GREENFINCH SQUARE DANCE CLUB INC - HISTORY Phil Hartley and Prim Calver started beginners in August 1985 at the Kingsley Hall for a few weeks before moving to the Greenwood Senior High School. At this point they used the name of Western Australian Self Help Group to book the classes. They moved the classes to the YMCA Greenwood Hall, then to the Hamersley Recreation Centre where we are now. Callers were Phil Hartley and Prim Calver. Soon a committee was formed and the names of various birds were placed in a hat,"Greenfinch" was drawn out and adopted as the club name. Phil then retired and Prim took over as the caller and remained until her retirement in 1995 when the club had grown to about forty members. Brendan Jordan became the next caller and he remained for nearly two years before accepting a job posting in Augusta. In 1997. Don Gauci then took over in 1997 as our caller and is still doing a great job with club numbers climbing in excess of 120 members. Greenfinches is a committee run club and has been very successful by it's team effort approach to all club activities including the ongoing quest for new members with beginners classes being held most years. We have always been represented at local conventions by dress sets or banner carriers and also Sydney in 1988, Adelaide in 1992 and Launceston in 1996. Presidents have been Fred Rickard (2yrs-1986/87),Ralph Hall (1yr-1988),Ross Tinley (2yrs-1989/90,and responsible for club incorporation),Fred Reynolds (2yrs 1991/92),David Mills (2yrs-1993/94),Ivan Dawes (2yrs-1995/96),Allan Gunn (2yrs-1997/98), Steve Longwood (4yrs+1999-2003...), Dot Harris ( 2003- 2005) Eddie Deans (2yrs 2005-07) , Julie Longwood (2007 Present.) Life members are Muriel Hall and Shirley McBride (who designed the club badge and banner respectively),George & Joyce Smith, Prim Calver, Fred Reynolds, Ron & Judy Blockey, Wilma Currie, Ivan & Molly Dawes (who are also life members of the society) Don & Margaret Gauci and Stev & Julie Longwood.. Greenfinch Of The Year was established in 1994 and first awarded to Betty Tinley then Ron & Judy Blockey, Ivan & Molly Dawes, Derek Walford, Allan & Edith Gunn, Wilma Currie, Steve & Julie Longwood, Dot & Bill Harris, Alan & Carole Whitfield, Alan & Erla Lewis and Frank & Ena Dougall, Joan Stam, Eddie & Jeni Deans and Faye O'Dwyer. Greenfinches returns in excess of $2000 a year to it's dancers by way of a $20 weekley Jackpot, a Christmas Dinner and various club subsidised outings.Over the years Greenfinches has supported other city and country clubs and has been involved in many outings and weekends away including places like Fairbridge Farm, Bickley Camp, Ern Halliday Camp, Hyden, Badgingarra, Geraldton, Wongan Hills, Bussleton, Margaret River, Northam, York. Pecan Hill and many more. This has been facilitated by club members Ron & Judy Blockey who have used their school buses to provide reliable, friendly and cost saving transport wherever they have been able to help (above and beyond the call of duty) for which we have been very appreciative. Greenfinches has also helped the society with the 2nd Soiree at Kingsway, Opening Square Dance Month in 2001, demos at Malaga, beginners classes at North Perth and various society activities as they come up. In 2003 Trevor Pearson representing Greenfinches was successful in winning the amateur callers competition hosted by the Diannella Rangers Club. 2004 Lionel Cullen representing Greenfinches won the Dancers Choice award then returned in 2008 to win both awards. In 2007 Rodney Dickinson representing Greenfinches won both awards in the amateur callers competition. Information up dated on the 6th May 2009 |