Moreton Bay Morris edit
Moreton Bay Morris was a group of [Morris Dancers] formed circa 1978 and lasting in various guises untill circa 2003. Their first footup was Australia Day, 1979.
Originally a team of mixed dancers (both men and women in the same set) increased numbers saw the adoption of two seperate teams; a Mens [Cotswald] Side and a Womens [North West] Side. Both teams practiced on the same night in seperate halls or rooms at the same venue but always performed footups (performances) together. In the twilight years Moreton Bay Morris became a mixed side dancing [Border] Dances
The organised positions in the group comprised a Squire (elected from either the Mens or Ladies teams), Foreman (one each from the seperate sides), Bagman (the bookings officer and finances holder) and the Scribe (Archives keeper) Andrew Ivamy. Moreton Bay Morris also had a Fool chosen from amongst the mens team and danced as either a Bettie or Tommy of their own choosing.
At various times especially for the Medievil Fayre Moreton Bay Morris would also dance the May Pole.
Team Colours Red, Gold and Green edit
Men's Colours edit
The men's team has always worn a white shirt and white trousers. Origianly, the men wore rosettes in the team colours with a gold sash awarded when a man became a full member of the side. At the time of Expo 88, the men changed their kit to a more functional (and more traditional) baldrick in the team colours.
For both kits, the men wore bell pads below the knee with the team colours adorning and white handkerchiefs were looped around the bell pad straps when not being used for dance.
The men wore a garland with long ribbons to signafy their 'availability' which was cut off (shortened conciderably) if they married.
Women's Colours edit
The Womens kit went through many changes - Originally, the women wore a white slipon blouse and a blue skirt with floral patterns. When new members joined the womens' team, additional fabric could not be sourced and so the skirt was changed to a cream colour again with a floral pattern.
The a woman became a full member of the team when they could both dance and call a dance. They received a gold colour sash which was narrower than the male version.
At the time of Expo '88 the Ladies changed their kit to a more traditional red dress with a white blouse. The Ladies found this to be unflattering and changed to a more simple red dress with a white blouse underneath.
The women wore a garland with long ribbons to signafy their 'availability' which was cut off (shortened conciderably) if they married.
Border Colours edit
Due to dwindling numbers the two teams merged into one Border side. A tatter shirt was worn over a white shirt or t-shirt with white trousers. A simple top hat was worn with the teams red, gold and green ribbons again either short or long depending on their marrital status.
A simple bell strap was worn below the knee, one each red on the right leg and yellow on the left leg.
Notable Performances edit
The Annual Warana street parade & festival (pre Expo '88)
The annual Spring Hill Fair
At the opening of the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane in front of HRH Prince Philip & HRH Prince Edward.
World Expo 88. At the opening of World Expo 88 in front of HRH Queen Elizabeth II Prime Minister Bob Hawke etc. Weekly performances at the Lincoln Pavillion (tempoary home of the Magna Carta), the British, Australian and Queensland Pavillions as well as as roaming street entertainers.
1992 - the 10th anniversary reunion of the 1982 Commonwealth Games
Every May Day (May the first each year) Morris dancers from South East Queensland gather at the lookout kiosk on Mt Coot-tha to dance the sun up carrying on the traditions originating in English Morris dancing of warding off evil spirits and hoping for a bountiful crop. After dancing for two or so hours, the Morris Dancers venture to the J. C. Slaughter Falls for a bar-b-que breakfast. The location was originally chosen by Moreton Bay Morris and has been adopted by other teams such as Ladie's Pleasure, Rapscallion, Logan Morris, the Sunshine Coasts Wild Mountain Morris and Toowomba's Belswagger Morris.
Traditions observed edit
Despite dancing a number of traditions over the years, Moreton Bay Morris has a number of Party Favourites from a range of traditions including Ring 'o Bells, Vandals of Hammerwich, The Upton Stick Dance, Queens Delight and Jocky to the Fair.
Formation of new sides edit
Members of Moreton Bay Morris came from other sides including Canberra Morris Men and Bonney Green Garters both Canberra sides dancing Cotswold dances with Bonney Green Garters being an all Female side.
After joing Moreton Bay Morris some of the former BGG women formed Ladie's Pleasure while Rapscallion was formed as a companion mens side comprising (usually) the partners of the Ladies Pleasure women. both Ladie's Pleasure and Rapscallion enjoyed many successful years performing in their own right.
On the Sunshine Coast, former members of Moreton Bay Morris formed Wild Mountain Morris predomantly an all female side dancing North West dances.
For approx 9 months circa 1992 an informal group calling itself Antipodian Morris met mainly for social interaction and dance step practice.
In Toowoomba, former members of Morton Bay Morris formed Belswagger Morris which copied Moreton Bay Morris' template of a Mens Cotsold and a Womens North West sides.
A breakaway side formed in the last year of Ladies Pleasure's life called Logan Morris wearing a near identical kit and as with Ladies Pleasure (and Bonney Green Garters' before it) dances the Cotswold tradition.
Some four years after Bellswagger Morris folded a second group formed calling itself Bellswagger Morris.
Other information edit
Moreton Bay Morris and the Queensland Folk Federation banded together to hold a Medievil Fayre some 45 years ago. From this original Fayr held in the grounds of the (name) Friry at Milton a number of recreationist groups formed oversubsequent year eventually taking over the running of the Medievil Faye as well as staging their own.
Timelord2067 (talk) 14:14, 13 June 2008 (UTC)
Maree Pavletich edit
Maree Pavletich (née Sole) has run three New_Zealand_National_Science_Fiction_Conventions; Conscience (1989), KiwiCon (1990) & Oddseycon (2001) with the proceeds of the convention being donated to the following charities: Royal_New_Zealand_Foundation_of_the_Blind - Guide Dogs [1] (1989), Starship Children's Hospital (1990) and The Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand (2001)
Maree has been actively involved in the Science Fiction community for many years and you will laugh and be entertained with her as a fan guest. Reported to be dangerous near Trees and Nuclear Weapons, and able to organise books faster than The Flash.
In 1998, Maree wrote the short story Big Brother[1] for the Book Millennium Nights[2] Campus Press 1-877229-03-2
In 2000, Maree was Condor's Fan Guest of Honour (Fan GoH).
In 2003, Maree married fellow Auckland fan Matthew Pavletich and is now known as Maree Pavletich.
In 2004, Maree was the Ffanz Laureate for her fund-raising and as part of her duties travelled to the Australian_National_Science_Fiction_Convention in Canberra, Australia (Conflux).
In 2006, Maree was elected President of the Stella Nova Science Fiction and Fantasy Club - and still helds that position.
What Maree has to say.
“I do not remember getting into Science Fiction per se, seems like it's always been a part of my life, but I do remember getting into Fandom. Wellington 1982, after a particularly long day at Library School, I was invited to join a group that was meeting at the bistro at the St George Hotel. It was there that I met people like me! Who knew about science fiction and could talk about it for hours! They told me of these things called Conventions...and before I knew where I was I was running one, ConScience '89 and then another KiwiCon '90 and then I did OdysseyCon 2001! I have also been on so many convention committees I have lost count. All of the conventions have raised lots of money for charities such as Royal_Forest_and_Bird_Protection_Society, Starship_Children's_Hospital, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Woman's Refuge, Victim's Support and others. All New Zealand conventions adopt a charity.
I have been on LOTS of committees, have done almost everything in fandom at least once, including Con and club running (current President of Stella Nova Science Fiction and Fantasy Club), writing, acting in Terry Pratchett plays (Nanny Ogg and Princess Keli), filking, modelmaking and costuming.
I am a published author along with other members of SNIPS, the Stella Nova writers group. I believe fans need to get up and CREATE things within fandom. Write that book, paint that picture, run that Con. What can I say? It's a rush."
References edit
Norman Cates edit
Norman Cates has been an active member of New Zealand Science Fiction since 1989. In 2008, Norman was nominated for an Academy Award for his special effects work with Weta Workshops where he has worked in both the prosthetics and digital fields since 1999.
Norman helped to establish the Science Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand (SFFANZ) and the Sir Julius Vogel Awards which are presented at the New Zealand National Science Fiction Convention.
Nominations:
January 7, 2008 - The Visual Effects Society (VES) nominee for the 6th Annual VES Awards. Outstanding Compositing in a Motion Picture THE WATER HORSE: LEGEND OF THE DEEP.[2]