Bush Music Club's 32nd Subscription Ball, Maitland Town Hall
6.30 for 7pm, Saturday 25th August 2012

By Bill Propert
Posted Tuesday, May 1, 2012

The Bush Music Club holds its Colonial-style Subscription Ball in August each year. For many years this has been held in Maitland Town Hall, in part because there is a dedicated band of Newcastle dancers who have willingly taken on the organisational role, and partly because the Maitland Town Hall has one of the best sprung dance floors in the country.

The musical line up for the Ball has, for many years, been the Coalbrook Band who have handled the large diversity in musical styles with great accomplishment. Again this year we will enjoy the musical talents of the entire Strutt family (Helen & Greg, Jennifer & Catherine) plus the combined fiddle expertise of Bob McInnes and Chris Duncan. A little touch of Irish, a solid base of Scottish, Colonial expertise to burn, some Scandinavian influences, 17th English - and who knows what other surprises may be in store for us?

The provisional list of dances for this year's ball is: Back to Back Hornpipe, Cadwyn Catrin (Catherine's Chain), Clawdd Offa (Offa's Dyke), Clare Lancers (figs. 1, 2, 4, 5), Colonials Quadrille, Eightsome Reel, Federation Waltz, The First Set, La Gursa, Merry Widow Waltz, Nibs Goes West, Pam Gainsford's Delight, Pas d'Espagne, Petronella, Pride of Erin (progressive), Prince Imperial Quadrille, Queen's Jig, Trip to Bavaria, Turning By Threes, Well Hall.

 

Some of these dances can't really be learned from written instructions so we encourage you to attend at least one practice. Not only will you learn some of the subtleties of the various dances, but these days are also a lot of fun. Make a day of it, bring your lunch and enjoy the company of your fellow Ball attendees in a relaxed atmosphere.

 

Dates & venues for practices:

Sunday, 5 August, 10am - 4 pm
East Gosford Progress Hall, cnr. Henry Parry Drive & Wells Street, East Gosford - Cost: $8
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Sunday, 12 August, 10am - 4 pm
All Saints Parish Hall, Cnr Cromwell & Oxford Streets, New Lambton (Newcastle) - Cost: $8
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Sunday, 19 August, 10am - 4pm
Scout Hall, Park Avenue, Concord - Cost: $8 (Don Richmond 9642 7950).
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Mondays in August, 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm
Pennant Hills Community Centre, Yarrara Road, Pennant Hills - Cost: $7
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Sunday, 26th August 2012 - 11.00 am to 4.00 pm, Heritage Shed, Speers Point Park. BYO Chair & drinks., Adult $10.00, children $5.00

BBQ/picnic including use of the Heritage Hall at Speers Point Park for some dancing (as much as tired feet might allow). There will be plenty of food and good company. Speers Point Park is on the north-western tip of Lake Macquarie and has wonderful views of the Lake, a quiet, safe setting with play areas for the kids, and with the hall booked plenty of room undercover in case we have inclement weather. It is also only 15 minutes from the Toronto entry to the Freeway meaning you would have about an hours' journey to the outskirts of Sydney for your return trip.
 

Regular $60 / Non-Dancers $50
Early bird (payment received on or before the date of the first practice) $50
Student concession $35

Sunday - Catered BBQ picnic $10

For catering purposes all tickets should be pre-booked.

Cheques should be made payable to "Hunter Folk Dancers" - post to Bill Propert, 26 Croft Rd, Eleebana NSW 2282. Direct deposits to "Hunter Folk Dancers", BSB 650000 Account No. 813041205. Make sure you put your name in the "Reference" (or similar) field so we know who the payment is from.
 

• [1, 2] Best Western Endeavour East Maitland. http://endeavour.bestwestern.com.au/
• [1, 2] Old George & Dragon Guesthouse, East Maitland. http://www.oldgeorgedragonguesthouse.com.au/
• [1] Old Maitland Inn (but not old!), Rutherford (W of Maitland). http://www.oldmaitlandinn.com.au/
• [2] Molly Morgan Motor Inn East Maitland. Convenient to Newcastle Airport bus link. http://www.mollymorganmi.com.au/
• [2] Red Lion Inn (B&B), East Maitland. http://www.redlioninn.com.au/

[1] Recommended in previous years
[2] Short taxi trip to Maitland Town Hall

• Airport One Shuttle Service - pickups by arrangement. http://www.airportoneshuttle.com.au/
• Hunter Valley Buses – Timetables and Maps. Route 145 Newcastle Airport to Green Hills (& E Maitland). http://www.cdcbus.com.au/Hunter-Valley-Buses.html
• Newcastle Airport - direct flights from Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane and connections to Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Darwin, etc. http://www.newcastleairport.com.au/page421/Airlines.aspx