Ipswich in Spring 2019

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TAKE YOUR PARTNERS PLEASE

The dancing style has changed as well with more modern styles added in. “It’s a bit more sophisticated today, I wouldn’t be able to do some of them. But dancing is such a good activity physically and mentally,” Mr Krause said. Mr Krause attributes the success of the dances over the years to the volunteers. “Especially the ones in the kitchen. I have done every job there from sweeping the floor to selling raffle tickets and pouring tea, but I have never cut the cakes, the ladies wouldn’t let me, they said I would eat too many.” While there have been changes over the years it has stayed the same, just enough to keep the regulars coming. Where else can you go on a Saturday night to listen to a live band, watch and partake in beautiful dancing and enjoy bottomless cups of tea, sandwiches and cakes for $13? Subscribe free to Ipswich First news alerts at Ipswichfirst.com.au/subscribe

The music mixes with the sounds of polished dance shoes sliding across wood floors. The resin box is in the corner and a team of volunteers are in the side room busily making sandwiches and cutting cakes. It is 7.30 pm on a Saturday night at the Marburg Dance and the first bracket has been introduced by the MC. “Good evening ladies and gentlemen, take your partners please for the Marburg Waltz.” The band is a local favourite and sounds of the fiddle can be heard just like it would attended the dance for the first time when he was a child and his parents were on the P&C Committee. He started regularly from the 1950s until four boys and 4.00 am milkings on his dairy farm kept him busy for a couple of decades. “It used to be a lot more local crowd, but now people travel from all over to attend.” have been over 100 years ago. Robert Krause, 83, from Marburg

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