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“UPS’N’DOWNERS”
SQUARE DANCE CLUB

Founder: Keith Lethbridge
Caller:            Taffy Jones

Life Members:                   Evelyn & George Kennett
                                      Greg & Gwenda Bridges
                                       Alice Fyfield (Deceased)
                  Taffy Jones
                                         Ian & Sharmaine Dunstan
                                            Keith & Maricor Lethbridge
 
 

The “Ups’n’downers” Square Dance Club was formed in Byford, Western Australia by Keith Lethbridge on the 24th February 1990.

On the first night the club had 34 mainstream dancers and 52 learners. The club danced each Saturday night, other than Easter and Christmas.

The club remained at Byford until Saturday 30th July 1994 when it moved to the Challis Recreational Centre Braemore Street Armadale.

Due to the closure of the Recreational Centre the club relocated to the 1st Armadale Scouts Hall on the 1st December 2001.

The club, since it began, has been a strong supporter of the “Friendly Squares” Square Dance Club of Geraldton and every year members have travelled up to Geraldton for the Easter Square Dance Carnival. The club has also been involved with the Friendly Squares in the running of the “Badgingarra Bash”..  The Geraldton dancers would travel down, while the Perth dancers would travel north and meet at Badgingarra for a Saturday night Square Dance.

Once a year on the Sunday of the Foundation day weekend, club members gather at the Mardella Hall, which is located half way between Mundijong and Serpentine, for a casserole tea and of course dancing.

During October/November  each year the club books the  old loggers camp at Wellington Mills where we spend the weekend dancing,  bushwalking and generally relaxing away from the hubbub of city living.

Every year since 1995 the club has chosen a  Charity to support, we started with the Fred Hollows Foundation (’95), Royal Flying Doctor (’96), Cancer Research Foundation (’97), Silver Chain Hospice (98),  Salvation Army (‘99), Assoc for the Blind (’00), MS Society of WA (’01), 1st Armadale Scouts (’02). A total of $12,000.
 
 
 
 
 

Keith and family are at present living in Halls Creek, up in the North West of Western Australia.
Keith is a Project Officer with the State Government.

Keith was transferred  in April 2001 and Taffy was left to run the club, with a lot of help from Alice, Ian and Sharmaine.

On ‘Special” nights such as “Galah” night, Mardella, Wellington Mills, Easter Carnival, our Honorary Members Tom & Chris (Heart & Soul) provide us with live music and entertainment

Because most of our members live in the Gosnells / Thornlie area the club relocated to
the All Saints Anglican Church Hall on the 6th of May 2006