Wongawilli club farewells Gwen Bourke, 'a very elegant dancer'
Cris Terry, the secretary/manager of Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club, pays tribute to longtime member Gwen Bourke, who danced at her last Illawarra Folk Festival at Bulli just a few weeks ago
Gwen Bourke joined Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club in 1988 and was a committee member for most of the over 30 years that she was an active member of the club.
In 1992, Gwen and Sylvia McMullen became joint dance-co-ordinators, and from 2003 Gwen managed all membership procedures.
In 2020, Gwen became club secretary.
For 28 years, Gwen coordinated the display dance group, working closely with musicians, preparing dances and rosters for demonstration outings and running the Friday night practices.
Gwen was a regular caller at the Wednesday night dances and, along with Wongawilli Band, she was caller at many grand balls, with hundreds attending from far and wide at the National Folk Festival, The Albert Hall in Canberra, as well as our own club balls.
Gwen’s time with the club was enhanced with wonderful music, social activities, laughter and enjoying challenging dances.
Gwen was a very elegant dancer and it was always obvious that she loved every minute of it.
Gwen was a very valuable and much-loved member of our club, and it is with great sadness that I inform you of her sudden passing on February 7, 2026.
All who knew her will miss her terribly.
The funeral service for Gwen will be held on Wednesday, February 18 at 10am, at Hansen & Cole, Kembla Grange.
