Brownlie recognised for aviation efforts Swing dancing not for faint- hearted
It’s not quite the hokeycokey but there was certainly a bit of ‘‘ shake it all about’’ when Faye Lougher went to learn how to swing dance.
Bruce Brownlie’s efforts to develop an air ambulance service, Feilding’s airfield and run Palmerston North’s rescue helicopter have been recognised in the New Year honours list.
The Feilding resident has received a Queen’s Service Medal today for services to aviation and health.
Mr Brownlie is a director of Air Manawatu Ltd and president of the Feilding Aerodrome.
As chief pilot of Air Manawatu, in partnership with the Philips Search and Rescue Trust, Mr Brownlie established a fixed wing air ambulance service for the MidCentral District Health Board.
He has also provided back- up air ambulance services for other district health boards.
Mr Brownlie has been involved in developing national air ambulance standards.
He has been chairman of the Feilding Aerodrome since the early 1980s. Under his watch the airfield has grown from a grass paddock to a 1000- metre sealed runway with lighting. The facility is now home to two aircraft maintenance companies, a flight training school, three flying clubs, a gliding club, and almost 100 aircraft in 30 hangars.
For 12 years he was the base manager for the Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter.
Mr Brownlie sold his family business, TRC Toyota, in April 2010.
His father established the Feilding business in 1946, when it was originally called the Tractor Repair Company, and Mr Brownlie extended TRC Toyota to Levin and Masterton.
Since then Mr Brownlie has developed an overgrown section of land into a park area populated with native trees, shrubs and birdlife. He received a Manawatu District Community Honours Award last year and the Civil Aviation Director’s Recognition Award in 2004. The last time I stepped foot inside a dance studio it was to learn how to dance like John Travolta did in the movie Saturday Night Fever. I wouldn’t say I’ve got two left feet, but let’s put it this way – I wasn’t expecting to turn into Ginger Rogers after one swing dance lesson with the Shirley Wall Dance Academy.
‘‘ Step back, step, one- two- three, one- two- three, and repeat’’ sounds easy enough but I’ve always had a problem translating verbal instructions into fluid movements when it comes to dancing and I didn’t expect that to have changed since I’d last tried.
Ms Wall said she’d organise a partner for me so all I had to do was turn up on the day ready to learn. She didn’t tell me that my dance partner, Michael Onland, was a Ms Wall.
Thankfully for Mr Onland, she got me to try the steps by myself first so he was spared ( well, for a while at least) me landing on his toes or kicking his shins. It’s a shame that didn’t last, because after I reached up to place my hand on his upper arm ( when you’re 5’ 1’’, [ 1.54m] reaching as far as his shoulder would have been – well, a bit of a stretch) and he counted the beat as we kicked off the dance, I’m pretty sure I took that a bit literally and kicked him in the shins. Lucky for him I was wearing sneakers and not pointy- toed shoes.
My first attempt was abysmal. I was supposed to step back with my right foot, step up with my left, then step sideways for two steps with my right foot ( followed by my left, of course – I wasn’t there to learn how to do the splits). Maths was never my strong point so instead of counting the beat one- two- three, I thought that was how many steps I was meant to take, meaning I left my partner behind as I carried on. My steps were also far too big – I know my partner was tall, but even his steps weren’t as big as mine!
OK, second try – step back, step, one- count- two- in- your- head- butdon’t- step- three. Made it! Whoops, my partner is heading off in the other direction without me. Oh, I’m expected to do the reverse to the left as well, then without a break carry on right then left until I’m told to stop? This is obviously a bit trickier than it looks . . .
When the photographer arrives it’s plain to see that my shuffling back and forth isn’t necessarily going to make for a great photo, so Ms Wall tells Mr Onland to throw a twirl or two into the mix. I soon feel like one of those ballerinas you get in jewellery boxes that spin drunkenly around to music. But you know what? It’s a lot of fun and I can’t get the grin off my face. I twirl and twirl and my skirt and petticoat carry on long after I stop. I’m thinking that even if I don’t get to grips with the swing dancing, I can fake it by getting my husband to just twirl me around and around instead!
It looks simple and effortless but I was surprised the next day when my body ached a bit. I’m not a gym junkie by any stretch of the imagination and I’ve been looking for a way to keep fit that is fun as well. I think swing dancing may be perfect for me – you get to wear dresses AND have fun – what more could a girl ask for?