A whirl of activity at Johnsonville

The last three months of 2020 started with the disappointment of cancelling our annual dance, but it’s been all good news since then.

Our shared annual dance with Capital City Club was rescheduled from 22 August to 19 September due to Covid-19, then had to be cancelled when Alert Level 2 remained in force till 21 September. So near and yet so far.

A serendipitous night of fantastic live music on 28 September really restored our spirits.

Regular club musician Aileen Logie was joined by Hilary Ferral (the other half of Cranberry Tarts), plus mathematician and violinist André Nies who happened to be in town on the night. Aileen added to the festivities, bringing along an enormous chocolate birthday cake to share.

Two weeks later Johnsonville members turned out in force for a wonderful night’s dancing at the Wellington Region New Dancers’ Celebration hosted by Waikanae Club. Fourteen of the club’s more experienced dancers did a great job of supporting our ten newer dancers there on the night. Then on the Sunday of Labour Weekend, a crowd of us enjoyed a fun and relaxing afternoon of dancing at the Musicians Tea Dance.

As in past years, the club held a Halloween/Samhain celebration, with Jason Morris joining Aileen and Hilary to bring us more live music. Musicians and club members alike did an amazing job of creative costuming, Rod put together a fun programme of magical dances, and Elizabeth served up a feast of Halloween-themed supper goodies.

Witches, devils and ghoulies celebrate Samhain!

With Spring disappearing fast, we finally managed to hold our twice-postponed Spring Fling dinner and dance, just squeaking into Spring on 18 November. Socialising over mulled wine, fine Indian food from Tulsi in Johnsonville and a themed programme of easy dances kept us all very happy. And it was a pleasure to meet members’ non-dancing family and friends.

Members, family and friends decked out in Spring colours

The club’s last event for the year will be our Tartan and Final night on 14 December at Ngaio Town Hall.

The final piece of good news for the year is that the club has found a new permanent home. Many thanks to Johnsonville Bowling Club for welcoming us to their clubrooms this year, but we are moving to larger premises for our Monday night dancing.

From February 2021, Johnsonville Club will relocate to Khandallah Town Hall.

Kristin Downey
13 December 2020

Originally published in the RSCDS Wellington Region Harbour City Happenings, Volume 23 No. 4, December 2020

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