The Albany Rainbow Coast Festival of Dance held over the Friday, Saturday and Sunday in late September, early October 2022 was enjoyed by approximately 30 intrepid travellers from the OFBDC. The dancing was held over 3 days, 4 days if you wanted to attend the Albany Dance Club’s tea dance on Thursday afternoon, culminating in the Rainbow Coast Ball on the Saturday night which was held in Albany’s huge sports centre gymnasium. The weather was atrocious, so much so that the late comers to the ball were literally saturated and spent some time drying off before commencing dancing. The gymnasium had sufficient space for two dance floors enabling people who were unfamiliar with a particular dance on the programme to do a similar dance rhythm on the adjacent floor thus ensuring sufficient exercise for all participants on the night.

As always, apparently, the food for supper that night was superb and plentiful. So much so attendees were invited to take some of the goodies away with them to be consumed later. The trip was worth coming for the ‘spread’ alone. Tim and Dianne kept the one hundred strong crowd dancing into the night with their masterful music. Robert provided a photo record of participants which can be viewed in our Past Events section of the OFBDC website. All in all a terrific three day break from Perth with marvellous hosts which will ensure the longevity of the Rainbow Dance Festival.

Certainly your Committee had been on the front foot organising one of our first country trips for the year for members to Harvey which was done on Sunday 30th of October 2022. The bus was hired by Ann Dalton and approximately fifty six members travelled from the Burswood Casino carpark to the Agricultural hall just outside of Harvey. The trip was uneventful with our members enjoying the camaraderie of each other on the pleasant trip. A number of other members travelled by car boosting our contingent to well over sixty people supporting the Sunday excursion. The music was organised by Brian Kealley of the Harvey Club and the dance programme contained the majority of dances that are done weekly at our venues. The Floral Blues, recently learned at our club was well received by the country attendees as well.

The afternoon teas and coffee provided by the Harvey club are legendary and continued to be talked about on the trip home. A photograph of the participants lined up outside of the bus is attached for members ( view on website ) perusal . Appreciation is noted for the organisation and help on the door and collection of fees by Ann Dalton, Rita Buzzard, Denise Powell and Ian Powell.

Our next venture was in support of the SRCWA’s Have A Go Day at Burswood on Wednesday 9th November. The park adjacent to the Swan River was a hive of activity with lots of stalls, marquees and activities for the Senior population of Perth to view. Our marquee was very well set up with the aid of the SRCWA, large and excellent for our dancing. Robert displayed our newly purchased “tear drop” flags flying proudly out front of the marquee indicating the OFBDC. Chairs were set up at the front of the marquee and and many of these occupied by interested onlookers. Bob and Julie were responsible for the music and volunteer dancers, Cliff, Glenda, Brian, Rita, Robert, Kathy, Wendy, Graham, Douglas, Karina, Patricia, Hans, Trevor, Pauline, Russ, Marlene, Christine, Denise and Ian all participated in demonstrating the chosen dances.

The floor was reasonable but the SRCWA promised to provide a more solid support structure to correct some minor unevenness which resulted in a fall by a member of the Line Dancers who shared our venue. Fortunately she wasn’t injured but still a reminder to all when on the dance floor to be careful at all times.

Another highlight of the Have A Go Day was the radio interview with Jenny Seaton of Curtin Radio and also Kalamunda Radio in an effort to raise the profile of the OFBDC and increase it’s membership. A letter of appreciation was forwarded to the SRCWA’s Dawn Yates thanking them for organising the event and in particular our venue marquee for the OFBDC.

On Sunday 20th of November 2022 a group of approximately fifty ballroom dancers attended a dance in York organized by the OFBDC and the York Dance Club. The dance programme was produced in conjunction with both clubs and the music provided by Marrilyn. The York Town Hall was the venue and the door, raffle and organization due to the industrious work of Ann, Rita, Valmai and Kathy. The excursion was organized for an early arrival which enabled people to view the sites of and have a little lunch in one of the many cafes which line the main street of York. It really is a pleasure to attend some of the major country towns which are steeped in history and generally have excellent dance floors. Everyone was appreciative of the effort made by the York Dance Club and the OFBDC in arranging the event.

The 2022 Christmas Dance was held at the Karrinyup venue for the first time for a number of years. The decorations and organization of the ball highlighted the efforts of Kathy, Ann, and Frank, together with Dawn and were greatly appreciated by all. The raffle and photography provided by Rita and Robert respectively, together with the effort of the volunteers in setting and tidying up deserved the heartfelt thanks of the 150+ who attended ensuring the success of the day. Marrilyn provided in conjunction with Victor most enjoyable music which had both listeners and dancers enthralled.

The Southwest Old Time and New Vogue Dance Festival ( 2023 ) was held recently from March 31st to April 2nd. Dancing is held over the three days at Busselton, Australind ( Bunbury ) and Dardanup. The numbers who attended from the OFBDC exceeded 20 and it was great to see these venues well supported. Over 100 people were present at Busselton and Australind while approximately 80 progressed to Dardanup on the Sunday. The dances are all run by volunteers from their respective clubs with funds raised going to charities and other worthy initiatives such as the Royal Flying Doctor Fund. I’m sure all of the participants from the OFBDC who made the trip to the south west and attended the dances over the three days thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The hospitality shown by the country people and the suppers they provided were amazing. A big thankyou to our country dance clubs from all the OFBDC members who shared the experience.

Early in the new year at Cannington additional class lessons commenced for beginners at 10.30 am prior to the normal lessons which begin at 11.15 am run by Pat Taylor. These beginner lessons were funded by a grant from the City of Canning as a means of attracting increased membership of the OFBDC which has been decimated by the effects of Covid. I’m sure other clubs have been affected severely as well. Pat Taylor has agreed to sponsor beginner lessons at Stirling Leisure Centre to ensure those prospective participants north of the river did not miss out. These introductory lessons will continue until the end of June 2023 and Pat is willing to continue the lessons after this period expires as a means of supporting the OFBDC. Some 59 new dancers have made themselves available for the new lessons. Now 15 to 25 attend regularly at our venues at Cannington and Karrinyup, however there is a reluctance on the part of some to attend both venues, probably due to traffic concerns. Some members of our club have willingly given their time to partner and generally help the newcomers. The help offered to the new attendees by Christine, Denise, Robert, Russ, Rita, Noel and Ian is greatly appreciated. Already a number of the new chums have joined the club.

Another innovation to help promote the club to members and new participants is the employment of a host dancer to ensure ladies have a reasonable number of dances during the social dance sessions. Graeme Rieusset has been employed by the club to fulfill this purpose. Graeme has been paid but also donated $ 750 of his time to enable the host dancer to continue at Karrinyup Leisure Centre. At this point in time we are waiting on the City of Canning Grants Committee to see if additional funds are available to continue Graeme’s host dancer role.

Recently City of Stirling approved funds of $ 2400 for our club to continue classes and host dancer initiatives with the proviso that the club move to the Scarborough Hub to access the funds. Obviously this would have been unacceptable and so the seniors in the City of Stirling have been disadvantaged. Further grants will be made available in July by the City of Stirling and the OFBDC will be eager participants in this process.

At this stage we are waiting on the City of Cannington to approve our application for continued funding for Graeme’s employment and dance instruction which should be forthcoming by May 2nd 2023. It is our intention to continue to pursue grant opportunities to ensure the viability of our club.

In September of last year the Floral Blues was introduced as a suitable new dance for the OFBDC. Generally this has been accepted favourably by the members. Most members mastered the dance quite easily. In addition the Chilly Cha Cha, recently taught by Pat Taylor provides a much sought after line dance addition to our WAT and Irish Stomp for single dancers. The Dance Coordinator will continue to look for opportunities for likely popular dances to be introduced. Suggestions and your thoughts are always welcome and can be given via putting pen to paper in the suggestion box or approaching a committee member. Your input will not be ignored.

Late last year Patricia Narastrung completed 25 years membership and received her badge acknowledging her achievement while Rita Buzzard was awarded life membership for her contribution not only as a volunteer, medical officer but also Raffle Coordinator. Information of the achievements by both participants can be found in the archival section of the website.

Robert has continued his exemplary work as the Webmaster and the OFBDC website has seen a marked improvement in the colour of and presentation of the site in recent months. He has also continued his work as a valued volunteer.

It is with marked sadness we note the passing of Mr Remo Ogden, former Treasurer and Mr James Duck, former President in recent months. Both were long standing and highly valued members of the OFBDC. VALE Remo and James.

In closing, our next country sojourn will be on Sunday 21st May to York. Book your tickets from Ann soon, and keep DANCING. See you on the floor!

Ian

April 2023

0414 808 491

ianpowell@westnet.com.au

Covid impact in 2021-2

The year since our 2021 AGM has continued to present Over 50s with operational difficulties brought about by the Covid19 Pandemic. Interruptions occured which saw us lose some months of dancing until we restarted on 21st April. Continued concern about Covid seems the likely cause of a significant drop of attendance numbers. While these are now starting to increase again, we have run at a loss for some months.

At the AGM in 2020 a motion was put and accepted that an increase in entrance fees should occur. This assisted the viability of Over 50s but this year’s Covid impact was greater than anticipated so your committee has found it necessary to cut costs further as follows.

1. Reduced raffle prizes with monthly bonus prizes paused.
2. The AGM has traditionally been a free day but there were no other ‘free days’ for members in 2022.
3. No free tickets for our annual ball.
4. No lunch subsidy provided for mid-year ball in 2020, 2021, and 2022 or Christmas Dance 2020, 2021 and this is likely to be the situation for 2022.
5. Sadly, we are currently unable to make charity donations.
6. A charge will need to be made for the bus to the Harvey Dance this year and possibly for future country dance trips.

 Committee

For the year 2021/2 your committee assisting myself has been: Vice President Ann Dalton, Secretary Kathy Herbu, Treasurer Frank Taylor, Membership Secretary Deb Sharp, Purchasing Officer Dawn Taylor, Raffle Coordinator Rita Buzzard.

Almost immediately post-AGM in 2021, a vacancy occurred which led to the President standing in as Dance Coordinator for some months. Subsequently, Ian Powell offered his services which allowed your committee to apply constitution items 9.1.2 and 9.2, formally appointing Ian to fill the vacant Dance Coordinator position on committee from November.

All committee members have duties on dance days which often precludes them from having every dance. Also, they all have activities to attend to away from the Thursday dance which regularly takes some of their own time each week. Additionally to that, some of the committee also fill the volunteer role along-side Pauline Hook, Robert Herbu, Brian Buzzard and Bob Reakes who complete the team which keeps the Over 50s running so smoothly. All in the volunteer role are on site well before 10 am each Thursday and do not leave until all is packed away, usually about 4 pm, having done a fantastic job facilitating every dance, so you can probably see why I praise them so.

One other ‘behind the scenes volunteer’ of note is Charles Todd. Having instigated the idea that the Over 50s should have a website, he created and managed it extremely well for almost ten years. The website has frequently been the first point of contact for new attendees at Over 50s making the work Charles has done invaluable and very much appreciated. He has now decided it is time for a change so will not continue after he has handed over the reins to Robert Herbu, who has agreed to assist. Thank you, Charles, for a job well done.

All decisions made by this club are the result of careful consideration by every committee member and I never cease to be impressed by the dedication they all apply to their individual roles as well as general club matters ensuring that every event runs smoothly, always providing the fun day of dancing that members hope for. I sincerely thank them for that.

There would be no Over 50s Ballroom Dancing Club without a group of people like the dozen mentioned above, standing up to do the work.on

Special Mention

At this point I wish to make a special mention. For many years Frank Taylor has been a volunteer, along with his wife Dawn, participating in the daily setup activities that make our dances run so smoothly and provide so much enjoyment for members. So significant was their service that by 2017 both, having been in that role for over 10 years, we awarded Life Membership of Over 50s for their service.

However, before this in 2010, Frank had also committed to the more significant role of Treasurer for Over 50s. This is a much larger job which, along with extra time working each Thursday managing the daily income and expenses, requires at least an extra couple of hours every week ensuring accounts are paid, books are balanced and monthly reports on all the additional aspects of Over 50s finances are provided to committee.

In addition, Frank has always been particularly helpful at committee level, often making suggestions, some of which were very helpful to me individually, and others which benefitted progress of our club or assisted it through difficult times.  His prior knowledge of legal matters helped guide many decisions and when it became a requirement that all clubs such as ours re-write their constitution, Frank took on the task with Gwen Goodwill our previous treasurer, spending many hours ensuring it was written relevant to our activity of ballroom dancing.

Looking through old records it is evident that there are past members who have been especially significant to Over Fifties Ballroom Dancing Club Inc. by virtue of their committed involvement. Frank clearly fits, if not exceeds, that description and there is no doubt he has been one of the club’s most dependable stalwarts.

The 2022 AGM will be the last day Frank spends on committee having decided it is time to step back from the treasurer role but, in his usual dedicated style will continue to hold this club dear by continuing to be one of our volunteers.

On behalf of all members, I wish to offer my congratulations and sincere thanks to Frank for an excellent job very well done.

Activities in 2021

The last half of 2021 proceeded smoothly and despite  the reduced attendances most of our regular ‘diversions’ went ahead as usual. One was Rainbow Coast Dance Festival run by the Albany City Dance Club which saw a group of of a dozen or so OFBDC members make the trip to a well-run, fun weekend where they enjoyed the weekend of dances, catching up with many of our country friends, getting together for a meal or other activities, thus making the whole weekend a real treat.

Similarly, the day trip top Harvey for an Over 50s dance, run by the Harvey Dance group who are experts at organising and welcoming visitors to their delightful hall located at Uduc. With just over 100 dancers from the combination of Over 50s and country clubs the afternoon buzzed along to expectations.

Our year ended with a very cheerful Christmas dance at which some 120 members and friends continued the party atmosphere right to the last dance. Members got into the spirit, dressing up to compliment venue decorations, posing for photos at the booth, enjoying lucky spots when a particular dance ended, participating in the extra raffles and generally making sure all of these fun events provided a release  from the current worries of the year about to end.

Activities in 2022

The year began with only one dance before shutdown which directly affected a couple of our usual events. We were unable to hold our annual St Patrick’s Charity Dance so no charity donation was possible. Similarly, attempting to arrange our annual York dance collided with the mandatory mask situation causing its abandonment for 2022.

In effect, the year recommenced on  21st April and has continued quietly but smoothly since then. While it is apparent that some members may still be hesitant to mix publicly in the current environment and some continue to wear as mask while dancing, interest is increasing and we trust that our adherence to whatever the changing official regulations require together with the eventual diminishing of the pandemic will see a gradual recovery to the successful club we all know.

In April some 20 members traveled to the South West Dance Festival for dances at Busselton, Australind and Dardanup. Each of these three clubs do an equally fabulous job with their program, music, social set up etc. which has the events bubbling along in a way that keeps their members and some Over 50s members returning time after time again.

Over 50s Annual Ball

Another great success. Being  back to dancing in mid-April allowed ample time to complete arrangements. While numbers at our weekly dances had been down somewhat, when it came to the day, almost 150 members and friends came along for a full fun day at dancing. The Mad Hatters theme brightened the day with everything decorated to suit. A gift at the door for all, the venue, the tables and the photo backdrop all creatively decorated by Kathy with many a dancer getting into the spirit by topping their exquisite outfits with a hat designed to fit the ambiance. A great dance program complimented by lovely music from Tony and Fanny had dancers filling the floor most of the day.

It was such a pleasure to see the whole hall filled with people enjoying the social occasion whether it be dancing, picking away at the byo goodies on their tables or sitting chatting with friends they have missed and not seen for some time. Numerous lucky spot, door and raffle prizes gave an extra boost to the lucky ones and come the last dance, the room was still almost as full as at start, always a sign people have enjoyed the day.

As we close on the year gone by, it is fitting that we reflect for a moment on those good friends that we have lost: 

• David Woodward – 29th July, 2021
• Ted Lund  – September 2021
• Sally Law – 21st November 2021
• Hilary Ferris – 24th January 2021
• Life Member: Colleen Lowry – June 2022
• Bill Hesketh – July 2022

 All were valuable members and treasured friends at various times gone by. The pleasure of their company will sadly be missed.

Summary

Many members already know, but I should mention that after nearly three years as Vice President and four years as President, I have decided now is the time to step back from committee duties. I have thoroughly enjoyed the privilege of working closely with some 14 or 15 people on committee over the years, all of whom were a pleasure to work with. I will continue as a volunteer along-side the current team.

I know your committee looks forward to a bright future and I am confident they will continue to plan events and maintain the level of activity members wish for. In reality, your committee’s main aim is to see you having a great time getting all the benefits that ballroom dancing brings.  I have no doubt they will continue to achieve that.

Thank you to everyone who has helped me over the years and I wish the new President all the very best.

Keep on dancing.

Trevor Hook

President

Being back to dancing in mid-April allowed ample time to complete arrangements for the Mid-Year Ball. While numbers at our weekly dances had been down somewhat, when it came to the day, almost 150 members and friends came along for a full fun day of dancing. The Mad Hatters theme brightened the day with everything decorated to suit. A gift at the door for all, the venue, all tables and the photo backdrop all creatively decorated by Kathy with many a dancer getting into the spirit by topping their exquisite outfits with a hat designed to fit the ambiance. A great dance program complimented by really nice music from Tony and Fanny had dancers filling the floor most of the day.

It was such a pleasure to see the whole hall filled with people enjoying the social occasion whether it be dancing, light heartedly jostling for position to win a spot prize, posing at the photo booth, picking away at the byo goodies on their tables or sitting chatting with friends, some of whom they may not have seen for some time. Numerous lucky spot, door and raffle prizes gave an extra boost to the lucky ones and come the last dance, the room was still almost as full as at the start which is always a clear sign that people have enjoyed their day. I’m sure every member looks forward to Over 50s continuing in a similar vein indefinitely.

Trevor Hook (President)

Every year Over 50s have a charity day, usually our St Patrick’s Day dance, from which all our door and raffle takings are donated to a specific charity.

This year is no different but since we prefer to celebrate before, rather than after the day, it is a little early being Thursday 11th March.

Your committee has chosen the Lord Mayor’s Bushfire Appeal as the recipient for 2021. We certainly feel for those unfortunate enough to be involved in the fires so members are encouraged to dress up for the occasion, attend in large numbers and perhaps offer additional support by buying more raffle tickets than usual to help assist those who lost their homes.

So, if you haven’t been back to dancing for a while because of Covid, or any other reason, perhaps this is a great time to get back into the Thursday routine at Over 50s!

We would love to see you there! Why not also bring your dancing friends?

Trevor Hook (President)

Our latest venture to Harvey was a resounding success. Feedback, from members that were heard, varied from “what a delightful day”, “very enjoyable day” to “the atmosphere was great”. The well organised and welcoming atmosphere presented by the Harvey Dance group at Uduc Hall on Sunday 31 October made a very pleasant and enjoyable day. 

After a comfortable bus trip to and from Harvey that took a little over one & a half hours, time passed quickly.

 Prior to the dance, everyone enjoyed their lunch in the shade, either on the verandah or at the table settings under the towering gum trees. Brian Kealley, announced the dances with his usual fanfare to catch everyone’s attention over the many conversations that were in progress. All mentioned that they enjoyed his selection of music. Over 102 people danced in the small hall. Most of the dances were known by all except for the ‘Balentine Bossa Nova’. Some of our group had a go and attempted to learn this unfamiliar dance.

Whereas other Perth dancers spilled over onto the verandah to dance the ‘Mango Bossa Nova’ in a separate circle.

The scrumptious afternoon tea was supplied by the Harvey group. Comments on the wide variety of fare provided by the Harvey group. The tasty and delicious afternoon tea was enjoyed by all. Especially sausage rolls, cream puffs, and lovely strawberry jam scones to mention but a few, as well as the choice of either tea or coffee.

The spot prizes and raffle tickets saw successful winners were from both the Harvey Dance group and the Over 50s dancers. All in all, everyone had a memorable and pleasurable day with the Harvey Dance Group. Some even mentioned that we should attempt to go twice a year, time allowing.

Ann Dalton (Vice President)

So, less than eleven months to wait for our next one but remember…the Over 50s dance every Thursday and some of these days are also special events such as the final dance each year where a Christmas theme prevails, Australia Day, St Patrick’s Day etc. Other events our members get involved with are country trips.

One such trip took place on the Saturday before our Ball. A dozen or more of our members travelled to Manjimup for their charity ‘Red Ball’ which (because of weather) became ‘Dancing in the Rain’ raising money for RFDS. Despite the weather, organizers were pleasantly surprised that well over 100 attended and while this made it a bit crowded everyone got right into the spirit thus making it a wonderful night.

Over 50s Ballroom Dancing club is one we believe will negotiate any hiccoughs and continue on successfully, because our members love to dance!

Come along, we would love to have you join us.

Trevor Hook  (President)

Despite current pandemic circumstances, our Annual Ball was a great success. Having missed the ball in 2020, members were keen to get back to their stylish best with some 150 members and friends enjoying a full afternoon of dancing. The impacts of Covid delayed the date by 5 weeks and adversely affected attendance a little, but it went ahead on 5th August. The whole event was a very colourful affair. Many ladies beautifully bedecked in their evening gowns, gentlemen in Tuxedoes while the hall and tables were decorated in a ‘Movies’ theme, courtesy of Kathy our artistic secretary. Robert set up a booth with ‘props’ available, taking photos to ensure either stylish or fun memories could be recorded for posterity.

These will be posted shortly. Spot prizes, door prizes and raffles were increased this year as Rita persuaded Bunnings Warehouse Balcatta to donate a number of vouchers for prizes and we thank them for that. More than twenty people went home with an extra boost. The whole atmosphere was heightened by a wonderfully varied dance program, plenty of room on the floor and fantastic music provided by Tony and Fannie which ensured a great day. Covid effects also made providing a luncheon too difficult to arrange at short notice so it was suggested tables arrange their own lunch. With tea/coffee available all day this allowed people the benefit of choosing both their own preference of food and when they could eat which, it seems, many preferred.

Trevor Hook (President)

Over 50s ended the year with a very cheerful Christmas celebration at which some 120 members and friends continued the party atmosphere right to the last dance. For this and all of our special events, members got into the spirit, dressing up to compliment decorated venues, posing at the photo booth, participating in the extra raffles, ‘hunting’ for lucky spots on the floor when a particular dance ended, and generally making sure all of these fun events provided a release from the current worries of the day. As with our Ball in July, Covid uncertainty led to members bringing their own eats to supplement the usual afternoon tea supplies which included an individual Christmas Cake for all. 

The hall was set out with additional tables to accommodate members’ meals and some comments suggested members might prefer this at special events, rather than the club arranging a light lunch.  Vice President Ann made special reference to the regular volunteers and committee members, thanking them for selfless efforts to ensure the club provides just what members want.

Trevor Hook (President)

The year 2020 has been an extremely challenging period for many people and organisations with the Over 50s dancing group being similarly impacted.

The State and Federal Governments’ necessary short-term legislation to impose social distancing, isolation, etc. caused a break of 15 weeks. However, after the 100 person limit was lifted we were able to recommence with some restrictions. Very soon we were getting close to pre-Covid numbers and able to arrange a full get-together for a very enjoyable end-of-year dance.

With the hall decorated for Christmas, many members dressed in the festive spirit and the music fitting the season very nicely, the atmosphere was one of celebration and fun. Many more than usual stayed to the last dance and I think would have carried on longer, given the chance.

The success of the day (and the year) is down to the committee and helpers who turn up every week and work to ensure each dance runs smoothly for members to enjoy. The Christmas dance was no exception and I thank them all for their dedication.
May I wish all members a very Merry Christmas as well as a happy and safe 2021!

Trevor Hook (President)

Sunday 16 May again saw our club combine with The York Old Time Dance Group to run a dance in York’s lovely Town Hall.  A busload of some 50 ballroom dancers from OFBDC embarked on an outing to dance the afternoon away.   Leaving Burswood at 9 am, a smooth trip gave plenty of time to wander the town for a sticky beak and perhaps a coffee or bite to eat before the dance at 12:30 pm. Over 20 members also made their own way there. The York club, led by Helen, arranged the afternoon brilliantly. A dozen or so of their dancing members joined in, as did dancers from other metro studios together with visitors from Albany, Mandurah, Harvey, Bunbury, Busselton, Pinjarra, Toodyay and more, boosting the total number to about 110, probably our biggest crowd yet.

We ended 2019 with a Christmas Dance on 12th December at our Cannington venue. Attendance was just over 175 dancers who enjoyed a great, lively program of dances supported by fantastic music in a wonderful joyous atmosphere where many dressed to the spirit of the season. The day shaped up as a big test of the Cannington venue since a large crowd had booked and the prediction was in excess of 38 Degrees Celsius. However, our concerns were allayed as the cooling system did its thing quite nicely. This, together with an additional cold-water station and making an exception allowing people to take drinks to their seats, set the scene for a day that was comfortable despite the high outside temperature.

Our usual raffle included a bonus draw so with six spot prizes for couples on the floor

and a door prize, over 20 people took home a little something extra which they might not have expected, aside from the memory of an excellent day’s dancing.

For a few years, we have used WEGS for our catering at special events. They are very organized and again they did a fantastic job preparing a delicious spread which was much appreciated by members.

The day also gave us a delightful setting to present Shirley Hunt and Brian Hockley with badges which acknowledged 25 years of membership of our club. Members are any club’s lifeblood and to be regulars for such a period is a great achievement and we happily recognize their commitment and support of OFBDC Inc. Congratulations to you both.

So, having given our members a four-week break from dancing, and your committee/volunteer workers the same period to rest, we start the new year at Karrinyup using the same tried and true format as always. 11:15 for the one-hour lesson and 12:30 to 15:30 for the afternoon’s dancing. The dance lesson on 9th and 16th January will be Alpine Stroll and while many of you may already know this dance, this year we plan to add this to our list of ‘progressive’ dances. This involves an easy variation at the end of each sequence so come along to learn how to change partners in the Alpine Stroll, as well as joining us for a fun day.

Trevor Hook (President)

In November the annual “Have-a-Go Day” took place in Burswood Park. This event is run each year by WA’s Seniors Recreational Council and is designed to both provide information about a multitude of services available to seniors as well as offering them a chance to try various activities. 

Our club has been involved for many years giving the public a chance to gain insight into our club and participate in ballroom dancing, albeit briefly. A group of willing volunteer members from OFBDC went along to demonstrate. SRC provides a portable dance floor and one of our regular music providers, Marrilyn Spencer, provided great music and a program of dances that allowed us to show our extensive range of dance styles. 

Despite it being quite a warm day (accompanied by a few of our usual friends, good old Aussie flies) it really was a lot of fun and a good representation of how our club operates every Thursday. A good deal of interest was shown by the public and some of our members mingled to tell people more as well as hand out explanatory pamphlets

A big thank you to all our members who helped with this promotional exercise. While it is difficult to gauge any specific benefits gained for our club by engaging with the public to promote the fun, social connections and health benefits of ballroom dancing, we will continue to be ‘out there’ encouraging others to join in.

Trevor Hook (President)

Now we say Harvey, but the dance was actually held 7 or 8 Km west of Harvey in a location known as Uduc which was settled in the mid-1800s some two or three decades before Harvey. This settlement has only three buildings there now. The dance hall, the local Uduc Bush Fire Brigade (whose very clever motto is; “Uduc, We Don’t!” and one other part of Uduc’s history, a one room school building which operated from 1899 to 1921 and is still standing. 

The Uduc dance hall is a fantastic venue where the locals have lessons every week and a monthly Saturday night event to which dancers from affiliated clubs at Busselton,  Australind, Bunbury, Dardanup, etc. flock. Full House at UDUC.

The Hall has all the necessary facilities, is nicely decorated to create a bright atmosphere and the floor is really good for dancing. With many locals swelling our crowd we packed the venue. Ticket sales reached 99 which I believe is close to a record. The mix of country and city folk produced a camaraderie of dancers determined to enjoy each other’s company and the day, entertained by a lively dance program and really good music to help them dance the afternoon away.From mid-morning to late afternoon they ensured we were welcome, well-watered, fed, and entertained. Afternoon tea was amazing and the Uuc club’s traditional ‘milk coffee in support of local dairy farmers’, was superp. They could not do enough to ensure the day was as we hoped, and they succeeded in spades. Thank you so much to Brian Keally and his team for such a wonderful experience.

We believe that they also enjoyed the combined event and were as keen as us to make the decision that it be an annual event.

Trevor Hook (President)

Held at Cannington Exhibition Centre again this year our Annual Ball was another success story. 

With 210 tickets sold the place was packed, but comfortable. The day being one of the wettest this year did not deter anyone from making the most of this once a year event. Lovely table decorations and lighting displays in the masquerade theme were imagined and created by Kathy Herbu. Kathy was presented with a bunch of Red Roses in recognition of her enthusiastic efforts above and beyond. These decorations together with balloons and masks on the partition screens, our dancer silhouettes on the walls, and lots of beautifully dressed participants, certainly made it ‘an occasion’. Along with OFBDC members and other locals, well over three dozen friends from country areas attended and they certainly did not let city folk outshine them in appearance. All the ladies presented beautifully, many of their gowns were amazing, the gentlemen scrubbed up very well and those who got into the spirit wearing masks to match the theme helped make the whole atmosphere quite a spectacle.  

This year we only took one break from dancing and that was for the essentials; lunch and the raffle!! The ladies from WEGS did a fantastic job providing a really good variety of quality items to please any palate and I have heard nothing but comments of approval about the food.

Back to the dancing. This was the first time we have danced to the new sound system at Cannington. It really did the job enhancing the great music Tony and Fanny chose which of course highlighted the wonderfully balanced dance program Marrilyn had devised. Spot prizes, a photo booth so people could have a record for posterity and the raffle kept the excitement going but of course having lots of fun dancing, dancing, dancing with your partner or changing partners was the aim and it certainly achieved that. You can find the photos taken in the booth and many others taken by Robert, both posed and while dancing, on this website under ‘pictures’ on the home page.   

Participation is what makes any event such as this a success and on behalf of your committee, I wish to thank all those who attended for making it a successful, fun-filled day.

Footnote: This venue is now the permanent home for OFBDC’s fortnightly dances south of the city. Since it has considerably larger floor space than our previous venue, 50 or 60 more dancers each fortnight will not fill the floor so if lack of space was a reason you chose not to dance with us in the past, problem solved.

Trevor Hook (President)

Back to our usual timing of autumn for our trip to York and while the change of seasons can sometimes provide less than ideal weather, this year the descriptor ‘perfect’ comes to mind. A warm day in the high twenties was just right for wandering the town then showing our style on the dance floor. Perhaps that was one of the reasons we drew a very healthy crowd of 82 dancers to the event.

About 30 members took the opportunity to relax on the coach provided and with everyone arriving ahead of departure time a smooth ride in good time was the result. Many OFBDC members chose to make their own way there as did visitors from the Dianella, Nirvana Social Club, Northam, Toodyay, Mundaring, Gidgegannup, and one couple from Albany.

The locals from York rounded out the numbers and as usual, made the bookings and had the Town Hall set up with the chairs comfortably nestled under the balcony leaving the large floor free for the dancing, which got underway right on time.

The excellent dance program put together by our coordinator and DJ, Marrilyn, produced a day where most dances saw a full floor with very few sitting out. Comments like “I love this song” and “The music is what brings me here” could be heard while people danced the afternoon away. Very well done Marrilyn.

Organisers of such occasions can sometimes be heard to be worrying whether ‘this is right or that is right’ but none needed to worry as everything flowed without a hitch. Afternoon tea was one such doubt (would there be enough, Helen wondered?) but she and her crew need not have worried as, once again, they excelled with good food and even some leftover for ‘doggie bags’. A big thank you to them also.

Rain had been suggested on the day but whoever looks after that arranged it occur while most were either back home or kept dry by coach or car. Back home comfortably before dark, it was a fantastic day! Perhaps this might persuade any who were in two minds this year to make the other choice next year and come along to join in the fun.

Most of those who did attend are already looking forward to doing it again next year. Certainly, your committee is, and in the same spirit, we are also considering a similar event in another country town, perhaps come spring. Watch this space.

Trevor Hook (President)

This year about 20 members made the trip to Albany along with nearly a dozen other Perth people known to them through the dancing circuit.

The weekend was a resounding success with excellent arrangements by the organisers producing a great environment for dancing, catching up with friends from country areas and generally just getting out to have fun. Held in St Joseph’s College Gymnasium it again provided a very suitable venue. Numbers were good but not such that the floor was overcrowded which meant everyone could dance with little impediment. As always, the Ball on Saturday night brought out the biggest crowd but that did not affect either the dancing or the slick organisational group which is the Albany City Dance Club. Congratulations to all. Well done! This year the Western Australian Masters Formation Dancers provided floor show entertainment on both Friday and Saturday nights. They were a treat to watch, lovely style emphasized by beautiful dresses dancing in unison and even though they were not youngsters they were way above what most of us could anticipate achieving.  The formal night, Saturday, again saw the best togs on show and there certainly were some wonderful outfits, particularly among the lady’s Ball Gowns, and in this, our members certainly were not outshone. A lot of our guys cracked out their white/ ivory/ cream jackets and bow ties to put themselves up there with the snappiest and to keep up with their ladies, looking pretty cool.

A little different from previous years, they announced a couple as Bell and Beau of the ball (rather than an individual lady and man) which went to our friends here in Perth, Myrl Grady and Mark Poklepovich. You may remember Myrl as a former member of OFBDC.
Again, the music was fun for dancing, there were great suppers and raffle prizes galore. Some of the dances were unfamiliar but who cares if you don’t know the dance; have a go! Nobody minds or is looking at you anyway. They are nearly all on the floor doing their best as well.  As a group some of the Over 50s did a few things together such as lunch on Saturday at the White Star Hotel, a trip to see the Field of Light: Avenue of Honour (Mt Clarence) on Sunday after the dance as well as breaky at The Dome to see each other on our various ways home. What little bit of rain there was didn’t bother us at all while Sunday and Monday were warm spring days to enjoy.
For us this weekend has always been great and I know we are not the only ones who have already booked accommodation for next year. Hope to see you there.

Trevor Hook (President)

This was held on Thursday 14th March at Karrinyup

Attendance was 151 which is a record for the Karrinyup venue.

Marrilyn did her usual excellent job playing music with a very strong Irish theme. Marrilyn was also responsible for introducing the “Irish Stomp” dance to the Over 50s club which has proved very popular but never more so as on St. Patrick’s Day Dance.

The Irish theme shone through and included one gentleman in a green tartan kilt and bright green leggings in among lots of green skirts, shirts, dresses, ties, hats, etc. 

A busload of Over 50s members set off for York from the Crown Casino car park and about 45 minutes later the bus broke down due to an overheating wheel bearing.

However, in true Over 50s spirit, the members made the most of this minor inconvenience with an impromptu party by the roadside.

Another bus was chartered and the revellers proceeded to York for our annual “away” dance.

The York trip – Hubble, Bubble, Toil and…..Ah!……we sorted the trouble.

Usually held in May, this trip was delayed because of venue unavailability. Spring seemed a good time so a date was set and arrangements made. Not until some time later did we realise the York Festival was on the same weekend so, anticipating large crowds, we suggested members might like to take a picnic instead of trusting they could find a café which could deliver a meal in a reasonable time. Sadly, the café delay time prediction came true for those who chose this option.
A group utilised the bus, which unfortunately left a bit late, and were enjoying the atmosphere of anticipation when the bus pulled off the road while the driver made a phone call. Only a couple of minutes later he stopped and backed in behind a service station. He then explained. The first stop had been because smoke was emanating from a back wheel and the second stop was so we had conveniences while we waited about 50 minutes for the replacement bus he had already called.
So, we had broken down 60 km from our destination, but not to be deterred we improvised, cracked out the picnics or bought from the shop and spent the time chatting and listening to Enzo sing accompanied sometimes by Elizabeth or Shirley while soaking up a beautiful spring day. A few calls were made to enlighten others at York.

We arrived right on the time for which the hall had been reserved.  It was something of a rush getting set up; this became more disconcerting when our DJ for the day found no power in her corner or the next closest corner. Eventually, with the aid of 4 or 5 extension leads down the side of the hall, we were set to go. Of course, once dancing commenced, the day went fantastically well. Marrilyn’s dance program and music were great, the floor was good and everyone settled in for a fun afternoon.  Apart from OFBDC and York Dance people we were pleased to welcome visitors from Dianella, Nirvana Social Club, Toodyay, Northam, Mundaring, etc. As always, the locals put on a lovely afternoon tea (the carrot cake was a standout) and set out the hall for us. We would like to thank Helen and her crew, who excelled once again.

No mechanical problems on the return trip but the enthusiasm raged with some accompanying the bus music with their own “renditions”!?  Say no more! Loved the whole day!

We are already looking forward to another event next year.

   Trevor Hook (President)

The 2018 Annual Ball of the Over 50s Ballroom Dancing Club has passed. What great successful day it was. After a huge effort and preparation everything went smoothly and without a hitch. Marrylin, our Dance Coordinator, put together a great program of dances which contained something for both members and visitors. The scene was set for a very enjoyable day of dancing. Dancers began to arrive before opening time and the hall quickly filled . We had quite a big group of visitors from the south west dance group and some from further away areas. Every one rose to the occasion. The ladies all looked beautiful in their lovely ball gowns and cocktail dresses. 

The men did not disappoint either, donning their dinner suits, tuxedos and lounge suits in synergy with the ambiance we wished to create. With the decorations of the tables including the beautiful centre pieces and also the silhouettes, balloons the entire hall looked a picture.

As usual we provided a lovely buffet lunch catered for by our friendly ladies from WEGS. After that we were treated to an exhibition organized by our good friend, Adam Penn. Nearly all the popular genre of dances were beautifully performed by Sabrina and Lucian, two very talented dancers, with a very bright future.  We wish them every success in their future endeavours  and thank them for their performance.  While they were changing for their next dance we were entertained by Adam with some lovely singing as we enjoyed more dancing.

Big thank you to Adam.

John Kember (President)

Our President, Trevor Hook with his wife Pauline made the trek to the South West Rainbow Festival accompanied by several Over 50’s members and some dancers from other Perth Clubs.

Almost inevitably, the tireless Robert Herbu took a few excellent photographs of the event showing the dancers in their sartorial elegance. These images can be viewed using the link below the write up by Trevor on the festivities.

Hopefully, the event will attract a growing number of our members in the future.

Our fundraising Day for the Flying Doctor Service was a great success with $1031 being raised towards the good cause. Our attendance was a very good 129 people and they all entered into the spirit of the day with great enthusiasm. To create a little more awareness of the service provided by the Royal Flying Doctors Service we enlisted the help of some primary school students to draw pictures of how they saw the Service and it’s role in the community. They produced some very fine work and they should be commended for their efforts. We had these exhibits placed around the hall on the day and there were a great many admirers.  This all served to highlight the purpose of our fundraising day.

 A large proportion of the drawings were work of Boynton Primary School students in Karratha some from Eastern Hill High School and also Darlington Primary School.

As usual, our members threw themselves into the fun of the day with outlandish St. Patrick’s Day outfits with all shades of green on display.  Headgear, ties, wigs, beards, etc. were all the go with a lot of laughter and fun had by everyone.  All in all a very successful day from every angle.

Many, many thanks go to all who organised the day or attended and a special thanks goes also to our team of helpers. 

You always do a wonderful job even on a normal club day and these special days involve a good deal more work and your efforts are always appreciated.

John Kember (President)

Have a look at the wonderfully colourful and imaginative drawings from the young children which created a backdrop for the hall and encouraged people to donate to the very worthy cause of the RFDS. 

Annual Ball day for the Over 50s Ballroom Dancing Club was an early start for the committee and our wonderful team of helpers.  I arrived just after 8.30 am after picking up the balloons and found the whole team hard at work.  Preparations and setting up were well underway.  On completion, the hall looked fantastic and a very fitting venue for our special day of the year. A special tribute must go to Kathy for her creative talents in making the table centrepieces. They really set it all off. Thanks must also go to the Armadale Dance club for the loan of their silhouettes for the wall decorations.  A great effort was put in by everyone concerned and I thank them all for their co-operation and efforts. 

It wasn’t long before everyone began arriving and soon there was a buzz of excitement and anticipation in the air. The music began and the fun was underway to the delightful music of Fanny and Tony, our great DJs. This year we introduced a few innovations to make the day that little bit more enjoyable. We are, after all, there for the entertainment and enjoyment of the day.  To that end, we engaged a professional photographer with a backdrop screen. All photos will be on our website and are available for download by anyone who wishes to do so, courtesy of David Chong .  Our good friend Adam Penn was kind enough to arrange a wonderful floor show for us. Beautiful movement and an energetic performance it was with a little bit of frivolity added to it for entertainment so it was very enjoyable for all of us. Thank you to Rochelle, Cameron, Megan, and Simon for the beautiful performance. 

Our catering ladies have excelled themselves again but this time under difficult circumstances.  The oven door hinge was broken and also one of the elements in the oven was not working. They handled it all with good spirits and co-operation.

Most important of all was our members and guests who made the day the success that it was. As well as the great support that we had from within our club we had a lot of support from outside by visitors from around Perth and including some local studios, particularly Patricia Taylor who is our regular instructor, and Julie and Richard from Crystal. We also had great support from the Southwest dancing group and our good friend Kevin Law from Sydney, who surprised all the ladies by making a special trip just to attend. The attendance for the day was just beneath maximum capacity for that venue which was very pleasing.

Once again, Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you all for making it such a great day and now the planning begins for next year’s ball.

The hall has already been booked for July 5 next year.

John Kember (President)

An Over 50s group including our Vice President and Treasurer attended this stunning event.

For several years, Albany City Dance Club has invited dancers from far and wide to attend the Rainbow Coast Festival of Dance. This was held over three days, Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. We publicised this on our notice board to support their cause and a contingent of 16 Over 50s members traveled to enjoy their hospitality.  The Albany dance program had 54 dances. While about a quarter of these are not on the program at The Over 50s, most were easy to follow.

This year the event was held 6,7 and 8 October to coincide with school holidays to facilitate the use of St Joseph’s College Gymnasium. Similar to our Karrinyup facility, this proved to be great atmosphere with a good floor, great music, enthusiastic dancers and excellent suppers/afternoon tea. We even managed to win a few raffle prizes.

Saturday evening was their formal night with most dressed for the occasion. Frank liked the style of a couple of our members at our own Ball held back in July and expanded the idea suggesting our gentlemen all wear White or Ivory jackets and black trousers with Eagles colours as trimmings.

Kathy excelled by making 7 0r 8 sets, consisting of a blue bow tie, blue pocket piece and a yellow cummerbund. Now we all thought we looked very swish (and we did stand out a little, especially when we took to the floor as a group) but I think we were outdone by our ladies who all relished the opportunity to glam it up. Congratulations girls, you looked fantastic. This night was the busiest on the floor but very comfortable, with everyone observing dance etiquette and just having fun.

Perhaps it should be mentioned that the weather was not the best or the worst for that matter, but we doggedly made sure that it didn’t bother us. Having traveled at different times and staying for varying lengths most only had Saturday free so, again on Frank’s suggestion, we tootled over to Denmark for a picnic. While we stood and mused over the dubious weather the ladies suggested a perfect location for lunch. The Denmark Pub! Good choice – warm and dry. Yes, we are all getting to be softies!

Never mind, it was a great weekend of dancing with a break from the city to boot.

Trevor Hook  (Vice President)

We have had another successful day at the “Have-a-Go” event organised by The Seniors Recreational Council.

Our members turned out in force again to give us some wonderful support. This year we had to share the floor with three other groups and we were allocated specific time slots. This wasn’t a problem as everyone co-operated. Quite a bit of interest was shown by the public and we handed out several pamphlets but the same old problem occurred again and it is always there, the ladies are more interested in dancing than the men.

I would like to thank all those who participated and helped to make the day enjoyable. Special thanks go to Marrilyn and Victor for the music, sometimes under difficult circumstances, but it was great. Quantifying the benefits that we gain from participating in the day is difficult but we are out there engaging with the public, which I think is a very good idea.

This means our club is known to the public and when coupled with other methods, that we use to promote ourselves, like the website and signs, can only be of benefit.

John Kember (President)

A few pictures from the dance, kindly supplied by Robert and Graeme, have been posted on the pictures page. 

Well!  Another wonderful day it turned out to be at York yesterday. The weather was beautiful which set the scene for a great day. Our bus was a little late in leaving Perth but made good time on the way due to the fine weather and arrived in plenty of time for a light lunch before the dancing began. The bus was quite well patronized and we were fortunate to be entertained on the trip by our very capable piano accordion player, Ron Borich. Thank you to Ron for that effort. 

The ladies from the York dancing club did a fantastic job in setting up the hall and the afternoon tea as they always do and I must add that they are very much appreciated and we thank them very much.

The social dancing began on schedule and the atmosphere was convivial and lighthearted throughout the afternoon. With  Marrilyn and Victor providing the beautiful music the afternoon was off to a great start. We designed the program so nearly everyone would be familiar with the generally better-known dances.  Throughout the afternoon most people were up on the floor.

We were also able to organize a small photoshoot during the afternoon and it will be interesting to see how that comes out. In due course, they will be posted on the website so keep an eye out for them. A big thank you to both Robert and Graham for their efforts in that area too.

The day finished with a great trip home and we arrived with ample time to get home before dark. I think we could conclude the day to York was a great success. We look forward to another great day again next year. I would like to thank everyone for your support and participation in helping to make it such a great day. 

Finally, I would like to thank all those who assisted in organizing the day and that starts with Trevor on the ticket sales, Marlene on the door, and raffle sales Frank, Marrilyn and Victor.

John Kember (President)

Our second event at the Cannington Exhibition Hall and what a great success it was. The planning and organization began straight after the 2015 ball and continued throughout the year. I think it paid off handsomely as we were much better prepared this time. Our advertising campaign was better planned and the result showed in the ticket sales  
The committee and helpers did a wonderful job with the decorations for the hall. It looked magnificent and set the scene for a great day of dancing.

As it should be you, the visitors and members are the most important. Your lively repartee and jovial spirits along with Tony’s excellent choice of music and the surroundings all contributed to a wonderful ambiance. Thank you all so much for your support especially to our visitors. You are always welcome to our ball and also at our weekly club events as well. (see our website at ofbdc.org.au for more information). We would love to see you there.

The ladies once again looked lovely in their evening or cocktail gowns, always rising to the occasion. The gents were not to be outdone and also stepped out with dinner suits and more formal wear. You have all done yourselves proud.

More consideration was given to the program and selection of dances. This was generally restricted to the more well-known dances to cater for the visitors. We aim to make the occasion as enjoyable as possible for everyone and to that end, I invite your comments or feedback from your perspective on any aspect of the event.

Once again a big thank you to everyone for your support and also to anyone involved in contributing to the running of the event.

John Kember  (President)

Many thanks to the Seniors Recreation Council for providing the facility for us to showcase our club’s activities at the Have-a-Go Day. We see it as a great opportunity to reach out to the public and retirees, in particular, to inform them about “The Over 50s Ballroom Dancing Club”. The occasion provides a conduit for recruiting new members and promote our club.

The day was a great success due in a large part to the many members who contributed so willingly. Our demonstrations were very popular and attracted a large audience, some of whom were keen to join us on the floor. At times the floor was packed due to the visitors and everyone seemed to enjoy the day immensely. Those members who were not dancing were distributing information sheets to the spectators and answering the many questions that were asked.

As President, I would like to thank all those who were involved and contributed to the success of the day. I thought you all did a wonderful job and I was very proud of your efforts. It is this participation and willingness that makes our club such a friendly and enjoyable place to be every Thursday.

 Special thanks go to Marrilyn and Victor for their collaboration on the program and music, to Robert for his tireless effort on the video equipment, and also to Kathy for her wonderful effort in distributing information sheets. Every time I looked up she was out there talking to someone.

John Kember (President)