Gippsland Lakeside Rockers

It is fair to say that if not for the passion of 50’s style Rock ‘n’ Roll dancing in the hearts of Heather Hunter and John Jarman the Lakeside Rockers would not have been born.

Heather and John had attended numerous Rock ‘n’ Roll dances, lessons, workshops, and were often asked to help out with demo’s and promotions. In the local scene in NSW where they lived, they became affectionately known as CJ and the Babe

Early in 1995 the couple moved to Sale and were disappointed to find that nowhere could they participate in their favourite free time activity, which of course was 50’s style Rock ‘n’ Roll dancing.

So in April 1995 they hired the Sale Uniting Church Hall and demonstrated their 50’s Rock ‘n’ Roll dance style to real Rock ‘n’ Roll music. The initial response was so enthusiastic that regular weekly lessons were held with social dancing afterwards.

In August 1995 the group of regular rockers who attended the Rock 'n' Roll lessons and social dances banded together to form a club and all agreed to call this club the Lakeside Rockers. The first stirring’s of a club newsletter titled "Rock ‘n’ Roll News" rolls of the press’s.

Later in August the proposed club logo was going through its finishing touches and already there was talk of T-shirts, banners, promotional material etc.

The idea of the club having its very own Elvis dance met with huge acceptance and our first Elvis Memorial Hop was held on the 19^th August 1995

On September 16^th 1995 the club arranges its first Rock ‘n’ Roll workshop with Werner, all the way from Sydney NSW.

September 1995 also saw the first official club newsletter, complete with the Lakeside Rockers Gippsland logo.

October 1995 saw the appearance of the first club T-shirts and Polo tops with the club logo.<

November 1995 and the club starts doing alternate lessons in the supper room of the much larger Sale Memorial Hall.

The club held its first annual Christmas Hop in December 1995.

January 1996 saw the formation of a club committee, the founding members being:
President: Pat New Vice President: Norm Lyons Secretary: Paula Cloonan Treasurer: Bronwyn Schulz General: Rowen Currie, John Jarman, Tammy Koolan, David Monash, Mark Schulz

February 1996 saw the first of regular monthly Rock ‘n’ Roll dances held of a Saturday night in the supper room of the Sale Memorial Hall with CJ the DJ.

The first annual Valentines Hop was held on February 10^th of 1996.

April 1996 and the Lakeside Rockers Gippsland Inc. officially becomes an incorporated club.

Incorporation No. A0032941R

In April 1996 the first shipment of club Jackets arrived with the three colour embroidered logo on satin, wool or leather combinations. Three colour screen printed T-shirts, and Polo shirts were also in this first shipment.

29^th of April 1996 saw the first lessons being held at Bairnsdale by CJ and The Babe with 68 people attending that evening.

In May 1996 guest instructor, Fred Robertson from the Gold Coast was invited to Sale for a club workshop. This was the marking point for regular workshops with instructors from Queensland, NSW, and Victoria.

The first public Rock ‘n’ Roll demo performed by Lakeside Rockers members was at St Mary’s School Fete on the 19^th May 1996 and was a huge success.

Club membership reaches the 100 mark on the 26^th of June 1996.

The clubs first dance with a live band was the Elvis Memorial Hop with "The Jokers" on the 17^th August 1996. More than 200 Rockers attended.

Our first out of Sale hop was the Halloween Hop held at Bairnsdale on the 2^nd of November 1996, with live band "Stay Tuned".

The 1997, 1998, and 1999 Halloween Hops were also held in Bairnsdale.

29^th of January 1997 and Wednesday night classes exceeded 100 for the first time, when we had special guest instructor Jimmy Ray.

The following Saturday we held a workshop with Jimmy Ray, followed by a Saturday night Rock 'n' Roll dance featuring Jimmy Ray the Dancing DJ.

February 1997 saw the transformation of the clubs DJ CJ, to DJ Dr Rock.
Now affectionately known as DocRock.

Club membership reaches the 200 mark on the 5^th of February 1997.

The Lakeside Rockers first lapel pins arrived in February 1997.

In March 1997 the club moved its monthly social dances to The Sale Bowls Club with the first on March 1^st 1997.

April 1997 and the club celebrates its first birthday with a Birthday Hop of course.

The Jailhouse Rocked when the Lakeside Rockers did a demo at the opening of the new Fulham Correctional Centre in April of 1997.

Twenty-one Lakeside Rockers took off for the first time to the Gold Coast to be involved in the WINTERSUN Festival in Coolangatta in June of 1997.

July 5^th 1997 was the clubs first go at fund raising for charity when it held a "Dance-a-Thon" to raise money for the "Make A Wish Foundation". The club raised $1730.90 for the "Make A Wish Foundation".

August the 6^th 1997 saw the introduction of kid’s lessons.

Club membership reaches the 300 mark on the 24^th September 1997.

April 1998 saw the first colour edition of the club newsletter and our second birthday.

On May 9^th 1998 the Lakeside Rockers hosted the fourth heat of the Victorian Rock ‘n’ Roll Dance Association Championships for the first time.

June 1998 saw the first Rocker Profile in the
club newsletter.

( 1997-98 Club President - Norm Lyons )

In June of 1998 the Lakeside Rockers won the best float in the WINTERSUN parade at Coolangatta when 45 rockers went north to WINTERSUN and decorated a truck, among other things.

August the 15^th 1998 and our Elvis Hound Dog Hop was the first of our annual hops to be used as a fundraiser. $1 from every ticket plus additional moneys raised is donated to a selected charity. The RSPCA was the recipient of the $400 raised for the Elvis Hound Dog Hop in 1998.

September 1998 and the Lakeside Rockers now have their own web site and domain name.

lakesiderockers.asn.au

April 1999 saw the Lakeside Rockers with the help of the local community and businesses stage the first "CRUISE ‘n’ ROCK FESTIVAL" weekend.

The weekend began with a Krooze to Gippsland" dance on Friday night featuring live band ‘ENCORE’.

Saturday morning saw a street parade including 50’s & 60’s bikes and cars.

Followed by dancing in the street including demonstrations from visiting rockers.

Saturday afternoon included a Rock ‘n’ Roll workshop by visiting Gold Coast Instructor Fred Robertson.

The big dance on Saturday night featuring the VRRDA 4^th heat and live band ‘FLASHBACK’

On Sunday there was a Market, sausage sizzle, and more dancing in the street.

Rock Around The Clock Tower Sunday Market

PAST AND PRESENT CLUB PRESIDENTS. Pat New, Norm Lyons, David Monash, John Jarman, Kevin Cocks, Heather Jarman, Mike Richards, Darrell Jarvis, Janet VanDeelen. Rama Gardner-Dickinson
COMMITTEE MEMBERS - PAST AND PRESENT. Pat New, Paula Clooman, Tammy Koolan, David Monash, Joc Monash, Rowan Currie, Kath McKimm, Mark Shulz, Bronwyn Shulz, John Jarman, Heather Jarman, Norm Lyons, Bryan Cummings, Darrell Jarvis, Mike Richards, Janet VanDeelen, Kevin Cocks, Peter Cutts, Wade Domagala, Libby Collins, Lisa MacDonald, Sharyn DeWinter, Iain MacLachlan, Garry Hoffard, Michael Gibney, Helen Hopkinsons, Brian Peerless, Trish Cronin, Robyn Bourke, Glenn Crawford, Les Meddings, Ray Vaughan, Mark Camp,Neville McHarry, Val Wright, Jan Potter, Greg Salmond, Robyn Hirst.Aleysha DeWinter, Ian Potter Andrew Camp, Linda Penny