Peter Cram started Westside Squares on 2nd August 1983 at the Lockleys Scout Hall, Airport Road, Brooklyn Park.
After twelve months or so Peter then started a Learners Class at the Uniting Church Hall, Crittendon Road, Findon. He was running the two clubs for a while but the dancers found they preferred the Crittendon Road venue so two clubs became one.
In 1985 the dancers became members of SASDS. There were 21 members that year and soon became over 40 in future years.
In 1988-89 approximately, Barry Jordan took over calling for Westsides but did not want the job permanently. Louise McQuiston heard that Barry Markwick was moving from Sydney to Adelaide so asked him if he would become Caller for Westside.
The Club had many good times with dancing, camping and cricket matches up to 1997 in spite of Barry’s ill health. He sadly died in August 1997.
Letters were sent to Callers asking for expressions of interest in taking over the Club. Many Callers including Peter Heath, Trevor Hunt, Ken Overton, Barry Jordan, Les Tulloch, Chris Browning, Ivan Cooke, Aubrey Banham, helped out.
From February 1998 to June 1999 Peter Heath & Trevor Hunt called on alternate weeks, then Peter to the end of the year. At the end of 1999, both Callers were finding they could not afford the time to call for Westside, as the numbers were too low to make it viable, so the Committee decided to close the Club. Westside Squares closed down on December 3rd 1999.
Twelve years later, many of our previous Westside members, including Peter Cram and Lorraine, still meet up every two or three months to enjoy a get together at someone’s home/hotel, to catch up on all the news. Xmas time, (at the home of Jill Eitzen usually) sees many dancers from different clubs as well.