May 2021 Newsletter
HEART DANCE
As current Learners were invited to our Annual Heart Dance, we were able to dance two sets for part of the night.
Barbara won the Fruit Tray and Alan & Leslyn won the Bacon & Egg Tray.
Marilyn had previously made Red Sashes with a Red Heart attached and once again brought them to add an interesting touch on the night for the Left Hand Dancers.
Funds raised to be donated to Heart Support Walking Track in North Bundaberg.
Thanks to everyone who participated and helped to make a worthwhile donation to Heart Support.
SUPPERS
The Club have purchased packaged biscuits to be used on special occasion nights for supper. Tea and Coffee will be served by kitchen staff only, as a precautionary measure while COVID is still a problem. The Heart Dance was a trial for resuming suppers again.
SUNCOASTERS 51ST BIRTHDAY
May 16th and 17th 2021
Matt, Anita and the girls attended the Suncoasters 50+1 Birthday Celebrations.
Matt was one of several guest callers at the successful event.
The President of the Square Dancing Society of Queensland presented Suncoasters with an Award in recognition of the 50+1 years.
AGM - 28th MAY
Club AGM is not far away so please consider how you are able to help the Club function by taking on a position on the Committee. Nomination forms will be available on the entry table.
SOCIETY BUGLE
Copies of the Monthly Bugle from the Queensland Square Dance Society will be printed and put on the entry table for those members who do not have the Internet.
If you have internet access you can find them at
www.squaredancingsocietyofqueensland.org/the-bugle.html or follow the link from our club
website resources page canecountrysquares.blogspot.com/p/resource-library.html
MEMBERSHIP DUES
Membership is again due before the end of the financial year. It will remain at $20.00 which includes $10.00 insurance paid to the Square Dance Society.
Please pay Jo Kronk so that it can be paid by the due date to the Society.
AUDITOR
We still do not have an Auditor, but the Committee will keep investigating the matter for the new year. It seems that legally we are not required by law to have an Auditor due to the value of assets we have.
COMING EVENTS 
AUSSIE THEME NIGHT
JULY 16 Friday night group
QUEENSLAND STATE CONVENTION
AUG 13,14,15 – Hervey Bay – NO LOCAL DANCING
MATTHEW'S 20+ ANNIVERSARY OF CALLING with GUEST CALLERS
LAST DANCE for 2021
DEC 7 Tuesday dancers
DEC 10 Friday dancers (Breakup may include Tuesday group, depending on numbers)
WHEN OLD FRIENDS MEET – POEM, submitted by Sandy Lees (Author unknown) attached.
JO READ'S Story about what she and Rob did during the COVID lockdown will also be attached to
this Newsletter. Thanks Jo - you have made good use of the situation we couldn't change.
Would anyone else like to tell us what they did to replace dancing time?
The Committee enjoy being able to dance again and we hope you continue to enjoy it also.
From your Committee – Matthew, Jo Kronk, Jo Lester, Jo Read, Marilyn and Pam.
The year that didn’t go to plan.
Written by Jo Read
The start of 2020 was full of plans and possibilities. Matt’s celebration for 20 years of calling was going to be great.
Alan Wright would be celebrating his 90th birthday with a dance put on by the club and I would get a dance by default for my 50th birthday, falling on the same day as our Christmas dance.
The QLD State Convention would be held in Hervey Bay and I had already made a ‘Floral Fiester’ theme outfit over the 2019 Christmas break. Being so close meant a large number of club members would be going, including an enthusiastic group of brand-new mainstream dancers.
I was keen to get our new dancers into square dance outfits for all the coming events and inspired by the interest in the sewing bees and news about op shop finds.
The big event and our annual holiday I particularly looked forward to was the 2020 National Convention in the Blue Mountains. With its 1920s theme, I had embraced the fashion with a collection of outfits put together over the previous year. And then everything changed …….
Watching Covid19 unfold on world news, when it reached Australia, I knew Rob’s heath put him at high risk. Due to this I was taking all isolation and social distancing very seriously.
To entertain myself I made several different sized skirts for new dancers. I moved on to other sewing projects with petticoat and shoe storage bags and added them to the club website. With no end in sight, I got bored with sewing and the weather was too good to stay inside.
Gardening became the next thing to throw myself into. We have a tiny yard, but I managed to grow lots of things in pots, making the most of every available space with trellises and hanging planters.
For more fresh air and exercise I have also been doing a lot of bike riding with Rob on his mobility scooter. He would leave me behind going up hills or into a head wind, so I decided to retire my old bike for a new E-bike. With multiple levels of power assist I can get out more often and go further.
We have enjoyed whole days out, riding around town and along the excellent network of paths through Baldwin Swamp and along the river.
Rob’s 20-year-old scooter finally ended up beyond economical repair. The rest of our holiday savings went to a new scooter with greater range. We have even done a few trips to Elliot Heads and back. With less cargo space, the next addition was a bicycle trailer. Rob modified it to tow with his scooter, complete with tail, break lights and blinkers. Bunnings is a favourite destination.
It is good to see the club back dancing with Covid19 fairly well managed in Australia. I look forward to returning myself but will wait until Rob gets his vaccination.
WHEN OLD FRIENDS MEET
There are moments in time that we treasure
As life goes relentlessly on,
Special moments of nostalgic pleasure
That are here for a while, then gone.
And no matter how much you may travel
There’s a home truth – you never can beat,
It’s the joy, and the heartfelt feeling
You feel – when square dance friends meet.
You’ll smile, as you remember the old days
Those good times, we once used to know.
As we talk about life and the old ways
And to eyes, old and tired, comes a glow.
When someone, says something, unexpected
The memory brings laughter, a treat,
And the bond of old times, grows even richer
Precious moments, when square dance friends meet.
We look back on our worldly achievements
Many things that have just passed away,
But when a real friend has gained our affection
It is there in our heart, and will stay.
Life’s joys come in meaningful measure
No stranger, nor plan can compete,
With that wonderful feeling of oneness
Of hearts, when square dance friends meet.
That’s life, that we gather around us
As our journey goes steadily on,
Those times and those friends that have bound us
Remembrance of times, long gone.
From the mists of the past, come loved ones,
Some haunting, some sad and some sweet
But oh – how they bring us together
In affection – when square dance friends meet.
There’s a programme unique to us all
Where stories of square dancing times hold sway
Where life’s laughter, tears and square dance tales
Come alive, as they all have their say.
Nowhere else in the world that we live in
Is there a fraternity that enjoys such a treat
As the family, of square dancing people
For it’s here, that old friends meet.
