Cane Country Squares

The floor was packed with close to 100 dancers when Cane Country Squares dancers and spectators attended the 42nd Queensland State Square Dance Convention in Deception Bay from the 7th to the 9th of August 2026. The event got underway with Bev McLachlan cueing the Round Dance session. The Friday night continued with Square Dance callers, Sid Leighton, Elaine Davis, Frances Hickson, Glenn Wilson, Nev McLachlan, Alan Evans and our own, Matthew Mills. It is always great to see Callers getting a change to dance, and to dance with others we only see at these big functions. This was Jo Ls first State Convention, who was keen to see first hand what we have taken on as hosts for the 2027 QLD State Convention in Bundaberg. This will mark 30 years since Cane Country Squares last hosted the event. Ella had great fun sneaking in to a back square doubled up with Anita. Saturday afternoon, Matt called one of the A Level bracket alternated with Plus brackets called by Elaine Davis, Glenn Wil...

We finally got there. Graduation night for class 2 of 2025 was held on Tuesday 28th of July 2026.  Our graduating dancers were presented with their certificates and posed for photos for the cutting of the cake. Along with the dancing we played a couple of games of celebrity heads. Yes Sandy, you are a local celebrity. The class took a little longer to get through the 50 movements, with some people being away for holidays or illness, and then after we had just got back into dancing after the Christmas and New Year break, we had the flood through our Targo Street Hall. We had a fun night with two squares on the floor for most of the night, finishing the last dance of the night with a 6 couple rectangle. More photos from the night will be in our 2026 photo gallery shortly. Our next learner classes, starting with three come and try nights, will be Tuesday 18th of August.

 July 2026 fun theme nights, Rebels and Outlaws were held on Tuesday 14/7/26 and Friday 17/7/26. We had a number of pirates show up, 1920's gangsters and Rebel tricycle club members.  Numbers were down a bit with some away due to illness and others away on holidays. Instead of two squares we danced some of the night in a rectangle formation with six couples.  Those on holidays will be back in time for their graduation night on the 28th of July. On Friday night, in addition to gangsters, bikies and pirates we had a number of outlaw cowboys and girls. Three visitors from the Hervey Bay Square Dance Club also came for our theme night. We got two squares on the floor before supper but my video recording failed. More photos of both nights can be found on our 2026 Photo Gallery page . There is no local theme night in August as we start planning our trips to Deception Bay for the 42nd QCA Qld State Square Dance Convention from the 7th to the 9th of August. For their Theme N...

On Saturday afternoon, 11th of July 2026, Matthew Mills was the guest caller for the Christmas in July dance hosted by the Hervey Bay Square Dance Club. The event was held at their regular dance hall at Dan Dinna House, 459 Boat Harbour Drive. Matt alternated brackets for new and full Mainstream levels. With two to three squares on the floor all afternoon from 2 till 5pm. There was around 12 to 16 visiting with 7 dancers from Cane Country Squares. We were also surprised with Nev and Bev McLachlan visiting from Suncoasters.  The break for supper included an amazing spread of sweet and savoury treats. Three lucky door prizes were drawn and Cane Country Squares resident poet, Sandy, read a humorous Christmas poem. Hervey Bay Square Dancer, Eileen was celebrating her 95th Birthday, dancing with a great smile and more energy than much younger dancers. Eileen cut her birthday cake and was presented with a gift by the Hervey Bay Square Dance Club. As a visiting dancer, I really enjoy...

This months theme night was a big hit with lots of dancers getting creative with our Sports theme. On Tuesday 16th the Mainstream and Learners group had two squares of sports themed dancers. We had tennis, golf, table tennis and bike riding gear, fishing shirts, active wear and lots of sport supporter outfits. Then there was the next level of creative with Hobby Horsing Sandy and Jo L dressed as a giant soccer ball. Matt had fun trying to call movements that Sandy would find tricky managing hand holds and her hobby horse. The horse and the giant ball outfit were retired after the first set but there was lots of smiles and laughter all night. On the 19th the Friday Old Mainstream / Plus group had their go at the Sports theme. We had a lot of people away on the night so numbers were down a bit. Jo L still dressed in her inflated ball for the first dance which made us smile. Check out more photos of the theme nights on our 2026 photo gallery page . Rebels and Outlaws is our next theme. Ju...

We began our slightly chilly morning on the 7th of June at 9am for Cane Country Squares AGM. The meeting was all done by 9:30am with all returning to the same positions. This gave us a bit of time for socialising and to look through the donated square dance clothing before we started our social dance at 10am. Kepnock hall is a fantastic space with plenty of room on an excellent wooden floor. With seven dancers joining us from Hervey Bay we had enough to make around 2 and a half squares. It was a very enjoyable morning dancing with Matt calling Mainstream and one bracket of Plus. Thanks Jo L and those who helped her in the kitchen for the morning tea with some lovely dips, cakes and biscuits. Matt called our last dance bracket of the morning for six couples while others helped to clean up in the kitchen or pack up the clothing. We look forward to seeing some of the Hervey Bay dancers again this Friday, at our Hall at 89 Targo Street, to learn more of the new 2026 Plus movement. ...