Happy Wanderers celebrated their 52nd Birthday so there is a lot to cover on the history of the club. Happy Wanderers Square Dance Club with Red and Blue as their colours commenced at the Brookeades Factory in Morley 5th July 1973.
They were initially called the Brookeades Social Club.
Due to hall charge increases there have been a few changes in venues over the years as follows:
1974 – Bedford Bowling Club in Bedford
1975 – Bayswater Drill Hall in Bayswater
1981 – Bayswater Town Hall in Bayswater
1982 – Bayswater Drill Hall in Bayswater
1987 – Blind Institute Hall in Maylands
1990 – Alma Venville Centre in Maylands
1990 – Mt Lawley Bowling Club in Mt Lawley
1997 to 2023 (approx.) -Maylands Yacht Club in Maylands, St Josephs’ Hall in Maylands, little stints in the RSL hall in Bassendean, Bassendean Senior Citizens Centre, Alf Faulkner Hall in Eden Hill,
2023 – current – we dance at the Cyril Road Hall in High Wycombe.

The Average sets at the club as obviously varied over the years however we have always remained a strong club with an average of up to 8 sets in the 1970’s, 10 sets in the 1980’s, 10 sets in the 1990’s, 6 sets in the 2000’s and up to 4-6 sets in the 2010’s and currently 3-4 sets.

Alan Eades was our first caller in 1973 to 1975 where due to work commitments he had to take step back, so Giulio Massarotto, Bruce Gillett, Les Johnson and Kurt Dinsmore (returned to Alaska) filled in until Kevin Kelly came to fill in for one night only, he is still calling to this day (yes that’s 50 years) .
He always says he must keep coming til he gets it right.

Club Presidents over years haven’t really changed a great deal however Ralf Eades was the first followed by Giulio Massarotto, Sam Dinsmore, Rex Gladding, Rod Dunstan, Steve Page, Paul McCutcheon, Michael Buswell, Alf Robinett, back to Michael Buswell to currently Ian Pendlebury.

Life Members of the club are Rod Dunstan (Dec), Margaret Dunstan (Dec), Roy Schultz (Dec), Alice Schultz (Dec), Kevin Kelly (current caller), Graham Clarke, Michael Buswell (committee member), Alf Robinett, Kaye Robinett (Dec), Joanna Buswell (current Secretary), Ian Pendlebury (current President), Jo-Anne Pendlebury (current reporter).

We introduced a recognition of weeks attended and we have had many achieve 25,50,75,100 weeks over the years and we also have several on 500 weeks which is an amazing commitment to the club.
We also have a few on the 1000 weeks (introduced in 1993) and 1500 weeks.

Our current members who still attend the club in the 1000 club is Joanna Buswell and the 1500 club members are Michael Buswell, Kevin Kelly and 2000 club member is Louis Cohen.

For many years Happy Wanderers hosted the East meets West here in the West.
 The callers included were Kevin Kelly & Steve Turner for the West and Brian Hotchkies & Barry Wonson from the East.
It was always and great weekend of dancing with the best Callers in Australia.

Our club members have been instrumental in helping the Square Dance Society of WA with decorations and being on the committee for many conventions, festivals over the years which we feel proud to be part of.

Happy Wanderers provide our members with many events and social activities throughout the year which we subsidise or fully fund. Some of those events are as follows: Club BBQ, Christmas Lunch, Wanderers Walk with lunch provided, Bus Trip, Men’s Bake Off, Picnic in the Park, Breakfast in Park with food provided, Soup n Bun night with committee making their specialties, Wine & cheese night food and wine provided by the club, Rod Dunstan memorial dance which we provide a scratchy to members on entry (something Rod would do near Father’s Day when he was still with us), welcome back dinner on return of the new year and many more.

We always have many fun themes for the nights to keep them interesting for e.g: punk’ n’ posh, colours, doctor’s ‘n’ nurses, Olympics, St Patricks Day, Op shop night, Birthday night, Oktoberfest, Christmas dance which we always do carols by candlelight, Ice cream supper, Wanderers Cup (special horses made by members), loud tops & socks, plus many more.

We are proud to help others in need through donations from members and the club to a local charity. Some of the charities we have supported over the years have been wheelchairs for kids, Parkinson’s society, Horse riding for the disabled, Father Brian Morrison, Smith Family, Dream Builders, our last was for the local All Abilities Football Club.

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic we are very proud to say we have increased our membership and numbers at our club nights even-though there have been interruptions with lockdowns and restrictions.

Our members are very active in attending many other clubs on a regular basis. This past year 2025 we had 9 members attend a Berlin Christmas combined Function organised for our group which was very unique.
We have had several members compete in the Amateur Callers Event run by Dianella Rangers.
We are proud of those members who won the event on behalf of Happy Wanderers: Kate Rumbold, Teresa Prendergast, Tony Gray, and in 2025 David McMeechan.

We continue to introduce new dancers to the movement by doing beginners classes most years with the last few years being of the younger generation.
There is certainly a lot of information above but when you have been dancing for 52 years that comes with the territory.

Joanna Buswell
 Happy Wanderers Square Dance Club Inc
happywandererssdc@gmail.com

                                                                                                                                               Origional Report