Square dancers go to Tamworth

More than 50 square dancers from the Peninsula Rippers Square Dance Club travelled from Ettalong to Tamworth in July to attend the Australian 42nd National Square Dance Convention.

They joined about 1000 square dancers from all over Australia and around the world.

The Ettalong club was asked to perform at the opening ceremony.

The opening ceremony started with Lord Hopetoun delivering Queen Victoria’s proclamation formally granting Australia Federation.

Music was played which shaped Australia, starting with "Strike up the Bank" which was the popular tune in 1901 then music from the 1920’s, 30’s, 40’s and the 1950’s.

This was followed by the Ettalong Club performing square dances to recorded square dance calls and music of the 1950s from the man who is credited with starting square dancing in Australia, Joe Lewis.

Recorded music and calls from the 1970's featured Australia's best known square dance caller, Ron Jones.

Finally today's music allowed 40 square dancers to perform an intricate dance and display their colourful outfits and their talents as square dancers.

The convention lasted five days with everybody participating and dancing through the days and into the late hours at night.

"Although this activity has a competition within NSW, at National and State Conventions we all dance for fun and meet old friends and make new friends through dancing," said local caller Les Heaton.

"The activity motto is happiness set to music."

For further information, contact Les Heaton on 4329 1993.

Press release, August 15