Past Johnsonville club secretary, Pat Reesby, has pieced together some of the club’s early history, and it would seem:

• The club began as a branch of St Columba’s Church Friendship Club, dancing in then Sunday School hall, Haumia St, Raroa
• There were 10 foundation members – all women
• The first tutor was a Mr McLellan
• St Columba’s and St Aidan’s (now Linden club) groups visited each other monthly, prior to becoming separate clubs
• Jenny Gubbins (now Chisholm) tutored in the early 1960s, followed by Garry King in 1967
• Glenys Mills, during her time as secretary, was responsible for the club becoming associated with the RSCDS
• Glenys went on to become club tutor in 1968, continuing for many years
• The club’s first formal dance was held in 1968 – 130 dancers attended
• In 1970 the club moved to Johnsonville school hall, where we still dance today.

Originally published in Kiwi News Volume 21 No. 1 April 2016

See some of our early documents below