Brief history of Square Dance Clubs in Bunbury Western Australia Square dancing in Bunbury Westen Australia cannot be confined to only one club, rather it has been continuous since 1971, but with different callers, club names and management. The earliest documented square dance club was “Circle-C”, which was operated by legendary Western Australian caller Les Johnson and his wife Connie. Les and Connie owned and operated a caravan Park in Busselton in the early 1970s. From Busselton Les and Connie operated clubs at “White Gum Valley” in Perth, “Southern Stars” in Busselton, “Grand Squares” at Margaret River and “Circle-C” in Bunbury. It is known that Circle-C was started in 1971.
In 1976 a rookie caller known as Jeffrey Garbutt transferred to Harvey, (about 50 kms away), attended Circle-C weekly and learnt what he could from Les.
At the time there was three other trainee callers, (1) Brian Thomas from Collie, (2) Noel Dawson (a policeman), (3) George Basset from Bunbury and Jeff.
During 1976 Les and Connie sold their caravan park and moved to Perth to live in a caravan park. Les commuted weekly to Bunbury but soon decided to ask Jeff to take over.
So it was that Jeff took over the club in May 1977. (Refer Squaring Around W.A. 1977-03 page 12)
In about 1975, the Busselton and Margaret River clubs folded. Dancers from both Bunbury and Busselton formed a new club called Surfsiders.
Surfsiders ran monthly Saturday dances to which they would hire callers from Perth.
Surfsiders originally ran in Bunbury, then moved to Busselton sometime in the 1980s Circle-C kept running to November 1978, when Jeff was transferred to Perth. (Closed Wednesday 18 October 1978 – refer page 10 Refer Squaring Around W.A -1978-10).
The dancers at Bunbury kept running, (under the club name “Surfsiders”), to square dancing to records and the occasional visiting caller.
Dennis Gadsby was probably their most frequent guest caller.
Jeff quit square dancing to start a family in 1981, (coming back in 1990) Surfsiders ran successful state conventions in Bunbury in 1980 and 1981.
Augusta square dance club started in October 1980. It originally ran from tapes and records with lots of support from Alan Grogan (Albany), Eric Haythornthwaite (Quairading) and Dennis Gadsby (Perth).
During the 1990s they relocated to the next town North (Margaret River) and renamed to “Augusta Margaret River” club.
Over the years “Augusta Margaret River” club ran a very successful January weekend. Initially using Alan Grogan, then Eric Haythornwaite, then Dennis Gadsby, then Jeff Van Sambeeck.
In the mid-1990s Brendan Jorden transferred into town and became their caller.
Brendan retired in the 2000s and the club closed.
But there is still an annual dance in Cowaramup run by Perth callers Jim Buckingham and Richard Muir.
Manjimup club ran from 1986 to 1989 with Bob Gray as caller.
Bob worked for the state Government and was subject to transfers occasionally.
The club tried to operate again for a short time in 1991 and 1992 when Jeff Garbutt was transferred to town.
It did not last when Jeff moved out. In 1989 a new club started in Donnybrook by former Quairading dancers.
The club moved to Bunbury in about 1990 and became known as “Bunbury Districts”. It ran to tapes and records under the steady custodianship of Coral Davis.
They would occasionally hire les Johnson to run Sunday afternoon dances In 1990 Jeff came back to square dancing and became a caller again.
He was transferred to Bunbury in1993 and re-started Circle-C club in April 1993. (Refer page 20 of Squaring Around W.A 1993-03)
In about March 1996 Ross Henley moved to Bunbury and became the caller at “Bunbury Districts” club.
In 1998 Jeff took over calling at Riversides club in Perth, doing the weekly commute to Perth on Monday nights and running his own club in Bunbury on Wednesday nights.
In 1999 Ross formed his own club “Ross’ Sou’ Westers” on Tuesday nights.
For a while we had three clubs in Bunbury each week – Bunbury Districts Mondays, “Ross’ Sou’ Westers” Tuesday and Circle-C Wednesdays.
In about 2001 Ross needed a break – at the same time Jeff also needed a break from Wednesday nights – so Jeff took over Tuesday night and closed his Wednesday Night club.
In 2003 Ross moved to Mandurah and Jeff started a new club named “Jay Gees”. Jay Gees started in September 2003.
The name “Jay Gees” was based on a statement, (attributed to Dick Smith), “if you really believe in your product, put your own name on it”. (So, Jeff Garbutt “Initialized” the club.)
Jay Gees is still dancing in 2025 and hopes to keep square dancing alive in the Bunbury area.
Both Jay Gees and (1990s) Circle C have mostly used the same venue thanks to one of our dancers (Vic Puzey) ties to the church committee.
“Jay Gees” only have one important rule which we all obey:
“Every mistake was caused by the caller. (Even if a dancer actually made the mistake, it was probably caused by an error in their original teaching – ultimately it was the “callers’ fault”)”
Older clubs near Bunbury in the 1950s we are aware of, (but have no specific information of):
Two clubs within 50 kilometres of Bunbury in the 1950s were at Brunswick and Harvey.
But we have no further information on them. Brian Thomas tried to start a club in Collie in 1977 with little success. (Collie was a “coal mining town” about 50 kilometres East of Bunbury).
And now a quick summary of State Conventions that Southwest clubs have been involved with:
1974 State Convention Busselton – Southern Stars and Circle-C
1975 State Convention Busselton – Southern Stars and Circle-C
1980 State Convention Bunbury – Surfsiders
1981 State Convention Bunbury – Surfsiders
1989 State Convention Margaret River – Augusta club
2001 State Convention Margaret River – Margaret River Club
2005 State Convention Albany – Jay Gees and Wongan Hills
2011 State Convention Narrogin – Jay Gees
2014 State Convention Albany – Albany Swingers, SDSWA and Jay Gees
2017 State Convention Bunbury – Jay Gees
2024 State Convention Busselton – Jay Gees, Wongan Hills, Bunbury Districts and Mandurah Dolphins.
It is difficult to come up with a short list of people who have helped square dancing in the Bunbury region. But here goes:
Les and Connie Johnson, Ed Clemons (Circle C, Surfsiders, Jay Gees),
Coral Davis (Bunbury Districts),
Kay Hoare (Circle C, Bunbury Districts).
Margaret Bradbury (Circle C, Surfsiders, Jay Gees),
Keith Craig (Circle C),
Joan and Reg Nielsen (Jay Gees, Bunbury Districts),
Glenys and Noel Ward (Jay Gees, Bunbury Districts),
Vic Puzey (Circle C and Jay Gees).
I am sure I have missed many others. A special mention goes to Coral Davis who has dedicated many years to Bunbury Districts from their start at Donnybrook up until to our current times.
Her support of square dancing has extended beyond Bunbury to Busselton and other nearby towns.
She has also travelled to wherever square dancing has happened in Western Australia.
She has already been recognised by the Square Dance Society with a “Milestone Achievement” award, but it really should have been a “Life membership” award.
Jeffrey Garbutt
