Fun, fitness & friendship!
Former Johnsonville Club member Jean Denne passed away on 9 April 2024 at the age of 83.
She was a club member from 2004-2015, joining the same year as Prisilla and a year after Elizabeth Ngan.
Jean, Prisilla and Elizabeth preparing supper at the 2014 Johnsonville Annual Dance. Photo: John Patterson
Jean was a keen dancer, enjoying tartan nights, annual dances, summer ceilidhs and mid-winter dinners.
John, Pat, Rod, Prisilla, Jean and Désirée dancing at the 2013 Johnsonville Annual Dance
Jean enjoying dancing on the deck with Allison at Johnsonville’s first Summer Ceilidh in 2014 Photo: Pat Reesby
Jean and Sono at Johnsonville’s Bright Mid-Winter Night in 2016. Photo Loralee Hyde
Joan, Jean, Sono and Janet enjoying dinner at the Bright Mid-Winter Night in 2016. Photo Loralee Hyde
Jean in the front row fourth from the right with the Johnsonville contingent at the 2015 Wellington Region New Dancers’ Celebration. Photo: Loralee Hyde
Jean also gave a great deal to the club, serving as a committee member, and on the supper team for many years alongside both Elizabeth and Prisilla.
Jean and Elizabeth at the 2013 Wellington Region Hogmanay. Photo: Pat Reesby
Jean could always be relied upon to do whatever was needed that others might not think to do (like cleaning the bathrooms in preparation for the annual dance).
Jean helping to prepare supper at the 2015 Johnsonville Annual Dance. Photo: John Patterson
We have missed her smiling face and willing work at club in the years since she stopped dancing.
Jean was farewelled by family in a private service.
Kristin Downey18 April 2024 [...]
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Johnsonville’s first Tartan Night of 2024 on 15 April was a great success. No need for more than a brief report, as the smiling faces in Loralee’s photos say it all:
A great programme from our tutor and MC Rod
Wonderful music from the band—Aileen Logie, Hilary Ferral and Jason Morris
A great turnout of members and visitors, six sets in all
Colourful tartan all around us—on the dance floor and the walls
A spirit of bonhomie and good will, with experienced dancers supporting newer members
A fine supper supplied by members, and served by our dedicated supper team.
Smiles and laughter while dancing Lady C Bruce’s Reel at the first Tartan Night of 2024! Photo: Loralee Hyde
This first Tartan Night of the year is such a nice way of introducing new dancers to the fun of a social night dancing to a full band. It was fantastic to see six of Johnsonville’s beginners having a great time on this special night, as well as one total beginner and a beginner from Capital City.
To me, tartan colours and the swirl of kilts and sashes on the dance floor add hugely to the atmosphere, and I really appreciate the effort put in by club members to dress in tartan, whether it be trad or a bit of fun.
For Christine and Maura, it was the first outing for kilt skirts from the club’s second-hand collection. Trinity and Jason wore their Malcolm family tartans—Trinity in her grandmother’s kilt skirt and Jason in his wedding vest.
Then there was Catherine in her plaid culotte-shorts, and Colin wearing a Tam O’Shanter and an ingenious St Andrew’s cross of carpet tape on his blue t-shirt.
Thanks to Rod, the band, members and visitors, the supper team and all those who helped with setup and packup. It was a great night, and we can look forward to having just as good a time at our next Tartan Night at club on Monday 17 June.
Enjoy Loralee’s photos of the night showing all the smiles on the dance floor in the gallery below.
Kristin Downey17 April 2024
Download the April 2024 Tartan Night Programme [...]
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I was saddened to learn of Bronwyn Maysmor’s death on 19 January 2024 at the age of 77 years. Following my move to Lower Hutt from Hamilton in 1983, I joined Lower Hutt Scottish Country Dance Club where I met Bronwyn who lived in Eastbourne at that time. She quickly involved me in social activities with other club members.
My abiding memory of Bronwyn is her love of colour—in gardens, her clothes and her dancing shoes (usually a shade of blue or mauve).
1990: Bronwyn (note her purply-blue shoes!), Carol and Elizabeth at the Wellington Easter Weekend School at Newlands College
Bronwyn (together with Ian) took part in many Scottish Country Dancing events in the Wellington Region including Balls, Hogmanays and New Dancers’ Celebrations. Often, she dressed in fabulous costumes to fit the theme of the event.
Like Bronwyn, I love colour, including shades of blue and purple. I enjoyed visiting various gardens with her to admire the colourful flowers in bloom.
1984: Loralee with Bronwyn on a tour of Eastbourne gardens
Bronwyn contributed many articles to Harbour City Happenings about activities at her club and produced a Tribute (with Charlotte Williams) to Norman Whitson, a long-term tutor at Eastbourne Club, and one to Betty Redfearn.
017: Charlotte, Bronwyn and Ian with Norm Whitson at Eastbourne’s 60th Anniversary Photo: Harbour City Happenings March 2017
Three events I enjoyed with Bronwyn stand out in my memory.
The first was a trip to Morison’s Bush in the Wairarapa in 1992 for the weekend of the Martinborough Fair with a number of dancers including Bronwyn and Ian, Elizabeth and Malcolm Ferguson, Iain Boyd, Noeline O’Connor, Kath Burn, Betty Redfearn, Val Jenness, Margaret Hepworth and Beth Duncan.
We appreciated Morison’s Bush for the history of Scottish Country Dancing in New Zealand—for many years, the area was the centre of social life and dances for dancers in Wellington, Wairarapa, and Hawke’s Bay. Morison’s Bush was also the site of the first Scottish Country Dance Ball in New Zealand.
We stayed in a beautiful old homestead at Morison’s Bush near the Ruamāhanga River with the evenings chatting. laughing and barbecuing dinner.
1992: The group of dancers at the old homestead at Morison’s Bush
1992: Peter and Bronwyn barbecuing dinner
Early on the Saturday morning we set off for the Martinborough Fair to make sure we got a nearby park. Activities back at the homestead in the afternoon included volleyball, board games or walking along the river.
1992: Bronwyn, Loralee and Val at Ruamāhanga River near Morison’s Bush
I had the opportunity to see Bronwyn’s superb organisation skills in action when I was on the committee for the Wellington Region Event in 1993, with Bronwyn as organiser.
The Region decided to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the New Zealand Branch in 1993 with a dinner and ceilidh (called the Top Event) in February before the dancing season started.
Alan Burn, the Region President at the time, suggested honouring Wellington Region teachers at the event for their dedicated work. The Region sponsored teachers to attend; although clubs did have the opportunity to sponsor their own tutor if they wished.
Advertisement for the 1993 Top Event from Harbour City Happenings September 1992
The event committee asked those attending to wear a hat of any description to the Top Event held on 27 February 1993 at the James Cabaret (now closed) in Wellington. The evening started with a happy half hour of socialising, mixing and talking about each other’s hats.
1993: Bronwyn wearing her colourful fruit and flower-laden hat welcoming all to the Region Top Event
Dancing at the 1993 Top Event to music from Peter Elmes, John Smith and Merren Simmonds
We welcomed 26 Wellington tutors to the event. The photo below is a great historical record of Scottish Country Dancing in the Region at that time. The teachers in the photo are:
Back row: Iain Boyd, Margaret Laidlaw, Romaine Butterfield, Rita Brennan, Margaret Allison (Bailey), Edith Campbell, Hilda Brodie (Smith), Kath Burn, Maureen Robson, Damon Collin, Dave Macfarlane, Mirth Smallwood, Barbara Gill, Elizabeth Ferguson, Val Jenness, Gary Morris, Marie Malcolm, Alma Secker, Glenys Mills, Noeline O’Connor, Ian Simmonds, Raynor Stratford.
Front row: Betty Redfearn, Norm Whitson, Carol Smith, Annette Zuppicich
Wellington Region Tutors at the1993 Wellington Region Top Event
See more about the Top Event including the wide variety of items performed by dancers from the Region in this article in the 1993 New Zealand Scottish Country Dancer
The third event I well remember is Bronwyn and Ian’s wedding in February 1994 at the Dowse Art Museum in Lower Hutt, followed by a ‘dessert party’. We were each asked to bring a dessert—a simple and enjoyable way of celebrating. There were plenty of ‘oohs and ahhs’ from people as they chose from the wide array of desserts on offer.
1994: Bronwyn and Ian’s wedding at the Dowse Museum. Fiddler John Smith is standing behind the wedding party.
I have enjoyed looking through my albums to find photos of Bronwyn and Ian at events from 1990 onwards. (Prior to that, the quality of my camera wasn’t good enough to take photos of actual dancing).
The last photograph I have of Bronwyn was at the 2019 Wellington Region Hogmanay at Crofton Downs Primary School hall organised by Johnsonville Club.
2019: Wellington Region Hogmanay with Bronwyn at the centre right dancing The Highland Fair – wearing her mauve dancing shoes!
A few months later, the pandemic hit. Sadly, I didn’t have the chance to catch up with Bronwyn again. I will miss seeing her dance in her beautiful mauve shoes.
See more of Loralee’s photos and download if you wish
Loralee Hyde4 March 2024
All photos by Loralee Hyde except where noted [...]
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In 2019, Johnsonville Club member Désirée Patterson gave this great account of New Zealand Branch Summer Schools she had attended, including what is involved during this week of Scottish Country Dancing; the classes, social activities and evening events as well as the fun and friendship.
Last year, I had a wonderful week at the Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland 2022-2023 Summer School, the first get-together for three years due to the pandemic. My highlights included taking part in an innovative Excursions Group during the mornings, designed for non-dancers and those like me who wanted to save their legs for the evening functions.
Katharine Hoskyn from Auckland organised the excursions for the group. She sent us a survey to complete beforehand, asking what we would like to do and see on the excursions—ranging from walks in gardens to visiting the Art Gallery and Museum to having coffee breaks. Going to a café every morning was top of the picks! That’s always an opportunity for more chatting and laughter.
Having an essential coffee with the excursion group after a walk in Hobson Bay – here Loralee is with Betty from Napier. Photo: Katharine Hoskyn
The excursions gave us a chance to get to know people from other parts of New Zealand and Australia. Being awed by the sheer size of two Tyrannosaurus skeletons at the Auckland Museum was just one of our fun-filled activities (yes, we also had coffee at the Museum).
Jeanette from Rotorua and Brenda and Betty from Hawke’s Bay dwarfed by the two T-Rex skeletons at Auckland Museum.
See all my highlights and photos of the Auckland Summer School
For Summer School 2023-2024, it was the turn of the RSCDS New Zealand Branch Nelson/Marlborough Region to host us in Nelson—billed as the place for dancing, sun and friendship!
Catching-up with old friends from around New Zealand and the world (together with making new friends) is one of the highlights of Summer School. On the first night of dancing, the laughter and chatter echoed around the hall.
I wondered what fun we would have during the rest of the Summer School at classes, evening functions and other social activities.
A good number of dancers represented the Wellington Region at Nelson. Plus, Ann Oliver taught the Social Class, Catherine McCutcheon took Advanced and Lynne Scott led the Musicians’ Class. Aileen Logie, Jason Morris, Hilary Ferral and Ian Telfar played in the band. And Elaine Laidlaw briefed Hogmanay.
A Hogwarts themed fancy dress night set the scene for many amazing costumes along with dances fitting the theme and lots of smiles and laughter. I managed to concoct a Hedwig the owl costume entirely from bits and pieces I found at home, with a mask template downloaded from the web.
Loralee dancing Slytherin House as Hedwig. Photo: Tim Cuff, Nelson Creative
Remarkably. I danced Slytherin House partnered by Fluffy, the three-headed dog (with three dancers dancing as one!). The rest of the set was very accommodating, particularly while dancing the Snake Pass.
Fluffy, the three-headed dog (the middle head is Wellingtonian Helen)
The band, dressed up as characters from Hogwarts, (along with many Hedwigs), played spooky, supernatural music to fit the theme at the Hogwarts dance, especially for Slytherin House!
At Hogmanay on New Year’s Eve it was a delight to see Feshiebridge danced. Devised by long-time Wellington Region tutor Gary Morris, this was one of the dances we enjoyed at the special afternoon of Early Wellington Dances held in April 2023 to celebrate the Centenary of the RSCDS.
Wellingtonians were in sets across the floor dancing Feshiebridge with others from across the country and around the world.
Although morning classes cover the serious business of step practice, learning new formations and dancing together as a team, there are plenty of fun-filled moments. I enjoyed three mornings dancing with the Social Class where there was an intense focus on learning as much as possible about the intricacies of dancing and the music.
Concentrating on dancing Black Donald, a jig devised by Derek Haynes, in the Social Class tutored by Ann Oliver with Lynne Scott on the fiddle.
Ann wrote the dances of each day on a board as an aide-mémoire for us. Lo and behold … there were fine artists amongst us who drew cartoons representing each dance on the board! Resulting in lots of laughter and discussion as well as providing visual clues to help us remember the dances.
Our dances on Day Four of the Social Class provided plenty of inspiration for the cartoonists!
Black Donald is a Highland colloquialism for the Devil in Scottish mythology. The defining characteristic of Black Donald is his cloven feet, which betray whatever disguise he assumes. Some may consider the cartoon of Black Donald on the board above, more closely resembles a certain Donald involved in politics in the USA.
Summer School often has afternoon excursions for dancers. One afternoon, we went to Mapua, a lovely village on the coast, where we walked along the wharf in the fresh sea air or had a coffee (of course!). We then could choose between going to Neudorf Vineyards for wine tasting or to Rabbit Island for a stroll along the beach.
My joy of dancing is equalled by my love of our native bush and wildlife. On another afternoon, a group of us went to the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary, a 690-hectare fenced haven for our unique biodiversity.
How relaxing it was to stroll along the tracks through the bush and along the Brook Stream in the fresh air; recuperation for our brains which had worked so hard at classes and evening functions, and for our sore legs. Thanks to Janet from the Summer School Committee who organised this special visit for us (she’s a volunteer at the sanctuary).
Strolling along the tracks of the Brook Waimārama Sanctuary—a quite different activity to Scottish Country Dancing, but still providing the many benefits of fun, fitness and friendship.
Summer School ceilidhs are full of clever, entertaining items ranging from performances from musicians to recitations to singing, along with (sometimes quite wild) dancing! Superbly organised and MC’d by Ruth Budden from Tuakau, the Nelson ceilidh was no different.
Ruth was also the tutor of the Teacher Training Class, but somehow she found the time to teach some other Scottish Country Dancers some Rock and Roll moves. Well done all!
Ruth and Jenn, Su and Ian and Katherine and Andrew show off their fabulous costumes and rocking and rolling skills
Enjoying a rather wild ceilidh dance!
At the ceilidh, a group of Wellingtonians including the 2024-2025 Summer School Organiser Ann Oliver and members of the Committee, danced Catch the Wind devised by Romaine Butterfield to welcome everyone to the next Summer School in Wellington.
This dance ties-in with the catch-cry of the School—You’ll be blown away by a Wellington welcome! To great acclaim from the crowd, the team tried out a number of variations of the dance; all carefully planned of course, and within the spirit of having fun!
Philip, Andrew, Margaret, Ann, Peter, Michele, Lee and Jeanette dancing Catch the Wind with Helen and Loralee ensuring the Wellington Summer School banner wasn’t blown away! Photo: From RSCDS New Zealand Branch video
In a nod to the ‘windy’ theme of the next Summer School in Wellington, the last dance on the Final Night was The Wind That Shakes the Barley. Watch this video from the RSCDS New Zealand Branch to see the joy of the dance. Hear the fabulous music from the band alongside musicians from the Summer School Musicians’ Class led by Lynne Scott! And hear the whoops of joy at the end!
Thanks so much to Doug Mills and Lynda Aitchison and their committee for organising this Summer School in sunny Nelson, and thanks to the tutors, musicians, MCs, gophers, makers of morning teas, drivers, photographers, videographers and others who helped make this such a successful get-together.
I’ve lost count of the number of New Zealand Summer Schools I’ve attended; but all had lots of fun and friendship. I do recommend coming along to the 2024-2025 Wellington Summer School, especially as there’s a commuter option for those who live nearby.
Find out more and register online There’s fun to be had!
See all my photos of Nelson Summer School and download if you wish
At Brook Waimārama Sanctuary
Loralee Hyde29 February 2024
All photos by Loralee Hyde except where noted [...]
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