For those amongst us who are my age I ask you to cast your mind back 55 years to 1969 Canungra and the nights of the of the Bullocky’s Barn Dances at the Canungra School of Arts Hall.
Participants were asked to dress in period costumes for the evening.
Back then there were regular Miss Canungra, Miss Beechmont, and Miss Beaudesert Balls on the country circuit. The ladies would dress in their very finest for these large social events.
Back to the theme of the Bullocky’s Dances.
One can see by the photo that the Hall was packed to capacity. If it was a progressive barn dance one was never sure in which direction the next partner was going to come from.
It was not just dancing. During one break, the area was cleared, some frames were set up complete with a small log and the competition was on for the Champion Ladies’ Woodchopper. The chips were really flying. If anyone has the names of the people who won or photos, please let us know.
Another event was a tug-o-war between the staff from Binna Burra Lodge and the O’Reillys gang.
I was Binna Burra and we were losing so I tied the rope to the steps leading up to the stage and band stand. Alas the O’Reilly gang pulled the steps clean away from the stage.
In the photo, near the front, I am the young man on the left of the young lady in the white blouse (yes we were all young once). I only know one other person in the photograph and I do not know who the photographer was for the night.
Don’t forget the supper. The local ladies must have worked for hours to prepare the food for supper. Cake, sandwiches, tea and coffee. After those suppers one did not need breakfast. For some locals it was breakfast, for it early next morning when they got home and it was time to get the cows in for the milking.
Do you have any photographs of the evening?
Please contact the Canungra & District Historical Association at canungrahistoryinc@gmail.com
