One may well ask where did it all begin, this flurry of skirts, petticoats and two-toned shoes?

The birthing process of Retro Rockers Tasmania was a slow one, the initial rock’n’roll dance movement beginning at McDonalds, Burnie, when five Launceston musicians sat down to breakfast following the previous night’s gig.

The topic of conversation that morning was the possibility of forming a 50’s and 60’s rock’n’roll dress up band. This idea was mulled over during the following few years before preparations began in earnest.

Songs were learnt, a venue was found, a local Launceston dance teacher was approached to help with the dance instruction, and so the first of a series of rock’n’roll dance nights with the band Magic Carpet Ride was held at the Australian Italian Club, Launceston, in February 2002.

At one of these nights a spot prize for the best rockers on the floor was won by former Victorian’s, Julie and Paul Travers. Discussions followed and plans were put into place to establish rock’n’roll classes with Julie and Paul as dance instructors.
To assist with plans to launch these lessons 17 members of S’Cool House Rock in Maffra, under the leadership of Wendy and Greg Gilbert, were invited to come to Launceston.

On the evening of Saturday 19th October 2002, at the Australian Italian Club, Tasmanians were treated to a taste of rock’n’roll dancing demonstrations such as they had never seen before. After this magical evening there was no shortage of locals registering for the first course of rock’n’roll dance lessons with Julie and Paul.

Following an informal social gathering at the Warratah Hotel / Motel in Hobart on Sunday 27th July 2003, a group of rockers made the decision to establish a social rock’n’roll club. The consensus of this group was that they wanted more than just dance instruction, they wanted a rock’n’roll club with both social and dance instruction components.

The inaugural meeting of 24 foundation members was held at the Australian Italian Club in Launceston on the 31st July 2003, and so it was that the Retro Rockers Tasmania was born. Membership is now 136 and still growing.

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