A Part of Buderim's History

Social Life During World War 2 (1939-45)
by Joyce Short
September 2011

During World War 2, the Old Time dances every Friday night became the social life of the Mountain.  It was the most successful way to raise funds for the war effort and as well as the dancing, for a time, people also played bridge in the Halls meeting room on those nights.

The success of the dances was due to a group of people who called themselves the Buderim Benefit Committee and who without fail, wet or fine, did all the weekly chores for the dances throughout those years.  From the young pianist and drummer who played gratis, the kitchen workers, the door keeper, the MC, the family who organized and made the suppers, the people who donated food stuffs for the suppers, everyone gave freely of time and goods.  It was a worthy effort and it was a great success.

If you ever meet somebody from those years it’s a pretty sure bet that they will say-“remember those dances, weren’t they great?!”

And how did Buderim celebrate when the news that the war had ended on 15^th August 1945 came through?  Why, a dance that very night of course, and it wasn’t a Friday!  However everyone responded and the hall was full!