History of Paddle Steamer Square Dance Group Inc
Zaree Sullivan opened the club in 2008 with the help of Ken Overton. Milton McKenzie took over in 2009. We danced in Chris Hawkins' lounge room until we hired a hall at Currency Creek.
In 2011 Milton arranged for our first dressed set at the National in Darwin. He learnt how to sew with his new pink sewing machine, making the entire dress set. We moved to more centrally located Institute at Port Elliot
The club incorporated in 2012 and operated as a tape/CD club (with help from Chris and Alan at Naracoorte) using a household stereo at the hall. Ros Turnbull and Penny Collingwood ran the tapes and began a new learners class (including us learning how to teach). Special thank you to our music guru Grayham Smith for his help. Don Headon then took over running the tapes for mainstream whilst Ros continued teaching the learners.
2013 - Les Tulloch began calling alternate weeks. Milton McKenzie called monthly. Ivan Cooke called occasionally, whilst Ros continued to teach the learners. John Casey called once per month from May until October 2013 from March to November 2015. We graduated 3 dancers (Don Headon, Chris Hawkins, Jacqueline Baumgartner). We purchased a Hilton and Yak Stack from Bob Looker with the aid of a Local Council grant.
In 2015 we graduated 8 dancers (Charlene Wright, Elizabeth, Elijah & Joshua Shepherd, Deidre Solly, Faye Payne, Darrell Nixon and Pam Ferguson). In 2017 we graduated Peter Jarvis. Chris Browning has offered to call once a month giving our dancers the experience of 3 different callers and tapes rarely. This allows Ros Turnbull more time to concentrate on pursuing her interest in learning to call.
In 2018 we celebrated our 10th year as a club with guest caller Mike Davey from Victoria. All had a wonderful time with a theme of Swing into Spring. Life memberships were handed out to Leon Parsons, Don Headon, Chris Hawkins and unfortunately our founder Zaree Sullivan who was due for Life Membership passed away 2 months before the birthday. We miss her happy welcoming and caring manner, but she will not be forgotten.
In 2019 we moved to an air-conditioned hall in Victor Harbor so no more freezing winter nights huddled by the fan heater. We held a “flash mob” at Bunnings at Victor Harbor with over 60 dancers thanks to all our friends from Adelaide and we finished with a free dance at our new hall - great fun. We had good publicity and it was talk of the town. We have been teaching Plus to a small group in our private homes alternating between Willunga, Mt Compass and Victor Harbor.
2020 Our Plus group have now completed all their plus moves and are doing very well. Unfortunately our Square dancing was deferred in March due to COVID19 virus – the whole country was shut down and in lockdown. Restrictions will be lifted slowly but we don’t know when.
Misc
We have participated in public events ie: Goolwa Alive, The Port Elliot Show, Christmas parades and demonstrations at Adare Church, Retirement Villages, Nursing Homes and Woolworth Shopping Centre Goolwa. We have various social outings and conduct monthly fun theme nights including a cow milking competition on our cow cup night. We have had numerous dancers from interstate and overseas including an occasional guest caller. Jeff Seidel has done several workshops. Thank you to dancers and callers who have supported us.
Being a tourist area we encourage visitors to watch and have a try.
We currently dance Basic and Mainstream level from 7pm at
Carrickalinga House 17 Torrens St Victor Harbor