YVONNE HAMSON
Nearly 18 years ago (1990) a lovely bubbly lady called Yvonne Hamson started the Apache Line Dancers, with classes on both Southside and Northside of Brisbane. A fully qualified judge and a very experienced teacher with a very energetic personality that she took to all her classes, events and competitions.
Not long after learning line dancing with Yvonne, Yvonne formed a formation team of over 25 dancers, where we competed with winning results and travelled far and wide doing competitions and demonstrations. Every Sunday the dancers would meet and practice, not wanting to miss a Sunday, to make sure Yvonne’s dreams came true.
Our trips away were thoroughly enjoyed by not only us, but by the many people that we met along the way, and however we travelled by road or train didn’t stop us from line dancing. We would dance on the side of roads waiting for traffic controllers to clear the way and dance on train platforms waiting for passengers to come and go. Even with warnings by railway staff that if another line dancer got off the train we will leave you there, still that didn’t deter us, we kept on line dancing. So many memories, so many fantastic times did we all have, that every outing was a party.
Yvonne’s love of line dancing always showed and she gave us more than 100% at any time. Not only did she coach the formation team but others in duo’s and small teams with also winning results which I was a part of. We were so very proud of Yvonne and I know that she was proud of us.
Quite often Yvonne would hand me a dance sheet to learn a dance, just in case I was needed to teach it, and as this became very regular, I knew that her illness was serious. The day that Yvonne offered me her club, is something that I will never forget and never expected to have. Through Yvonnes’ guidance, leadership and love of line dancing has helped made the club as successful today as what is was back then.
Eventhough the club’s competitive days are over, we still do demonstrations and travel the countryside attending socials and workshops, and we still have dancers with me who started with Yvonne all those years ago.
Yvonne has now retired to South Australia coping very well with her illness with the help and strength of her partner Merv. Not wanting to be defeated in anything she does her bubbly personality keeps shining through.

Thank you for taking the time to share my story.

Regards,
Carol.
Continued….

The APACHE LINE DANCERS is a registered business operated by Carol . The club has 4 classes a week at Albany Creek, Caboolture, and Deception Bay, Sandgate covering beginners to advanced levels.

(2003) Our most recent shot of fame came when most of our dancers performed in the arena spectacular in Brisbane of THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER . After the show was taken around Australia the producers of the show found Brisbane audiences and performers to be the best and we had another bite of the cherry and performed again a few months later to more packed audiences.

(2007) The 3rd BRISBANE BOOTSCOOTERS BALL, which is a very successful yearly event and supported by dancers and teachers travelling long distances, with limited numbers of 200. Next Ball is 26th July, 2008.

(2008) Our 4th, 100 DANCE SOCIAL was another highly successful event (2 a year) which was attended by dancers and teachers also travelling long distances. Over 170 dancers were on the floor enjoying a mixed split floor of old and new dances. Next 100 is Sunday 26th October, 2008.