Dance away the Blues

Kate Strong and Claire Harris. Photo Jackson Madders

Tricia Duffield

A touring line-dancing double act is heading to Bourke, hoping to make their way through the floods and bring some much-needed fun to the community.

Kate Strong and Claire Harris run a charity line dancing project, ‘Hoedowns for Country Towns’, holding community boot scooting classes and raising funds for good causes.

Their hoedown idea came about after they met at a line dancing class four years ago, realised they both had itchy feet and decided to do something different with their lives.

They had big dreams and unshakeable optimism, so they threw in their jobs, bought a camper van, packed their denims and boots, and hit the road.

Claire said they have been travelling around the country now for seven and a half months and have one month to go. They have clocked up almost 50,000 kilometres and they are keen to make it to Bourke, despite the threat of road closures.

“People in the bush have had a pretty hard time the last few years and now with the floods, so we just want to give them something that’s fun and at the same time help out charities that are doing their bit for communities as well,” Claire said.

“Earlier this year, we were contacted by some people in Bourke who said ‘hey, can you come out here?’ and so we’ll be holding a hoedown for the whole community on this coming Monday – November 14.

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