A 65th Birthday Update
February 2017

The Mavericks Square Dance Club was formed in February 1952.  The name of the club has no particular significance  or origin. The caller noted the group was the friendliest bunch he had ever seen and most concerned for the club and each other.

For two years they danced at Gordon Head Hall and then moved to the Lake Hill Community Hall.
PictureJohn and Alice Mooney
John and Alice Mooney were the first caller couple and there were five squares of dancers.  John called until 1957 when he passed away suddenly.
 PictureCam and Jean York
Faced with the problem of obtaining a new caller the club turned to Cam and Jean York, who were among  their newest members. Cam called for the club until 1966 when, due to illness, he had to curtail his heavy workload of square dance activities.
PictureCliff and Mary Anderson
In 1966 the Club moved to the Royal Oak Women's Institute Hall where they now dance on the first and third Friday of the month. Cliff and Mary Anderson then became the caller couple until 1975. The Free Wheelers club (another club Cliff called for) amalgamated with the Mavericks in 1969.
 PictureBob and Cathy Aitken
Bob and Cathy Aitken, who were club members,  became the caller couple in 1975. During the 1979-80 season Bob retired to Campbell River.
PictureDenis and Sharon Kirkpatrick
Denis and Sharon Kirkpatrick then became the club caller couple. Denis called for 25 years. A Great Couple who also called for the Country Cousins, until recently.
 PictureLorne and Barbara Clayton
In September 2004 Lorne and Barbara Clayton became the caller couple and are with us today. Their dedication to the club and Square Dancing is outstanding.  Lorne is also a recording artist with Goldwing Records (California)  and Shindig Productions  (South Africa).
During the years of dancing there have been two awards of the Silver Spur “Sets in Order Foundation Award” to Mavericks members. In November 1958, in honor of all his outstanding efforts and contributions to square dancing, John Mooney was awarded the Silver Spur posthumously. This was only the fifth time the award was presented.

The Silver Spur was again presented to an outstanding Mavericks Couple, Ted and Gladys Sparshatt, in May 1981. It was  the first time the award had been given to anyone other than a caller. It was the 14th Silver Spur Award ever given.  Ted and Gladys were especially friendly and welcoming to new dancers, and for many years they were Editors of the Cross Trail News.

CBC On The Island News Article and Interviews
October 2015

CBC On The Island interview by Michael Tymchuk and introduced by Gregor Craigie with Lorne Clayton and dancers from Sept 18 2015 at the Mavericks Dance.

Click here to listen

Mavericks - The First 60 Years
February 2012

The Mavericks square dance club was formed in February 1952. The name of the club had no particular significance in origin. The caller noted the group was the friendliest bunch he had ever seen and most concerned for the club and each other.

They danced at Gordon Head Hall for two years, and then moved to Lake Head Community Hall.

John and Alice Mooney were the first caller couple, and there were five squares of dancers. John called until 1957 when he suddenly passed away.

Faced with the problem of obtaining a new caller, the club turned to Cam and Jean York, who were among their newest members. Cam called for the club until 1966 when, due to illness, he had to curtail his heavy workload of square dance activities.

In 1966, the Mavericks moved to the Royal Oak Women's Institute Hall where they still dance on the first and third Fridays nights of each month. Cliff and Mary Anderson started calling, and continued until 1975. The Free Wheelers (another club Cliff called for) amalgamated with the Mavericks in 1969.

Bob and Cathy Aitken, who were club members, became the caller couple in 1975. Bob retired to Campbell River in 1980, and Cathy is currently a member of the Frontier Twirlers.
Denis and Sharon Kirkpatrick became the club's caller couple in 1980, continuing for 25 years. Denis and Sharon are currently the Country Cousins' caller couple.

Lorne and Barbara Clayton became the Mavericks' caller douple in September 2004, and continue in that role today. Their dedication to the club and square dancing is outstanding. A New Dancer class is in progress with 26 new dancers.

During the sixty years of dancing, there have been two awards of the Silver Spur "Sets in Order Foundation Award" to Mavericks Members. In November 1958, in honor of all his outstanding efforts and contributions to square dancing, John Mooney was posthumously awarded the Silver Spur: only the fifth time the award was presented.

The Silver Spur was again presented to an outstanding Mavericks couple, Ted and Gladys Sparshatt, in May 1981. It was the first time the award had been given to anyone other than a caller, and it was the fourteenth Silver Spur given. Ted and Gladys were especially friendly and welcoming to new dancers, and for many years they were Editors of the Cross Trail News.
Photo of a copy of a photo taken at the Mavericks 60thPicture
Photo of a copy of a photo taken at the Mavericks 60th.
Please let me know who the photographer is, or if you have a better copy.

Vote for Lorne!

We are so lucky to have such a talented caller.  As you can see below, Lorne has been nominated for an award for BEST GOSPEL SONG and there is a website where we can vote for him – he deserves it!!

                                           [ the voting is closed ]

In 2013, the international callers Association CALLERLAB will sponsor the "Bob Osgood Square Dance Music Awards (OZZIE AWARDS)".   These awards currently recognize the top 5 nominations in 15 Categories for all Recorded Square Dance Music.

Nominated for BEST GOSPEL SONG - "Robe of White" - Lorne Clayton, Goldwing/Fine Tune Records, California

VOTING by the Square Dance Community "at large" is now open.  Winners announced at a gala event at the 2013 Square Dance Convention in Raleigh, North Carolina in March, 2013.  All Square Dancers and Callers may vote on-line at:
[ the voting is closed ] MusicForCallers.com [ the voting is closed ] GoldWing