Nev began his square dancing journey in the early 1960s and has been calling since 1967. He founded his first club, Circle W, in 1969 and has been the long-time caller for Suncoasters Square Dance Club since it was established in 1970. His contributions to square dancing are nationally and internationally recognised, having attended most Australian National Conventions since 1979, countless State Conventions and others in New Zealand and the United States.
Nev has convened multiple National Conventions—Brisbane (1990 & 1999), Buderim (2016), and Morayfield (2025)—and is currently the Chairman of the Australian National Square Dance Conventions Board. He served as Secretary of the Square Dancing Society of Queensland Inc for 20 years and continues as Secretary of the Australian Callers Federation, a role he has held from 1991 until the early 2000’s.
Nev’s calling career includes some notable highlights: he once called from the top of Ayers Rock in 1970 and was the resident caller on Channel 9’s Reg Lindsay’s Country Homestead (1977–1982). He has also represented Australia abroad, calling in every Australian state and territory, in New Zealand, the USA and Canada, and at international conventions such as the 31st US National Convention and two Callerlab Conventions.
A passionate educator, Nev helped design the Square Dance syllabus for Queensland’s Education Department while still a student teacher. His dedication has earned him numerous accolades, including:
Nev is also known for his commitment to environmental conservation. Alongside his wife Bev, he has volunteered for over 40 years monitoring marine turtles at Wreck Rock, earning them the EPA Excellence Award in 2008 for their environmental stewardship.
