Cerberus wardroom getting jiggy with it

Members of Melbourne dance group Scat Pack delight party-goers at the Cerberus Wardroom Summer Ball.

By Hamish Henderson

HMAS Cerberus got into the swing of things at the wardroom’s annual Summer Ball in December with a performance by the Scat Pack, a Melbourne-based 1940’s dance group.

Held on the 51st anniversary of the WWII attack on Pearl Harbour, 170 Defence personnel, partners and guests were treated to a transformed Seamanship School decked-out with camouflage netting, vintage bomber logos and jitterbugging dance floor all to bring back the feel of the era.

The RAN Big Band supplied the hip tunes and while some cut a rug, others were happy to watch the professional dance troupe lindy-hop, charleston and spin their way to rapturous applause.

Twelve months of detailed planning by LCDR David Goble, LEUT Bronwyn Low, and the Army’s Major Mary-Rose Mulvaney and CAPT Chris Reed, saw a night of fun come together.

The Cerberus staff were ably assisted by stewards and the Army School of Catering who trucked down 170 three-course meals from the wardroom to the hall.

The Scat Pack are all members of Melbourne dance school Swing Patrol, who weekly teach over 500 students from beginners to experts. They can be contacted at swing@swingpatrol.com.au.

.