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• • Loralee Hyde: Cooking, eating … and dancing in Pitlochry

    As part of the 2021 Wellington Region Archive Project Celebrating 60 years of dancing, I’ve perused old issues of Harbour City Happenings for stories about our people, events and history. In the May 2000 issue, I came upon an article I wrote about my time living in Scotland and the range of good food I helped to cook (and eat!) Over 1979-1980, I worked as a ‘mother’s help’ for a family in a three-storeyed stone house dating from 1831 called Urrard, on a 2,500 acre estate of farmland and moor in Killiecrankie, a stunning area near Pitlochry in the Central Highlands of Scotland. Urrard on 28 December 1979. Although snow was threatening on Christmas Day, It didn’t snow until Boxing Day. So we didn’t have a white Christmas! On the east bank of the River Garry, a tributary of the River Tay, this was the site of the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689; the opening battle of the first Jacobite Rising in Scotland against the Government. The battle was a victory for the Jacobites, but with huge losses on both sides, including Viscount Dundee who raised the army of Jacobites. Claverhouse’s Stone at Urrard, is said to mark the spot where he died. From my bedroom on the third floor, I looked down the Pass of Killiecrankie—beautiful in the spring with all the different colour greens in the woods, full of reds and oranges in autumn and stark in the winter with the bare limbs of the trees covered in snow and ice. The Pass of Killiecrankie from high up on the Urrard farm in July 1979 – my attire suggests Scotland does have a summer! The autumn colours of the Pass of Killiecrankie from my bedroom window in October 1979 The farm at Urrard was leased to a tenant farmer; Archie and his wife Ruth (a Scottish Country dancer) who had a house at the bottom of the steep drive up to Urrard. A gamekeeper, Alaistair, lived in a cottage on the estate, raising pheasants and ducks for annual shoots. His wife Isobel, who was Cordon Bleu trained, cooked delectable Scottish treats for us including mouth-watering shortbread, scones and oatcakes. Below is a reproduction of my article from Harbour City Happenings about my working life at Urrard, including a recipe for oatcakes. Simple but full of flavour My job revolved around cooking and eating. Perhaps it’s the mind-sapping cold from the winds sweeping in from Siberia or just the age-old recipes that inspire the concentration on good food in that part of the world. A liking that has been transported to New Zealand as so many of us have Celtic blood in our heritage (my connection is to Clan MacMillan) In summer, we had greens from the garden and watched the potato and barley crops growing in the fields. And then had masses of berries—raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries, redcurrants and blackcurrants. Raspberry fool just about every night for dessert! Walking up the moor, gathering rowan berries from the trees to make jelly to go with venison from the estate. Cooking salmon, grouse, woodcocks, pigeons and ducks. Neeps in winter. Toffee and fudge at village fairs. Haggis and black pudding from the butcher in Pitlochry. At Hogmanay, visiting neighbours for black bun. And always, shortbread, shortbread, shortbread; baked three or four times a week and so perfect with a cup of tea. (Yes, I put on weight while I worked in Scotland!). We had shooting parties of twenty-two during the season. The dining table had enough extensions to sit all. All morning, we’d cook soup, casseroles and baked potatoes on the Aga stove to be ready for the shooters after their time on the moor. Cheese, crackers and fruit finished the meal. The dining table at Urrard set for a shooting party lunch in November 1979 Cooking soup on the Aga stove in the kitchen at Urrard in November 1979 Nothing really fancy for the whole time I was there, just simple but flavoursome food. Comfort food to get us through the cold but enjoyable as well to share with friends and neighbours. One of my favourites is oatcakes, lovely with cheese or other toppings. This recipe makes 25. Oatcakes 1 cup fine oatmeal1 cup medium oatmeal1/2 tsp salt1 tsp caster sugar1/2 tsp baking powder60g lard (or equivalent), melted1/2 cup warm water Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Line two oven trays with baking paperCombine oatmeals, baking powder, salt and sugarMake a well in the centre, add lard & waterUsing a flat-bladed knife, mix to a firm doughTurn onto a surface lightly sprinkled with fine oatmeal; press into a flattish squareRoll dough out to 30 x 30cm square (about 3mm thick), sprinkling with extra oatmeal if necessaryCut into rounds or squares. Repeat with leftover dough.Place oatcakes on trays about 5mm apart. Bake for 25 minutes. Allow to cool on trays. Originally published in Harbour City Happenings, Vol 3, No. 2 May 2000 More about my life in Pitlochry…including some dancing The children in the family, aged 10 and 14, were away at boarding school except for holidays, when we did a lot of activities together such as going to the Highland Games in Kinloch Rannoch and Pitlochry and celebrating Christmas. With Mary and Andrew on Christmas Day 1979. I knitted the Fair Isle cardigan from Shetland wool while I lived in Scotland and still have it! After gathering produce from the garden and cooking in the morning, I worked in the family’s Malt Shop in Pitlochry, 6km south of Killiecrankie during the afternoons. The road wound through stunning forest parks. With the sun setting at 2.30pm in the winter, it wasn’t quite as nice driving then. I had my first ever experience of driving in the dark in a snowstorm. Not pleasant. And the steep drive up to Urrard was often very icy. Much care was needed so I didn’t skid off the track into the woods! At the Malt Shop we had a range of over 120 whiskies from distilleries all over Scotland. The small shop was extremely busy over the summer, with tourists (mainly from the USA, Europe and Japan) crowding in to buy their choice of whisky. Ready for work in the Malt Shop in October 1979 Being an off-licence, we were unable to offer tastings. Occasionally at the end of the day, the staff would go to a local hotel and taste a few malts. My favourite was Talisker, a single malt from the Isle of Skye. A staff tour of the Blair Athol Distillery just down the road from the shop gave us a great insight into the malt-making process. The source of water for the whisky is the Allt Dour—in Gaelic ‘the burn of the otter’ which flows through the distillery grounds. The Malt Shop staff tour of Blair Athol Distillery in October 1979 – with Lena, Freddie, Lillian, Rayna and Sheila During my time in Killiecrankie, I wrote long letters back home to my parents and my sister (Karen is also a Scottish Country Dancer and she worked in Pitlochry at the Green Park Hotel in 1977). My mother kept all the letters and they form a wonderful archive of memories. In October 1979, I started dancing with a group in Pitlochry and usually got a lift there with Ruth as she lived nearby. I’d left New Zealand in March 1978, so by October 1979, I hadn’t danced for nearly two years. On 16 October, I wrote home to my parents: I went to Scottish Country Dancing on Thursday for the first time. After all the bad weather when I couldn’t go walking, it was great getting some exercise again. The club is quite small but everybody is very friendly. I haven’t forgotten how to dance! From next month there are regular Saturday night dances in one of the hotels in Pitlochry which will be good to go to. On 24 December 1979, I wrote to Karen: Last Saturday I went to a very good Scottish Country Dance in Scotlands Hotel with a Scottish Country Dance band playing. There was quite a big crowd (about eight sets). People come from miles around including Aberdeen. They don’t have any time between the dances so I got quite rather puffed and hot! Also they don’t brief the dances but luckily most of the dances they do are popular ones. Heading up to the moor with Sheba on New Year’s Day 1980 Urrard is only a few kilometres from Blair Atholl Castle, the seat of the Duke of Atholl. On New Year’s Eve I was invited to a Hogmanay ceilidh in Killiecrankie, put on for the workers from the Atholl Estates. We did some Scottish Country dances at the ceilidh including dancing Duke of Perth three times! I’ll always remember the wondrous sight of the snow-covered hills glistening in the moonlight when we left the hall after Hogmanay. In mid-January 1980, I decided to return to the bright lights of London. On 14 January 1980, my letter home said: On Thursday night I went to dancing for the last time which I was sorry about as I know everybody now and they’re all so friendly. They gave me a lovely pendant from Heathergems made in Pitlochry from varnished heather stems. I didn’t take any photos of dancing in Pitlochry, as in those days I didn’t have a flash on my camera. However, in 1983, Ruth and Archie visited New Zealand and I had a wonderful catch-up with them. With Scottish Country Dancing, we make friends and connections around the world! With Archie and Ruth from Killiecrankie in the Te Awamutu Rose Gardens, Easter 1983 Loralee Hyde5 December 2021... Read more...
  • Celebrating our Members: Tartan & Final Night 2021

    The club’s Tartan and Final Night on Monday 29 November, was a lot of fun for the almost five sets of dancers who could be there on the night. With Rod at the helm, and the music of Airs and Graces, everyone danced their hearts out. Lots of smiles from the members who could be there to celebrate our final night! Good things are possible As with many events these days, it was a celebration of the possible. Due to Covid restrictions, it was not possible to hold our Annual Dance, or our planned Saturday night end of year dance at Ngaio Town Hall. But it was possible to instead shift to Khandallah Town Hall, in our usual Monday slot. We were very fortunate to have this option as a backup, and many thanks go to musicians Lynne Scott, Mary McDonald and Glenice Saunders who held themselves available for whichever date and venue became necessary. Live music adds so much to our Scottish Country Dancing experience, making our toes tap, and our spirits lift. Music from Glenice, Mary and Lynne added to the celebration Rod devised this year’s final night programme as a celebration of Johnsonville’s members, in recognition of their dedication, and their positive response to the many changes and disruptions this year. Members have had to adjust to Khandallah Town Hall as our new club night venue, have bounced back from lockdowns, and also adapted to dancing again at Johnsonville Bowling Club for a period, when that was our only option. And we’re still smiling. The programme Dances on the programme included some from our original shared Annual Dance with Capital City, recognising the work of tutors Rod and Jeanette in putting the programme together, and teaching the dances to members of both clubs. (City of Wisteria was definitely one that we all worked very hard on learning.) The full-length programme planned for a final night at Ngaio Town Hall on the Saturday, was necessarily shortened to accommodate dancing instead on Monday night at Khandallah Town Hall. We retained the theme of Celebrating our Members, with six of the easier dances written for members on the final Monday programme (the first five devised by Rod): Allison Kay (Allison is the current club treasurer)The Durian Rant (for our Singaporean & Malaysian members – Prisilla Conroy, Moira Broughton, Nancy Tay, and now also Isabelle Joseph)John Markham’s Rant (John is a current committee member, and one of only four members who’ve been dancing at Johnsonville since the 1980s)Jeanette’s Hornpipe (Jeanette Watson is a Johnsonville member and relief tutor, and Capital City club tutor)The Kitchen Faerie (Elizabeth Ngan is the club’s long-standing supper co-ordinator) At the End of the Rainbow (Loralee Hyde is a former club president, and current webmaster and photographer) devised by Iain Boyd, no link available. Having fun while dancing the circles in The Durian Rant The extras We can dance with just an MC, a programme, and music. But all the extras really do make a difference, especially when they’re tartan! Members were up and down ladders, the club’s tartan bunting was tacked up and (in a last-minute flash of inspiration) suspended from the balcony, and a Saltire and Lions Rampant made a colourful backdrop for the band. Tartan rugs and programme posters decorated the walls, and swinging kilts and flying sashes, cheerful tartan ribbons, and plaid shirts and skirts enlivened the dance floor. Amongst them was the tartan ribbon that once belonged to Isla Norris, and is now worn by Mandy Clark, a lovely reminder of times and people past. Our tartan tablecloths added that extra bit of celebratory colour at supper time, when we enjoyed our first shared supper since lockdown. The hall was buzzing, and the chance to socialise over good food, and a cup of tea meant supper became quite extended … and Den O’ Mains was dropped from the programme. Presentations The end of the year is when we formally thank Rod as tutor, for all the hard work he puts in. Kristin as President, presented him with a card signed by club members, in appreciation of all he’s done to keep us dancing despite the year’s many difficulties. On behalf of the Tuesday afternoon dancing group, Maureen presented the club with a box of Favourites chocolates in thanks for the loan of a Johnsonville Club coomber. As she said, this has saved the group from having to buy one of their own. Thanks to all The club continues to run smoothly due to the efforts of all our members, and final night was no exception. Thanks to the set-up crew who swooped in to deck out the hall, set up the seating etc, to the supper team who were back in action, and to the pack-up team who returned the hall to order at the end of the night. Much appreciated. Thanks also to the many visitors from other clubs who made the night more special, and nice to have Shelley from Hamilton as a repeat visitor. It was a good night to finish what really was a good year, despite disruptions. And so ended our first year of dancing at Khandallah Town Hall. Click on the gallery below to see all of Loralee’s photos Click on the links below to watch Pat Reesby’s videos Allison Kay Jeanette’s HornpipeThe Durian RantThe Kitchen FaerieMonymusk Kristin Downey2 December 2021... Read more...
  • Tartan Tablecloths: Five plus One

    Having shared the story of the club’s tartan bunting, I feel honour bound to also tell the tale of the club’s tartan tablecloths. Our tartan tablecloths form an appealing backdrop to Johnsonville’s delectable suppers – here at the 2018 October Tartan Night. Photo: John Patterson The Five Originals The club’s collection of five cheery, red tartan tablecloths has been around much longer than the tartan bunting. Honorary Life Members Isla and Eric Norris (and their daughter Gaye) presented the tablecloths to the club as a donation in 1988, and they have been part of hospitality at club events ever since. Eric and Isla had a long history with the club, first being recorded as members in 1968, and retiring from dancing in their 90s – their last recorded membership at Johnsonville was in 2003. For at least 20 years, Isla and Eric also served tea to club members at supper time.  Club minutes from 21 June 1988 are full of decision making for celebrations of Johnsonville Club’s 25th Anniversary as a community group. (Previously dancers were part of the St Columba Presbyterian church Friendship Club). In amongst confirming Peter Elmes as musician for the Special Club Night celebration on 27 June, and realising there would be no cake (!) as the club’s cake baker was going overseas, the minutes record: Isla Norris has made up a set of table covers for use at dances, and she and Eric are presenting them to the club for its 25th Anniversary. A letter of thanks to be sent. A correction at the next committee meeting on 26 July clarifies that: The tablecloths were from all three Norrises, including Gaye. The tablecloths would have made many an appearance in that year of celebration in 1988 – at the  (cake-less) Special Club Night on 27 June, the Annual Dance on 9 July, the Special S-themed Party Night on 3 October, and then the Final Night on 9 November. Isla and Eric’s wish that the tablecloths be used at dances has been fulfilled many times over since 1988. As the photos below show, the tablecloths create a colourful and cheery presence at Tartan Nights, Annual Dances, Summer Ceilidhs, Midwinter Dinners and special events such as the club’s 50 Golden Years Celebration in 2016. Kristin’s 50th in 2006 at a Johnsonville Club Night. Photo: Loralee Hyde (who also made the cake!) Fruit salad in the ‘jewel bowls’ at the 2012 Annual Dance, with Elizabeth Ngan busy laying out the supper in the background. Photo: John Patterson Laying out supper at the 2015 Johnsonville Annual Dance. Photo: Loralee Hyde The tartan tablecloths add to the ‘brightness’ at the Club’s Bright Midwinter’s Night dinner in 2016. Photo: Loralee Hyde Setting up the tartan bunting above the supper tables covered with tartan tablecloths at the Johnsonville 50 Golden Years Celebration in 2016. Photo: John Patterson Tartan tablecloths on display at Johnsonville’s Dance Around the World dinner in 2019. Photo: John Patterson Supper Co-ordinator Elizabeth Ngan laying out the supper at the 2019 Johnsonville/Capital City Annual Dance. Photo: Loralee Hyde The last supper we had at Johnsonville School Hall at the 2019 Tartan & Final Night. Photo: Loralee Hyde Plus One More More recently another tablecloth has joined the collection. In 2016, her first year with the club as a new dancer, Liz Hands donated a blue and green tartan tablecloth, bringing numbers up to six – perfect for Midwinter Dinners. Originally bought for family dining at a refectory size table, Liz no longer had use for it when she downsized. Aileen giving the ‘Address to a Haggis’ (with the haggis displayed on the sixth tartan cloth!) at the 2021 Johnsonville Summer Ceilidh. Photo: Désirée Patterson Kristin Downey25 November 2021... Read more...
  • The Tale of the Tartan Bunting

    In 2013, the club’s tartan bunting joined the club’s tartan tablecloths in being indispensable to any club occasion. The bunting transforms any hall from drab to festive, bringing colour and excitement to our events, photos, and videos. Club members and guests enjoy the dance Texas Progressive Threesome at our 2020 summer ceilidh at the Johnsonville Bowling Club, with the bright tartan bunting to the fore! How did the bunting come to be? The first bunting bee 2013 was a bumper year for new dancers at Johnsonville, and it was also the club’s turn to organise the New Dancers’ Celebration. The bunting was the brainchild of new dancers Debbie Cooper and Lee Fraser, as a way to decorate Newlands Centennial Hall for that occasion, and for the club to use into the future. Debbie took the lead, collecting unwanted tartan or plain fabric from club members, some of us scoured the op-shops for more, and Pete’s Emporium supplied the rest. The call was put out for pinking shears and volunteers, and many club members answered the call. Pat Reesby held an open house, where people could come and wield the pinking shears to cut out triangular pennants, ready for the sewing team. Her diary from that time lists members Jean Denne, Joan Clayton, Kristin Downey  and Shirley Kalogeropoulos as potential pinkers. Joan was also on the sewing team, together with new dancers Allison Kay, Deborah Shuker, Shelley Hancock, and Debbie and Lee. The bunting bee took place at Ngaio Tennis Club rooms, where Debbie and Lee were members. Deborah S remembers an ‘evening at Ngaio Tennis Club rooms (with) two machines at least and cutters, pinners and material guiders to the machinists’. Members of the Johnsonville ‘bunting bee’ group who made the lovely club bunting in 2013 – Debbie, Deborah, Lee, Joan and Allison. Photo: Pat Reesby The bunting is launched On the afternoon of 19 October 2013, club members met to decorate Newlands Centennial Hall for the New Dancers’ Celebration. There were pot plants, tartan rugs, saltires, and tartan tablecloths on the supper tables, but the star of the show was the new tartan bunting. The hall looked fantastic, and a great night was had by all. You can see the bunting in close-up at the start of Pat Reesby’s video of The Illabo Rant, as well as the happy crowd. The bunting along the walls at the 2013 New Dancers’ Celebration. Debbie, Lee and Shelley who helped at the bunting bee, are dancing in the top set We ended up with an unexpectedly large turnout on the night, as we agreed to host the medal presentation for juniors, with family members in attendance. From then on the bunting became a standard feature of club events, next appearing at Kristin and Rod’s house for the club’s first ever Summer Ceilidh in February 2014. At Johnsonville Club’s first summer ceilidh on 1 February 2014, John Markham gave a humorous recitation of the The Lion and Albert, with the bunting on display behind him. The bunting made every Tartan night at Johnsonville School hall a special night, and added enormously to the atmosphere of every Annual Dance from 2014 onwards – see Pat’s video of The Robertson Rant from our 2014 Annual dance. Volunteers setting-up the bunting at the 2019 Johnsonville & Capital City Shared Annual Dance at Ngaio Town Hall More bunting is needed … Fast forward to 2016, and the club’s celebration of 50 Golden Years of association with the worldwide network of RSCDS dancers. Karori Recreation Centre was chosen to accommodate what we hoped would be a big crowd of dancers, and the space was HUGE. So of course, we needed more bunting! Club secretary John Munro rallied club members to the cause, beginning with the club newsletter of 12 April 2016: ‘Step forward for the Bunting bee. We’re aiming to have a full complement of tartan bunting ready to decorate the hall for our 50th anniversary dance in August. Didn’t it look great on Tartan Night!’ The next week he confirmed that: ‘The Queen Bee is summoning the workers for Thurs 19 May and/or Sat 21 May. On these days the ‘bunting co-ordinator’ Janet McFadden has Open House between 10am and 4pm for bunting construction. Prior donations of tartan/plaid/plain coloured fabric are extremely welcome.’ Then on 18 May: ‘Bring pinking shears if you have them and beaver away with a cheerful group. All participants will be members of the Illustrious Order of the Bunting Bee, which has been dignified with a fine dance devised by Rod Downey.’ Ready for 50 Golden Years And finally on 25 May John reported: ‘Now we are well supplied with extra bunting to decorate Karori Recreation Centre for our big dance on 20 August. Many thanks to: Janet McFadden, Deborah Shuker, Liz Hands, Joan Clayton, Moira Scott, Prisilla Conroy, Kristin Downey.’ And so a generous expanse of bunting adorned our ‘big dance’, with around 150 dancers, a 5-piece band led by Peter Elmes, five pipers and a drummer from the City of Wellington Pipe Band, and a demonstration set from Newtown Juniors. What a spectacle it was, and how perfect to be surrounded by our tartan bunting. The Club bunting made by volunteers from our membership formed a fine connection to our Scottish heritage at the Johnsonville 50 Golden Years celebration in 2016 Kristin Downey18 November 2021 All photos by Loralee Hyde except where stated. Note: The club also holds a small string of beautifully sewn and finished tartan bunting, donated by Lieschen Bayvel in 2016. As John Munro wrote: It will be perfect to grace our midwinter dinner and our 50th celebration dinner. Lieschen Bayvel is a friend of Janet McFadden, both members of a longstanding quilting group. When Lieschen heard that Janet was looking to borrow pinking shears for the bunting bee, she went a whole lot better and donated some bunting already made up. As you can see, her name is not very Scottish, but her recently deceased husband was Scottish and she thought it would be appropriate to donate the bunting to our Scottish Country Dancing club. Thank you Lieschen.... Read more...
• • 2021 Club Service Awards

    To members in recognition of service This year at the AGM the committee was pleased to recognise the work that often flies under the radar – that of hall setup and pack-up. Most often, service awards go to those who hold a formal position in the club, or perform a service which is highly visible in some way. This year, the committee chose to recognise the service of three members who fly under the radar. None of these members holds a formal committee position, but each of them makes a regular and ongoing contribution to the club, with no fuss, no bother, no expectation of recognition, and a great attitude of service to our club community. This year the committee took pleasure in recognising the contributions of the following club members, who have made substantial and ongoing commitments to the set-up and pack-up of the hall, before and after club nights. Lizzie at the back right starts hall pack-up near the end of a club night in October 2021 while very experienced members enjoy dancing Peter Elmes’ Strathspey Tomoko Burden Tomoko has been with the club since 2013, when she and husband Charles, came along to the club’s beginners’ classes. For many years now, Tomoko has been part of the team of people who stays till the end of every club night, to help pack up the hall – first at Johnsonville School Hall, then Johnsonville Bowling Club, and now at Khandallah Town Hall. This is not a formally appointed team, it’s not rostered, it’s made up of people who see the need and step in. From 2017-2019 there were also formally rostered teams of volunteers to cover pack-up (when Rod and I were overseas for extended periods), and Tomoko’s name was always on the list. Tomoko works quietly in the background, always looking out for what needs doing, helping out when she can, ensuring there are plenty of hands to share the work of packing up. Thank you Tomoko, your practical support for the club over many years is very much appreciated. Wendy Donald Wendy already had a long history as a Scottish Country dancer when she joined the club in 2019. She was so keen to dance with us, that she joined in the fun at the Summer Ceilidh before the dancing year started. Wendy is one of the dancers who has danced at three different club venues since she joined, and has always been an early bird, arriving before dancing begins. Soon after joining us in 2019 for her first year at Johnsonville School hall, Wendy was asking what she could do to help with hall set-up, and so she began. With the move to Johnsonville Bowling Club, helping with set-up translated into a lot of furniture moving! Wendy (working with fellow early-bird Robert Vale), moved countless chairs and tables on and off the dance floor during our 2020 year of dancing at the Bowling Club, and again this year when we returned there to dance during Level 2. Wendy has continued to arrive early and help with hall set-up at Khandallah Town Hall, doing whatever needs doing, working alongside committee members who also arrive early. Thank you Wendy, the willing work you put in makes a big difference, and we appreciate it. Lizzie Tan Lizzie is the most recent club member to be recognised this year, joining the club following beginners’ classes at the Bowling Club in 2020. She is an enthusiastic dancer, and has joined fully in the life of the club from the beginning, attending classes, and bringing her husband PK along to social events. Despite all the interruptions to dancing over the last two years, Lizzie has kept on coming back, and from early on has stayed to watch the more experienced dancers in the latter part of the night. Seeing the need, Lizzie became part of the furniture-moving crew at the Bowling Club, starting to pack up while the very experienced enjoyed the final dance of the night. She has continued helping with pack-up at Khandallah Town Hall, staying till the very end to help carry out bags to the car, before heading home herself. While Lizzie is not the member who travels the farthest to be with us, she does have a fair distance to drive home to Porirua – more so since we moved from Johnsonville to Khandallah. But she still stays on till the end, bringing her enthusiasm to the task. Thank you Lizzie. Photos: Loralee Hyde... Read more...
  • A Night of Halloween Spirit 2021

    Another fine night we made for ourselves, at our first Halloween/Samhain celebration at Khandallah Town Hall. It was wonderful to see the hall full of dancers, with more than four sets of members, plus past member Pat Reesby, who can never resist the opportunity to dance Ferla Mor. Members really entered into the spirit of Halloween with many a witch and cloak to be seen, black and pumpkin-coloured outfits galore, cobweb adornments, creative goodie-bag costumes and Anne Mackenzie came resplendent in a fantastic tartan, winged outfit, complete with half-face paint. Our revellers certainly entered into the spirit of Halloween/Samhain! The dancing was also spirited, and a laugh a minute. Thanks to our devilish MC Rod, for giving us such a good time, despite that ‘Australian accent’ we blamed for any confusion we may (or may not) have experienced! My lips are sealed. Rod the ‘devil’ dancing the ‘dishwasher progression’ in The Kitchen Faerie We started with two of Rod’s dances—The Kitchen Faerie, written for our supper co-ordinator Elizabeth Ngan, followed by a revised version of Maggie Boag’s Jig, written as a farewell gift for Maggie as she leaves us to return to Scotland. The Kitchen Faerie, Elizabeth Ngan! Maggie at the right dancing Maggie Boag’s Jig Then it was on to old favourites, Slytherin’ House, and The Scottish Werewolf, with the challenge of The Fairy Dance sandwiched between. The Devil’s Quandary kept us on our toes, and we finished with Ferla Mor and its ghostly music. Thanks to those who stepped in and helped put up Halloween decorations, especially Anne Mackenzie—our beautifully costumed ladder woman who was first on the scene. On one side we had our ‘Welcome to Halloween’ banner, and on the other – a skeleton set on high, flanked by spiders, bats, pumpkins and ghouls, with spidery webs all around. A bit of decoration always adds that extra touch to any celebration, definitely worth the effort of putting them up (and then taking them down again – thanks to the packer-uppers). No colourful, festive supper this year due to Covid restrictions, but there were some leftover Halloween trick or treat choccies on offer. View costumes and smiling faces in a selection of fantastic photos from our witchy-photographer Loralee Hyde, and in videos of Rod’s dances The Kitchen Faerie and Maggie Boag’s Jig from roving videographer Pat Reesby. See if you can work out which witch is which. Click on the gallery below to see all of Loralee’s photos PS We’ve also done our bit to spread the word a little wider to the Pilates group departing the hall, that Halloween originated in the Celtic world, not in the US! Kristin Downey3 November 2021... Read more...
  • Sharing the fun of dancing in the community

    Johnsonville Club members are often out and about in the community—sharing the fun and friendship of Scottish Country Dancing. In the past, this has included taking part in demonstrations as part of groups who danced in at retirement homes or in schools, or through current members participating in a variety of community events. The first photos I took of members’ participation in the community was in 1998 when a group of new dancers from that year, including Kristin and Rod Downey’s children, Carlton and Alex, danced in a demonstration at the Newlands Baptist Church. Carlton dancing with Joan and Tamara, with Rod and musician Peter Elmes at the back left corner. Photo: Loralee Hyde Adeline, Alex, Mabel and Margaret dancing at the front of the set. Photo: Loralee Hyde More recently, our archive of historical photos taken by various members, brings back memories of those who used to dance with us at Johnsonville, as well as providing a record of those who dance with us now. When former club member Pat Reesby’s grandchildren were at Ngaio School, a group of dancers from various clubs enjoyed showing the joy of dancing to the students, with some of them joining in! Pat Reesby, Elizabeth Ngan and Désirée Patterson from Johnsonville Club danced with children at Ngaio School in 2014. Photo supplied by Pat. Johnsonville members who took part in a demonstration at Ngaio School in 2016 included Désirée Patterson and Elizabeth Ngan in the centre and Pat Reesby at the right. Photo supplied by Pat. World Rugby Sevens Parades When the World Rugby Sevens teams used to play in Wellington, the associated street parades provided a wonderful opportunity for dancers from around the Wellington Region to support the Scottish team and join in the fun of these popular parades. In the Johnsonville Club newsletter on 12 February 2014, Secretary Pat Reesby wrote: “Jean Denne, John Munro, Désirée Patterson and I all took part in the Sevens parade last Wednesday. We led the Scottish team, and John Patterson took a photo of us with them (see photo below). “Others in the photo are Elaine Lethbridge and Mary and Duncan Macdonald. Iain Boyd is holding the RSCDS Wellington Region banner on the left, and Allan Forsyth (from the Association of Scots Societies) the one on the right.” The group of Region dancers supporting the Scottish team in 2014. Photo: John Patterson Désirée Patterson and former Club Secretary John Munro just behind the drummer in the 2014 World Rugby Sevens parade. Photo: 111 Emergency In 2015, members of Johnsonville, Tawa, Kelburn, and Island Bay Clubs took part in the parade. The 2015 Sevens parade with Todd Foster carrying the flag of Scotland, with Kristin behind the wee chap. Photo: Loralee Hyde At the right: Kristin, Deborah Shuker and Rowena. Photo: Loralee Hyde Johnsonville members in the group of Region dancers in 2015 who paraded in support of the Scottish team,  included Désirée Patterson, Jennifer Timmings, Deborah Shuker, Kristin Downey, Jean Denne and Todd Foster. Photo: John Patterson Through our Johnsonville Club website, we now have easy access to details about our more recent participation in community events. Fun at Newlands Marae: 2015 The club took part in Neighbours’ Day 2015 at the Newlands Marae, Ngā Hau e Whā o Paparārangi, sharing the experience of dancing with audience members. Johnsonville dancers in tartan added to the colour of Neighbours Day 2015, and encouraged audience members to join in in some fun, easy dances. Photo: Pat Reesby See more about Neighbours’ Day 2015 A visit to Karori Brownies: 2018 A further community event involving children was a visit to Karori Brownies in 2018. It all came about when the Brownie leader spotted a Johnsonville Club Beginners’ Poster in a shop window in Karori and got in touch with us. Rod teaching The Kingston Flyer to the Brownies. Photo: Pat Reesby Find out more about our visit to Karori Brownies Pipes in the Park: 2021 Held in brilliant Wellington weather at Waitangi Park in February, Pipes in the Park was a day of piping, highland dancing, Irish dancing, clan and food stalls – and of course some Scottish Country Dancing. Scottish Country Dancing at Pipes in the Park 2021 with Johnsonville member and tutor Jeanette Watson at the left. Photo: Maddy Schafer Let’s look forward to more fun and laughter of dancing at community events in the future! Loralee Hyde27 October 2021... Read more...
  • Return to Khandallah: October 2021

    Four sets of Johnsonville dancers and some most welcome guests from other clubs enjoyed dancing at Khandallah Town Hall on 18 October; the first time our club venue was available for dancing since New Zealand moved to Covid Level 4 restrictions on 19 August. It was serendipitous the club had arranged for live music on this date from Aileen Logie, Jason Morris and Hilary Ferral! Having them on the stage set the scene for a wonderful evening of dancing. Dancing Maxwell’s Rant to music from Jason, Aileen and Hilary The first part of Rod’s programme focused on reels of three on opposite side and reels of three on own side in dances including Maxwell’s Rant, Balquidder Strathspey and one he devised called The Lass and the Laird (influenced by Jack McConachie’s dance The Laird and the Lass) from Rod’s collection They Stole My Wife from Me Last Night. We practiced turning corners and partner along with ‘setting as in The Montgomeries’ Rant’ in the strathspey Bridge of Nairn before successfully tackling The Montgomeries’ Rant in reel time. The Montgomeries’ Rant The final dance of the evening was also one of Rod’s—Peter Elmes’ Strathspey which he devised for musician Peter Elmes. This 32 bar strathspey for 3 couples in a 3 couple set, is published in the Wellington Region 60th Anniversary Book. The recommended tune is The Anzac Strathspey by Peter Elmes; Aileen has devised a lovely music set for the dance. Peter Elmes Strathspey Aileen’s music set for Peter Elmes Strathspey Rod had not seen Peter Elmes’ Strathspey danced before. Two sets danced it beautifully to the marvellous music from the band, a fitting finale to this marvellous club night. Click on the gallery below to see all the photos Watch Pat Reesby’s video of The Lass and the Laird Loralee Hyde20 October 2021... Read more...
• • Neighbours’ Day 2015: Fun at Newlands Marae

    In 2014, the club was looking around for a venue for our second summer ceilidh, having grown too large in number to continue dancing at Kristin and Rod’s place (where the first Johnsonville summer ceilidh was held). Amongst many other places I visited, was Newlands Marae, Ngā Hau e Whā o Paparārangi. It turned out not to be suitable for our ceilidh, but a connection had been made. So when it came time for the marae to celebrate Neighbours’ Day, they got in touch to invite us to participate. Ngā Hau e Whā o Paparārangi Neighbours’ Day is all about connections within communities, and across cultural groups, and it seemed like a good thing to be involved in. The theme for 2015 was ‘the young and the elderly’, and at the time we could offer both! Newlands Community Centre helped with organisation, and promoted the event: Mark your calendars now for Neighbours Day 2015. This year Newlands Community Centre and Ngā Hau e Wha o Paparārangi (NHEWOP) are organising a neighbourly event for our community on Saturday 28 March, 1 – 4pm at NHEWOP marae. There will be activities and entertainment for young and old including Scottish Country dancing, kapa haka, face painting, bouncy castles, sports activities, hāngī and much much more! Come along and meet your neighbours and have fun! The plan was for the pōwhiri to take place at 1pm, and for us to dance outside on the grass at 2pm. However, the rain changed all that, and we danced inside instead, which was a little cramped but it made for a cosy atmosphere. Around two sets of Johnsonville members came along, ranging from longstanding dancers to some of our new dancers (Sarah and Josh), who’d only been dancing for a month or two. We starting with a demonstration of The Robertson Rant (video from the club’s 2014 Annual Dance), and the ever-popular The De’il Amang the Tailors (video from Wellington’s 2016-2017 Hogmanay, with plenty of Johnsonville members and past members). The day was all about sharing the experience with the community, so we moved on to some easy dances that everyone could enjoy – our very newest dancers and audience members alike. The Kingston Flyer (video from the 2013 New Dancers’ Celebration, organised by Johnsonville), and Rod’s dance Room One both made for a lot of laughter (as in this video from Johnsonville’s 2015 Bright Midwinter’s Night). Pat Reesby, who was club secretary at the time, wrote in the club newsletter of 1 April 2015: “Last Saturday at the marae in Ladbrooke Grove was great fun. We demonstrated The Robertson Rant and De’il Amang the Tailors and then encouraged people to join in The Kingston Flyer and Room One. Here are some photos (thanks to John Munro for taking one of them). By the way, the ‘fairy’ is Marie Thomson 1 of the New Players of Newlands, and talking with her reminded me that when I worked for Kapi-Mana News back in the 1980s I used to review their plays and pantomimes.” Click through the arrows at the bottom of the photo gallery below to see the fun we had participating at the Neighbours’ Day celebration in 2015. All photos by Pat Reesby except where stated. So, a good time was had by all. And some of us went home with gifts of plants from the Newlands Community Gardens. The cabbage trees we received are looking good, and our white kākā beak is struggling on in the Newlands wind. Kristin Downey7 October 2021 Marie was a fantastically larger than life Newlands personality, who passed away at the end of 2016.[↩]... Read more...
  • Loralee Hyde: Memories of New Dancers’ Celebrations

    Johnsonville dancers at these special events from 2013 Members of Johnsonville Club make the most of opportunities to participate in Wellington Region events, joining other dancers at weekend schools, balls, Hogmanays, New Dancers’ Celebrations, demonstrations and classes. The New Dancers’ Celebration is a special event for those who have started dancing in the past two years, with more experienced dancers coming along as support. My perusal of the Region’s publication Harbour City Happenings through the early 2000s didn’t result in finding much about New Dancers’ Celebrations in those years, other than perhaps a paragraph in the President’s Column about the dance coming up or occasionally a programme. Nowadays, Harbour City Happenings is a wonderful source of historical information with contributions from dancers around the Region about events and those who organised them, developed and MC’d the programmes, and provided the music for us to dance to. Armed with a better camera from 2013, I have a selection of photos from New Dancers’ Celebrations I’ve attended since then. At other times, various Johnsonville dancers have added their photos to the collection. As part of the Johnsonville 50 Golden Years Celebration, the club developed a website in 2016. Since then we have developed a fine historical record of many Region events, both through articles and photos contributed by members. Taken together, the available articles in Harbour City Happenings and on our website, and our photographic records provide a valuable snapshot of the fun and friendship we’ve had at New Dancers’ Celebrations. Click on the year below to find out about the New Dancers’ Celebration for that year. 20132014201520162017201820192020 2013 Johnsonville Club hosted the New Dancers’ Celebration on 19 October 2013 at the Newlands Centennial Hall. In the Johnsonville Club newsletter on 23 October 2013, Secretary Pat Reesby wrote: “What a wonderful time we had at the New Dancers’ Celebration, with lots of dancers (new and ‘old’) from other clubs. Twelve sets! We had a wonderful band for the night – Lynne Scott, Jean Malcolm and Richard Hardie. Lynne says: ‘I think a lot of people enjoy the sound of the band with the double bass in it. And Richard and Jean are such good musicians! I really enjoy playing with them. Also, I do work quite hard to select and arrange music that suits the shape and formations of the dance, and perhaps that helps underpin the playing. It’s certainly fun!’” Rod Downey as MC with the band of Lynne Scott, Jean Malcolm and Richard Hardie Johnsonville Club bunting was used for the first time at this celebration. Some of our new dancers in 2013 came up with the great idea of the club making its own bunting for when we hold a special dance. They suggested collecting tartan and plain fabric, and then having a ‘bunting bee’ so we’d have bunting ready for this New Dancers Celebration. The bunting along the walls at the 2013 New Dancers’ Celebration. Debbie, Lee and Shelley who helped at the bunting bee, are dancing in the top set Rod devised the strathspey The Bunting Bee in 2014 as a tribute to those who organised the bunting bee in 2013. See more photos of the making of the club’s bunting, its use at various venues and the instructions for the dance The floor was filled with dancers including former Region President Bernice Kelly at the right 2014 Organised by Upper Hutt Club on 11 October 2014 at the Jubilee Centre at Chilton St James School in Lower Hutt, with music from Roaring Jelly – Lynne Scott on the fiddle, Jean Malcolm on the keyboard and Richard Hardie on the double bass. In the Johnsonville Club newsletter on 13 October, President Kristin Downey said: “With approximately 13 sets on the floor, a great night was had by all. Rod was really impressed with how well all our new dancers did on the night, and says they should be very proud of themselves. As new dancers, they stood out on the floor with their independence, resilience and level of accomplishment. The great turnout of 28 Johnsonville dancers made up around a quarter of the sets who enjoyed a splendid night of dancing. Despite some understandable nervousness on the part of our eight newest dancers who were there, everyone was up dancing and mixing and having fun. All that hard work on club nights, and studying videos and crib sheets at home definitely paid off! And our 11 experienced dancers supported our new people wonderfully well. Good news from some of last year’s nine new dancers who attended for their second year, is that they felt much more confident this time around. Instead of constantly worrying about making mistakes they could relax and enjoy the dances they knew well. It’s onwards and upwards from here. All in all, well done team!” Johnsonville dancers dotted throughout the sets on the dance floor include Loralee at the front of the image Photo: Harbour City Happenings Vol 17 No. 3 2014 Deborah, Rowena, Maureen and Peter. Photo: supplied by Rowena Sarah, Judy and Rowena. Photo: supplied by Rowena See more about this celebration from Upper Hutt Club in Harbour City Happenings Volume 17 No. 3 December 2014 2015 Hosted by Linden Club on 17 October 2015 at the Plimmerton School Hall with music from Peter Elmes, Don McKay and Terry Bradshaw. In Harbour City Happenings, Volume 18 No. 3 December 2015, Region President Philippa Pointon said: “Thank you to the Linden Club who did a great job of organising the New Dancers’ Celebration. It was a huge success and very well attended. The Plimmerton School Hall was a great venue—both from a dancing perspective and as a central location for people travelling from Waikanae, the Hutt Valley and Carterton.” In the Johnsonville Club newsletter on 19 October 2015, Secretary Pat Reesby wrote: “A good number (at least 17) from the Johnsonville club attended the New Dancers’ Celebration in Plimmerton.” Don McKay, Peter Elmes and Terry Bradshaw Dancing ‘Reel On‘ See more photos of the 2015 New Dancers’ Celebration 2016 With a yellow and black ‘bee’ theme, this event was hosted by Lower Hutt Club on 15 October 2016 at Knox-St Columba Church Hall, Mc’d by Damon Collin, with music from Roaring Jelly – Lynne Scott, Jean Malcolm and Richard Hardie. In Harbour City Happenings, Volume 19 No. 3 December 2016, Johnsonville President Kristin Downey said: “The New Dancers’ Celebration was a really great night. Fourteen of our more experienced dancers turned out in support of our newer dancers. Only four could be there on the night but they did themselves proud – congratulations to Jacqi, Jen, Liz, and Tao.” Johnsonville dancers in front of the bee-themed stage at the 2016 New Dancers’ Celebration Johnsonville dancers Maureen, Rod, Deborah, Kristin, Prisilla and Tao in view dancing ‘Lonely Sunday’ Read more about this event from Diane Bradshaw in Harbour City Happenings, Volume 19 No. 3 December 2016 See more photos of the 2016 New Dancers’ Celebration (the first year we archived photos of the New Dancers’ Celebration on the Johnsonville website). 2017 onwards… From 2017, we have a full history of New Dancers’ Celebrations through articles and photos on our website. Click the links below to see more about these fun-filled evenings and photos. 2017 Hosted by Ngaio Club at Knox-St Columba Church Hall in Lower Hutt, Mc’d by Melva Waite, with music from Aileen Logie, Don McKay, Terry Bradshaw and Hilary Ferral. See more about the 2017 New Dancers’ Celebration Johnsonville dancers at the 2017 New Dancers’ Celebration See more photos 2018 Hosted by Island Bay (now Capital City) and Kelburn at Knox-St Columba Church Hall in Lower Hutt, Mc’d by Jeanette Watson and Chris Totton, with music from Roaring Jelly – Lynne Scott, Sharlene Penman and Richard Hardie. Read more about the 2018 New Dancers’ Celebration Johnsonville dancers Maureen, Keryn and Deborah in view dancing at the 2018 New Dancers’ Celebration. Photo: John Patterson See more photos 2019 Hosted by Tawa Club at at Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua, Mc’d by Maureen Robson, with music from Aileen Logie, Don McKay, Hilary Ferral and Terry Bradshaw. Find out more about 2019 New Dancers’ Celebration Maureen with the band – Terry Bradshaw, Don McKay, Aileen Logie and Hilary Ferral – at the 2019 New Dancers’ Celebration. Photo: John Patterson See more photos 2020 Hosted by Waikanae Club with a blue butterfly theme at the Paraparaumu Memorial Hall, Mc’d by Romaine Butterfield, with music from Aileen Logie, Hilary Ferral and Jason Morris. See more about the 2020 New Dancers’ Celebration Dancing ‘Fair Enough’ at the 2020 New Dancers’ Celebration: Elizabeth Judge and Rod in the top set at the left, Sandy in the set behind; Mary (facing away), Lizzie and Charles in the top set in the middle, Bruce in the set behind; Maggie in the second set at the right. See more photos Roll on more dancing, fun and friendship at future New Dancers’ Celebrations! Loralee Hyde Loralee Hyde24 September 2021 Photos by Loralee Hyde, except where stated... Read more...