60th anniversary dance celebration
More than one hundred people took to the floor for a celebratory evening of dance marking the 60th anniversary of Horsham’s Hamilton Lamb Memorial Hall.
Descendants of Lt George Hamilton Lamb, MLA, after whom the hall is named, travelled to Horsham from Melbourne to attend the event.
The late Member for Lowan’s son Tony Lamb, who attended with his daughter Emma, spoke about his father while cutting the anniversary cake. He also thanked the Hamilton Lamb Memorial Hall committee for its work.
Ian Ballinger, whose family was involved in building the hall in the 1950s and further renovations in the 1970s, gave the crowd a short history of the project.
Hall committee member Susan Hogan said the night was a great success.
“A happy crowd of about 100 people celebrated and danced the night away to old-time music, interspersed with rock ’n’ roll and line dancing,” she said.
“The band, Key Change, gave the night a real old-time dance ambience and everyone attending got into the ‘dress to impress’ or ‘get out your 1950s gear’ mode to make the night special.”
Gowns from the 1950s and display boards featuring snapshots of the hall’s 60-year history were on show in the foyer and around the hall, paying homage to past committee members and hall users.
Murray Minne emceed the evening while Don Papst introduced the dance program.
Bruce Beattie filmed the night and played a film of past dances on a screen at the front of the stage.
“This created extra interest,” Ms Hogan said.
“Bruce and his wife Susanne were kept busy encouraging the crowd to dance and partake in the different dance styles.
“Many people brought along a plate of supper to share, which ensured a beautiful spread was presented.
“Elsbeth, Michael, Norma and Pam did a great job organising the kitchen. Elsbeth and Michael made the anniversary cake and it was beautifully decorated by James Schwarz.
“Thank you to all who contributed to supper and the clean up after.
“Thanks must also go to all committee members and extra volunteers who helped with the setting up of the hall and the packing up the next day.”
“We hope everyone enjoyed the night and we would be pleased to see you back at the hall dancing some time soon.”
Ms Hogan said it was great to see the hall getting a ‘facelift’ in its 60th year.
“We thank Horsham Rural City Council and their contractors for having the new frontage and sign ready for our celebrations,” she said.
“There are still more renovations to go, but it’s starting to look good for the next 60.” Prize winners: Door prize, Carolyn Owen; hamper, Michael Schneider; other prizes, Annette Mibus, Roy Henwood; costume winners, Alison Mcmillan and Nigel Clutterbuck, Annette Dwyer and Jack Loats, Julie Duperouzel, Wayne Lang, Anne Erskine, Geoff Cooney and Inez Spriggs.