Clogging away the days

A volunteer at Oaklands Park Lodge Residential Care is fast becoming a choreography champion in the dance of clogging.

Robyn Ellis started clogging eight years ago when she joined a friend at a beginners class.

She instantly loved the combination of fitness, mental challenge and social group setting.

Having now been to four National Conventions, Robyn gave herself another challenge to choreograph a dance.

Four years ago a teacher said 60s themed social dance and gave the opportunity to choreograph.
“I wasn’t very good but at least I had a go - I got all the names of the steps wrong,” she said.

Although her first attempt wasn't a winner, her latest choreographed dance has made it onto the National Dance List.

Robyn has stepped up into a teaching role as well, spending hours dedicated to practising her session, teaching it and then joining the more advanced classes on a Friday.

During her paid career Robyn was a graphic designer and she uses those skills to create posters and flyers for her clogging club.

She began volunteering at Oaklands Park Lodge because she remembered the impact some kind hospital volunteers had on her and was open to a similar role supporting people in Residential Care.

Fortunately, Oaklands Park Lodge was also looking for a volunteer with dancing skills, so the role was a perfect fit.

Robyn assists with Happy Hour concerts, often getting called up by the residents to dance, and brings her dancing energy to bingo and other events as well.

“The residents have nicknamed me the dancing queen because I’m always up dancing for them or if they're sitting in a chair I grab their arms and do a bit of a jig and try to get them to feel like they're dancing,” she said.

As part of the social activities program, Robyn also leads a popular stretching group later in the week to encourage movement and physical activity among residents.

“I think I get more out of it than the residents do,” she said.

“It makes my heart full to be here and look after everybody and be able to get to know them all and be able to put a smile on their face, that’s my only aim.”

Robyn’s a busy woman, each week spending two and a half days volunteering at Oaklands Park Lodge, two days clogging, attending two aerobics sessions and making plenty of time for her own garden.

“I didn’t retire to take a break, I retired to do all the things I love doing,” Robyn said.

For more information about volunteering with Southern Cross Care here.