With Seniors Week on from March 11-24, it’s time to celebrate our wonderful local seniors. Would you like to hear their stories in their own words?

Wollongong City Libraries have been interviewing seniors for the Illawarra Stories website where you can download or stream interviews.

Who remembers the Reeves Dancing Studio? Many locals learned to dance there and some met their partners on the dance floor. I recently interviewed Margaret Reeves about her life and memories of ballroom dancing and the studios she ran with her late husband.

Margaret began dancing at 17 years old. She married her dancing partner Ray and they set up a studio, first in Thirroul then Woonona. Their studio was an intrinsic part of the local community and the dances they organised played a central part in the local social calendar. Margaret made many of the beautiful dresses she and her pupils wore and they had lots of fun over the years. Once, a dancer even fell through the floor at Thirroul and landed in Smith’s pharmacy, fortunately unhurt.

Margaret, Ray and their family competed in world championships and taught generations of dancers. Their children and partners, also dance champions, continue to run a Wollongong studio.

Margaret’s book, Back to the Ballroom, was published in 2023 and is available in Wollongong City Libraries collection and Collins Booksellers Thirroul. Listen to Margaret’s interview here.

If you know of local seniors with wonderful stories who would like to be interviewed for Illawarra Stories, contact the team at localhistory@wollongong.nsw.gov.au