove for miles down twisting lanes before we could find a road junction large enough to allow us to turn around, when we got back to the missed turn we could not get round due to the length of the vehicle so Helen had to direct traffic so I cold go right over on the wrong side of the road and turn (also onto the wrong side).

Krissie, who visited us in 2009

Eventually we arrived (in the rain) and squeezed through a narrow gateway / chicane into the Goodleigh Hall car park, Krissie came out to greet us. Helen and I made up the initial numbers for two squares and Peter kicked off the evening. The usual allemande left grand right and left etc then Track Two – wait a minute this is supposed to be mainstream? Helen who has not danced for a year felt she was a bit rusty on mainstream and was sure she had forgotten her plus. All Ladies Centre for a Teacup Chain (Helen’s dreaded call) and not the same ALL Ladies? We only do it Head or Side Ladies! We found out Fridays were plus nights; Tuesday’s are their mainstream nights. Thank goodness Helen did not know, I am sure she would have piked out at attending a plus dance. Suffice to say we did break up the square a few times having forgotten many of the calls.

Also the UK handholds are different. Allemande Left and Turn you Partner by the Right and Swing Through employ arm turns with dancers gripping each others forearm at waist height (perhaps we should consider this in Australia, likely it has the potential to reduce the incidence of shoulder injury) also they promenade with both arms in front of the lady (meaning she can’t do any skirt work?).

We never stop learning!!

However, no one really cared when the set broke down, it transpired that we had the plus learners along as well as the regulars and we all had a great laugh when things went askew as it did when we were told to keep promenading and heads were told to zoom. Chrissey and Peter were very patient regrouping the squares and working through the mistakes we made. By the end of the evening either the calls got easier or, we improved due to the callers teachings (more likely), because everyone’s dancing improved by the end of the night.

Roger, Chrissie, Peter and Helen

As can be seen, we took a few pictures and gave the dancers our web address so they can look at them on this site. We did a lot of dancing in the two or so hours we were there and everyone including us went home a little weary. As a few dancers commented “we don’t get much of a break when both club callers come along on the same night”.

They really are a happyclub over there in North Devon

The Silver Spurs callers Peter, Krissy and the club dancers are a friendly bunch and we had a great night. Helen and I were presented with a couple of club badges

From Fromelles France

Roger M — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:04:44 +0000

We attended a very moving ceremony on 19^th July, which recognized the gallantry and sacrifice of 250 WW1 diggers and British soldiers found in a mass grave at Fromelles in France. Helen’s uncle Alfred Victor Momplhait was one of those diggers; two of her cousins and their wives also attended the ceremony.

Helen met Prince Charles, his wife Camilla, the Duke of Kent and our Governor General Quentin Bryce at a special function held after the ceremony for selected relatives.

Helen Chatting with Price Charles wife Camilla.

Helen and her cousin with our Governor General

Uncle Vics War Grave

This now puts closure to the death of Helen’s uncle, killed in action 94 years ago on 19th July 1916.

On a less sombre note, Helen (by appointment to the duchess of Cornwall) will in future only square dance with selected commoners who meet her high social standards.

Wodonga and Dying Old Disgracefully

Roger M — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 10:44:26 +0000

Our Club was well represented at the National Square Dance convenntion in Wodonga

Unfortunately I was unable to attend the National Convention, however my spies have returned with some very interesting evidence of some extrovert indulgence.

I do believe that we need to establish some protocols especially dress sense when members represent Wild Frontier when interstate.

I mean, honestly, I am not trying to be prudish BUT….what on earth do members of other clubs think of our club when they see our members behaving so disgracefully!!!

Perhaps Wild Frontier should adopt the motto of Ulysses Motorcycle Club —-“Die Old Disgracefully”

I am sorry I missed out (not the dying part).

Vale Frank Newstead

Roger M — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 11:42:58 +0000

We are sad to report that Frank Newstead has passed away. Frank was introduced to square dancing at Jaybee Square Wheelers in Melbourne and became a staunch supporter of Square Dancing, and Jaybee’s.

Frank who had built a large website to support his specialist “Success Centre Bookshop”, expanded his horizons to include squaredancing.com.au, a comprehensive website containing information and links to Australian and New Zealand square dance, round and clogging clubs plus details of callers, cuers and affiliated merchandise such as CD’s.

Frank helped to promote Wild Frontier Square Dance Club by providing information about us, including our learners classes.

Franks dedication to square dancing deserved our accolades. Friend, we will miss your enthusiastic support.

Kev’s Big Night Out

Roger M — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 11:24:27 +0000

When the cats away the mice will play. Whilst Jeff was hobnobbing with his fellow callers in Wodonga at the 2010 National Square Dance Convention, we who were left at home, continued with our learners night using borrowed equipment from Jeff (thankyou for the microphone that cut out due to loose connections – fixed with a good wind of electrical insulating tape).

Kevin Alfrey did the calling and Roger showed some slides and video to explain exactly what a National convention was (he remembered nobody told him much about such things until a fellow learner spied and reported back about what went on at such occasions). Kevin did a magnificent job filling in and was well received by our class. Likely he was a bit nervous at the beginning and dare I suggest probably a bit “over prepared”. He had structured his teaching for the night to fit in with what the class had learnt but soon found that learners don’t always respond as anticipated.

As the night wore on Kev’s calling and the class response got better and better, especially when Kevin appeared to abandon his prearranged programme and sight called using his knowledge and experience.

We had a great turnout, only four people missing, and two new learners appeared. We had a limited number of angels due to the National, however managed four squares up with some sitting out, we were a bit short of male dancers and convertibles. Thankyou Robert, Darryl and Senga for coming along and helping out.

The class appeared to appreciate the change in voice and pace, some different music and a slide show giving them information / photos & videos about square dancing and national conventions

A video showing the style applicable to “Swing” your partner and how to form a “Thar” also helped the class; by end of the night Kev had them doing Allemande Left to an Allemande Thar like seasoned professionals. It was a pity Ray did not make it, we will need to take him aside; hopefully he will arrive early next week as he usually does.

Well done Kevin, you really MUST do some more hoedown stuff for our learners, we need you.

Club Visitors

Roger M — Thu, 27 May 2010 03:34:30 +0000

It was nice to welcome some interstate and overseas visitors to our clubs. Jean & Jack Van Bruchen were passing through SA with their caravan on their way to the June National Convention in Wodonga. They dance at the Kiwilers Square Dance Club with Richard Muir in WA and attended the Kannella dance on Tuesday 25^th May.

Kiichi, Jeff, Jean, Jack & Ryoko
(click on all pictures to enlarge)

We also welcomed Kiichi & Ryoko Hayashi from Kasugaishi Aichiken in Japan. Kiichi is a caller in Japan; Kiichi means “happy first son”, he is indeed was a most pleasant man. Communication was a bit of a problem, however Lyn Mitchell (one of our latest graduates) and her daughter both have some basic Japanese language and seemed to be able to communicate with Kiichi and Ryoke.

Kiichi, Jeff & Ryoko

Kiichi called mainstream at Wild Frontier on Friday 21^st May and danced plus at Kannella on Tuesday 25^th May. He and his wife dance at all levels through to A2, they are now holidaying in Cairns before returning to Japan.

Thankyou Robert for collecting Helen’s camera and taking the photos.

Our First Come and Try Night

Roger M — Sat, 15 May 2010 11:00:55 +0000

We held another free “Come and Try” night on Thursday 13^th May as a precursor to our 2010 learners class which starts on Thursday 27^th May. This allows people to come and try square dancing to see if they would like to learn more.

We had a good turn-up, with 18 prospective learners and a good sprinkling of angels allowing 5 squares on the floor. We rapidly progressed through a good number of calls. Allemande left, Turn your partner by the right, Dosido, Promenade, Grand right and left, Men star left, Ladies promenade, Circle, Heads/Sides up to the middle and back, Chain across (2 and 4 ladies) and Swing your partner.

Thanks you to all the angels who helped make the night a success and to all those who contributed to the magnificent supper which rounded off a very enjoyable night

We will have one more free Come & Try next Thursday 20^th May – bring someone along who you think would like to learn.

Camp Quality Dance At Wirrina Resort

Roger M — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 04:10:16 +0000

Click on photo’s to enlarge, click on the enlargement to make even bigger

This is the 1st group picture ( the best group picture is at the end of this post)

Last Thursday I was privileged to visit the Wirrina Resort and take part in some fun activities with Camp Quality kids at the Wirrina Resort. OK so cancer is a nasty illness, but as these kids showed us, you don’t need to be down in the dumps, you can have FUN!!! And boy do these kids and their helpers know how to have a good time!

Jeff, Jenny, Lois, Susan, Helen, Gerry, Kevin, Robert and I went to Wirrina at the request of Louanne and Tegan from Camp quality to do some square dancing with the kids and their helpers. Last year Jeff, Helen and I attended when they had a camp at Mylor, we all had a great time, (click on this link to see last years event http://wildfrontiersquaredanceclubinc.com/blog/?p=363). We thought afterwards that a few more of us distributed over the floor would help some of those people with two left feet and those who cant tell the difference between right and left. So this year we had a great crew to join in the fun.

During the afternoon, the kids and their helpers all dressed up as clowns, and clowned around at the Wirrina caravan park where there was a bouncy castle a slippery dip (the Titanic) and a roundabout plus loads of face painting, milk shakes, candy floss etc. Country Fire Service fire-fighters from Yankalilla also attended and their appliance siren was given a good workout.

Everyone had fun bouncing arround

Or sliding down the slippery dip

Or squirting water with the firefighters

The best bit as far as the kids were concerned was when they lined up opposite their helpers. Each kid was given a plate of shaving foam and told to “go for it” they certainly did a good job.

Those wonderful innocent children

The strict people who look after the children

We are ARMED!

CHARGE!!!!!!

Splat 1

Splat 2

This is FUN !!!!!!!!!

Double splat

Boy can Tegan run fast – then SPLAT!!!!!!!!

After the outdoor carnival we all went back to the resort for dinner and had a very nice Chinese buffet meal. The kids gave a big; BIG round of applause to the kitchen staff were doing a great job serving them nice meals. They also gave us all a great recital (or was it a chant) with everyone joining in, except for the chef who hurried away mumbling he had other work to do (he was a bit shy).

Wirrina staff served lovely meals

And joined in with the kids sing song

Next we all assembled in the adjoining convention centre for a barn dance. We did some basic square dancing with 10 squares on the floor (that makes 80 people). Jeff also did some mixers where dancers progressively change partners and, as requested by the kids, did the birdie dance Nutbush and other group dances which everyone seemed to know.

Yeeeeee Haaaa!!!

Turn your corner by the right

Or stop for a photo

Lets really get into this dancing

Nutbush City Limits

We had a lot of enthusiastic dancers

Everyone seemed to have a fun time

I danced a lot with Jessie (blind from cancer and camera shy)

Here’s PROOF Jessie can smile when she doesn’t know she is being photograped

We even had a local DJ lend a hand

After short supper break we had some whip cracking and a final mixer before we all said farewell.

Keep still while I whip that paper from your back pocket

We from Wild Frontier certainly had a great time, we could see the kids enjoyed the night and by the time we had finished it looked like most of the helpers needed a good rest. Let’s hope we can all do it again (next year?).

Well done Camp Quality!

I think this is a better picture their faces look normal

Berri Weekend March 2010

Roger M — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 06:05:13 +0000

Please click on all photos to enlarge (click enlargement to enlarge again)

This years weekend away was held in our favourite location; The Berri Riverside Caravan Park. The park is run by the Berri community is well kept and has good clean tidy facilities.

Friday nights dance at the caravan park

Friday night saw a surprising turn-up at the function room / BBQ area in the Berri Caravan Park; we had 5 squares dancing outside on the paved area with many more sitting out for a chin wag. The evening was nice and warm and we had an audience of golfers who seemed to enjoy the free entertainment. Strange, when later that night we offered them a chance to have a go, they all excused themselves mumbling it had been a long day and they had to hit the greens early in the morning.

Our audience of golfers

Our Papillons though Jeffs’s calling was boring!

Kanella Squares and Wild Frontier presented the Park managers with a framed certificate of appreciation; they really have looked after us every time we have used the Berri Caravan Park for our annual trip away. The managers also explained how the Park was run by the community and for the community with all revenue raise put back into the park and other community needs (they recently contributed $50,000.00 towards upgrade of the adjacent outdoor tennis netball and basket ball courts – floodlit and used by local youth groups, well into the night).

Jeff, park managers Max & Kay Kubenk and their certificate of appreciation

We wound up dancing until 10 PM (as requested by the Park manager so that we would not disturb other park residents such as the golfers) however, those located towards the rear of the park were exposed for a few hours more to the strains of heavy rock music emanating from the young campers at the back.

Prior to Saturday evenings dance, we all drove over to the Berri Club for a buffet meal. A pleasant venue, great management and staff, and good cuisine, we all ate (and many drank) very well. By the time we arrived, the locals were well into celebrating someone’s birthday in the adjacent lounge bar, this added to our party atmosphere (especially if you are addicted to house music).

Saturday nights dance was held at the Berri Town Hall, which has had its floor resurfaced since the last time we were there. Jeff used a speaker on each side of the stage so we could clearly hear his calls and there was no perceivable echo beneath the balcony as we experienced the last two times we danced there. At the beginning we had 8 squares dancing with a square sitting out. This was a very good turn-up considering we were some 250 km from our home town.

A good turn-up considering we were over 250 km from home

It was pleasing to have Margaret and Bob come along from Renmark, with another Margaret & Bob (Clark) joining us from Southern Ocean Waves Square Dance Club, Byron Bay, NSW, Lin, John, Chris & Alan joined us from Pine City Twirlers, Naracoorte, Sheila and Nigel came along from Shooting Stars and Pattie and Laurie joined us from Adelaide Outlaws; TAWS membership was well represented, including their “el supremo” Mal Parrington, importantly, five of our new graduates, Lin, Bret, Heather, Tony and Josephine helped swell our numbers.

Visitors Chris & Allan (Naracoorte) bottom left Margaret & Bob (NSW) bottom right

Sundays workshop (Jeff’s torture session) started at 10 am and surprise, surprise we had 5 squares up with nearly two squares watching on jeering, laughing and being greatly amused at the contortions, mistakes and laughter of the poor souls game enough to try and learn Jeff’s interpretation of circulate (including lots of halves but thankfully no 2 3/8^th) and spin chain thru.

Jeff’s Sunday torture session (workshop)

Despite the contorted gyrations everyone had a great time with a lot of squares breaking down in fits of laughter, dancers facing the wrong way or in the wrong position. This also generated further comment and laughter from the spectators (too afraid to have a go).

Mal Parrington left often found himself in the wrong place

On Sunday evening those dancers that were staying the night got together for an impromptu BBQ. I counted at least 60 people sitting at the tables outside the function room. Some stayed a bit longer than they should have and were talking absolute drivel, perhaps attributed to the beer, bottles of red and the 1944 Para Liqueur Port Rod was dishing out (a nice drop and a good year) also the Grants Whiskey added to the spirit of the occasion (or was it the spirit of the occasion?). No doubt some of our dancers slept well that night.

The next day, the remaining dancers headed back to Adelaide, except for a few caravans going on to the Speewa Easter dance in Victoria (see http://squaredancemagazine.com/square-dance/speewa%e2%80%99s-2010-easter-weekend).

A very pleasant way to spend a weekend – perhaps we should do this twice a year? Any comments?