THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CALLERS ASSOCIATION Inc.

John V Casey has been a Square Dance Caller since 1977, after joining the Garden City Promenaders and being taught to Square Dance and Call by the late Bill McHardy.

In 1978 I called for Rose City Wranglers in Warwick Queensland after Kevin Rettke (who started the Club) moved away from Town. It was a weekly gig on Monday nights and I travelled the 80kms from Towoomba to do the calling.

During 1979 I eventually convinced Reg Hendy to take over the calling for Rose City Wranglers and I started Track 2 Square Dancing at Highfields, just North of Toowoomba Qld. I completed a 12 weekend Callers School run by the Late Bill McHardy and I attended the National Square Dance Convention at Cloudland, Brisbane. I called at Highfields for 18 months until I started Police training in September 1980. 

I had to move to Brendale in 1981 as there was no vacancy in the Police Service in the Toowoomba area.
In 1985 I started Track 2 Square Dancing again – this time in Albany Creek at the local Community Hall.
In 1986 I also started calling for Pine Rangers at Clontarf Qld, where I shared the Club with Lynette Warrington (now McPherson) until 1988 when Lynette took over full care of that club.

In 1987 I started a Square Dance Class in Kingscliffe NSW. This Track 2 Square Dance Class was on Friday nights and continued until 1995. While travelling across to the Hobart National Convention, on the boat over to Tasmania, all the official callers became ill and I was asked to call for the dancers in what was really rough conditions. I managed to call to the end of the programmed time. In appreciation, I was given a call at the National as a guest caller.

After resigning from the Police Force in 1990 I began my time as a full time Square Dance Caller/Badgemaker. I had started making badges in 1979 and the idea was expanding. I had moved my calling from Albany Creek to our own venue at Sandgate Qld.

In 1991 I started a Track 2 Square Dancing at Palm Beach Qld. This Class started on Friday Mornings after I was contracted to call at Fishermans Wharf on Thursday nights at the Spit at the Gold Coast in support of a Bush Band. This Thursday gig lasted for eighteen months but the Palm Beach Classes continued until 1994.

In 1992 the late Eric Wendell asked me to call for his City 50+ Club at Brisbane City Hall. I called at this Club until I passed the teaching on to Kay Walker in 1998.

In 1992 I also started Track 2 Square Dancing at the Metro Arts Centre in Edward Street Brisbane Qld.
These 2 hour Classes were on different mornings and afternoons and included:
1. Easy Mainstream
2. Dance By Definition Mainstream
3. Easy Plus
4. Dance by Definition Plus
5 Line Dancing
These Classes continued until February 1998 When I received a letter from the State Government advising that I could no longer use the venue at Metro Arts as they needed it for and aboriginal to teach tribal dancing – I was given 2 weeks notice to quit.

From 1991 to 1999 Track 2 Square Dancing Class also had a Mainstream night and a Plus night at Mitchelton Qld.

In 2000 I became the caller for Helensvale Senior Citizens Group and remained with them until 2004 when I moved to Bundaberg Qld.

In 2006 I was again in Logan just south of Brisbane and I called for Southport Meals on Wheels and also Logan City Square Dancers at Crestmead – Both being beginners classes through to Mainstream.

In 2013, after moving to South Australia, I spent 6 months calling for Paddle Steamers Square Dance Group. I also joined the South Australian Callers Association and rejoined the Australian Callers Federation.

In 2014 on Tuesday 22 April I again started teaching the Basics at Victor Harbour Senior Citizens Club. I have called here in Victor until Covid Virus stopped us in March 2020. These Classes are in the Hall at the back of Carrickalinga House 17-19 Torrens Street Victor Harbour.

I became a member of the Queensland Callers Association in 1980 and was Vice President in 1997 – remaining a member until 2009. I was a member of the Australian Callers Federation from 1980 to 2009. I am currently a member of the South Australian Caller Association and the Australian callers federation

I was also Vice President of the Square Dancing Society of Queensland in 1997.

I attended the National Square Dance Conventions in Brisbane 1982, Canberra 1984, Perth 1985, Geelong 1987, Sydney 1988, Hobart 1989, Brisbane 1990, Sydney 1995, Newcastle 1997, Adelaide 1998, Brisbane 1999 and Caloundra 2003. I have been a programmed caller at all attended National Conventions since 1988.

In 1983 I completed a Callerlab Callers School run by Vaughan Parrish from the USA. In 1986 I completed a week long Callers School at Casino NSW – run by Brian Hotchkies. In 1990 I attended a Callerlab Minilab at Coolangatta Qld. In 1991 I completed a week long Callers School at Casino NSW – run by Brian Hotchkies.
I also attended many Queensland Callers Association Classes run by David Smythe between 1993 and 1997.

In 2008 I was awarded the Silver Microphone Award by the Australian Callers Federation for 25 years Square Dance Calling.