AT A GLANCE STATE SQAURE DANCING BODY HONOURS LOCAL CALLER In April this year, Mount Gambier based square dancing club Allabout Squares celebrated its 10th anniversary and that was thanks in no small part to nationally recognise caller Andrea Braun, who established and continues to run the club. Andrea’s commitment to Allabout Squares and the popular pastime, more generally, was recently acknowledged at State level with a 10 year achievement Award from the peak South Australian governing body. It caps off a year of celebration for Andrea, who has been involved in square dancing for almost two decades and is part of an exclusive club – female dance callers, and the club. Allabout Squares is the only live calling club in the region. It was while living in Victoria that Andrea first was exposed to square dancing when a friend’s father got her involved. “I gradually got more and more into it,” Andrea said. She even went overseas, completing some calling training in England, while living and working there for 12 months. Returning to Australia in 1999, by 2000 she had set up her own club and then she brought that expertise when she relocated to Mount Gambier, establishing Allabout Squares in 2008. Such is her passion, Andrea taught square dancing at Glenburnie Primary School for three years and was thrilled to see how much the children took to the dying art. Ironically the year Andrea set up the Mount Gambier club was the year legendary Australian dance caller Jim Vickers-Willis died. Andrea remembers all too well, the hey day of square dancing in the 1950s and ‘60s. “Jim would be calling at clubs in Melbourne for 5000 people,” Andrea said. And many of those people, that first took up square dancing in that era, are still dancing to day. Attracting a new generation is the challenge, as it is with so many community groups. Those that attended the Allabout Squares 10th anniversary celebrations had that same passion of the crowds of the 1950s and ‘60s as they danced the night away on Friday night at the Mil Lel hall, enjoyed lunch at the RSL on Saturday, before retuning to the Mil Lel hall dance floor Saturday night and then heading out to Allabout Squares home base Sunday morning for a cooked breakfast and, if you can believe it, more dancing. “Everyone had a great time and the dancers from away have already booked in to be involved for our birthday celebrations next year,” Andrea said. Mount Gambier is fortunate to have Andrea as a caller – she is considered one of the best in the business. She has already recorded almost 20 songs for Shindig Productions, an online square dance music archive, and is a regular attendee to national conventions, including earning a calling gig this year for the Perth event. Allabout Squares meets Thursday nights from 7pm and has around 25 regular members. “If you just want to come and have a god we would welcome that,” Andrea said. “You don’t need any experience. You don’t need a partner. It is great fun for all ages, families, couples and singles and it is great gentle exercise. You can do up to five kilometres a night but it is all about the social aspect as well.” Anyone interested in giving square dancing a go should call Andrea on 0417 509 144.
FORGET THE BIRDS - THIS IS A LESSON ABOUT THE BEES ONLY It is a Slovenian tradition and local producer Pine Ridge Honey is bringing the concept to this region this November. “My husband is Slovenian and every year on the third Friday of November they have a Honey Bee Breakfast Day,” Pine Ridge Honey owner Natasha Srpcic said. “Every school and every kindy does it and community and political leaders get involved.” So on a much smaller scale, Pine Ridge Honey is looking to hold a similar event at Mount Gambier’s
Limestone Coast Pantry on November 16, aimed at children aged 4-12 and their parents, care givers and teachers. “This is an excellent opportunity for our local school children to learn about the vital role bees play in our environment and help the next generation be more proactive in helping our environment,” Natasha said. “We want to teach the kids about bees and use local produce as part of that.” A passionate promoter of local produce, Limestone Coast Pantry was the perfect fit for the event and are now collaborating with Natasha to create bring bee keeping and honey production to life for the region’s children . Schools and kindergartens have been contacted about the event, with registrations closing on August 29, so anyone interested in attending should contact their school or kindergarten and encourage them to sign up. The number and time of sessions on November 16 will be finalised once final numbers are secured. The day will include pancakes served with honey, as well as a raft of fun activities centred on bees and honey.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE RETURN OF WESTERN RAIL Southern Grampians Shire Council CEO Michael Tudball (pictured above) is showing his support for Western Rail - Are you? Get your hands on your very own Western Rail bumper sticker by sending council a facebook message or calling into offices at Southern Grampians Shire or Horsham Rural City Council. Both councils are also encouraging people to make a stand on social media by posting their pics with the tag #westernrail #getonboard
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