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Being Active in Lutruwita

Folk dancing, bushwalking and activism in Lutruwita/Tasmania

David “Oddsocks” Wanless & Cathleen Hutchinson

AFN Conference, 2026

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Who are we and why are we active in Lutruwita?

Cathy: South Australian born to thoughtful parents who instilled environmental values and respect for our fellow creatures, including human beings of all colours and creed. Both were the youngest in their families and the first to attend university.
I grew up in country South Australia before our family moved to Melbourne, where the love of the outdoors and environment continued, by going on field trips, spotlighting for or (officially) trapping and tagging native animals. There was music at home, with either my father playing guitar or later bagpipes or from our record collection. Both my parents were bushwalkers and dancers.
I discovered Ballroom dancing in my late teens and after travelling, living overseas, then moving to Tasmania/ Lutruwita and having a family of my own, I discovered folk music and dance – and David, there. Although I am a dressmaker by trade, I have a love of and interest in science, social justice and equity, town planning, education, health, cycling, travelling, bushwalking, costuming, folk dance, classical and folk music.
David: Born in Canberra, raised by scientist parents with love, curiosity and care for nature and Scottish Country Dancing. Mother Jenny – green and practical. Father John – outdoor adventurer (bushwalking, climbing, caving, skiing, farming). First trip to Tasmania in 1972 to see Lake Pedder before it was drowned. Moved to Tas/Lutruwita to work for The Wilderness Society, 1992. Still there and doing so. Dancer, caller, choreographer, researcher and organiser in many folk traditions.
Met at bush and Scottish dances in 1992 and have now been running folk dances for 33 years – perhaps 800 so far.

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Activism in Lutruwita p1

Long history of activism:

Aboriginal resistance and activism (including Land Rights, Change the Date/Invasion Day, Land returns)
Natural and built environmental campaigns (creation of many National Parks, opposition to destruction within them, Lake Pedder, Franklin, forests (Picton, Styx, Gunns, Tarkine, Grove of Giants, Mt Tongatabu, Blue Tier, Lonnavale, pulpmills), Spero Wanderer, salmon, cable car)
Social and democratic activism (Hobart Not Highrise, stadium, gay rights, FOI, democratic (including Greens and independents), gun control, anti-fascist)
Many groups (TWS, GRANT, TNPA, Bush Heritage, PMAT, …)

All fighting against a conservative Tasmanian Way and pro-development political duopoly (the Laborials)
Often with national and even international implications – Franklin Dam case rewrote environmental law and practice, bringing Federal government in; gay rights from laggard to leading nationally; birth of Aus Greens�

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Activism in Lutruwita – our involvement

Various of the above campaigns in diverse ways
Rallies, protests, blockade, submissions, organising, admin., governance and policy
David has worked for TWS since 1988 as a volunteer and 1992 as staff, in various roles, ‘though always with IT at the core. Cathy also worked for TWS, has been to and assisted at numerous TWS and other environmental events
Tasmanian campaigns involved in: Lake Pedder, Franklin, Wesley Vale Pulpmill, Picton, Tarkine, Styx, Florentine, Gunns Pulpmill, Lake Malbena, Salmon farming, Spero Wanderer, various forests threatened by clearfell logging, climate action, protecting democracy – integrity, planning, opposing reduction of size of parliament, Aboriginal issues, peace, Palestine, …

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Bushwalking and activism

Tasmania has long been renowned for bushwalking, especially remote and wilderness walking
Dad (John Wanless) influenced me and many others through his exploration and epic exploits – walking, caving and rock climbing
Dad (Colin Hutchinson) came to Tasmania in the late ‘60s to search for Thylacines
Over 40% of Tasmania protected in national parks. Often these were championed by bushwalkers such as Gustav and Kate Weindorfer (Cradle Mountain) and Bob Graham (Douglas Apsley), or bushwalking clubs.
Direct links with environmental activism. Many activists were and are bushwalkers (and cavers, mountaineers, kayakers/rafters) etc.

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Bushwalking and activism p2

Photography of wild places played a key role in many campaigns e.g., Truchanas, Dombrovskis, Blakers, Mead, Dixon, Hawes, … E.g., Lake Pedder, Franklin, Styx Global Rescue station, …
Getting people out into nature is a key part of many campaigns for awareness, inspiration/commitment, demonstrating public interest, citizen science – e.g., TWS bus trips into the Styx, forest open days, citizen science surveys
Our bushwalking: many day and overnight walks (Overland Track, South Coast Track, Frenchman’s Cap, Walls of Jerusalem, Central Plateau/Western Tiers, Freycinet, Douglas Apsley NP)
Our bush activism: Lake Pedder, Cathy- cast of thousands at a Public Meeting in Dallas Brookes Hall, Melbourne, Picton Blockade, Styx campaign incl. Christmas Tree, the maintenance of Pec’s track, Spero Wanderer survey, Tarkine campaign ‘road to nowhere’, Lake Malbena campaign, forest open days and protests in the forests.

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Folk dancing

Long history of folk dancing:
Aboriginal dancing
European dancing from invasion onwards, including Apple Shed dances and Hobart Town Hall balls
Folk revival, bush dances
Our dances - some of our posters, how things have changed over our time.

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Folk dancing and activism

Dancing is active, but did you know it could also be activism?

Education, publicity and fundraising for causes/Thematic/topical dance events

Wilderness Society bush dances (Canberra, DW)

Living Rivers Dance

Dance for Kosovar Refugees (with Xenos)

Dance for Democracy

Buttongrass Balls

Not a Colonial Ball
Recognition of Aboriginal Heritage
Annually since 1998
Different theme each year, mostly environmental

Bush Dance for Forests (with GRANT)

Bush Dance for Peace (with GRANT)

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Activism/social change at our other dances

Acknowledgement of Country

At the start of every dance
Making it fairly strong and meaningful

Paying the rent/Donations to Giving Land Back

Publicity for activist events

Leaflets, announcements

Inclusivity, safety, consent

Take it seriously. Discuss with our core volunteers. Attended workshop with UTas Social Dance Society. Almost no (known) issues in our dance scene over 30 years.

“We acknowledge that we make music and dance on the traditional and cultural lands of the Palawa/Pakana people of Lutruwita (Tasmania), lands to which they remain deeply connected. Theirs is the oldest continuing musical culture on Earth. We acknowledge the impacts of invasion and colonisation and that their lands have never been ceded. We pay respect to their elders past, present and their emerging leaders.”

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Activism/social change at our other dances p2

Gender neutral calling, including Larks (stand on L of ptnr) and Robins (stand on R)

Links with feminism/equality, LGBTIQ+ rights, but also just general inclusion
Finally switched our contra dances in 2020, and gradually the rest of our dances by 2024
Advocates for the same at Cygnet and the NFF, in other dance scenes
Very successful in Hobart and we get lots of good feedback on it. It solves various problems.
Controversial in some other dance groups, where some people insist on “traditional” roles, often without understanding how off-putting and even insulting they are especially to many new dancers and younger people
Dancing has always changed as society changes. If it doesn’t, it withers away.
The Lark and Robin terms come from the USA, but we have our own larks and robins

Australian Bush-lark / Singing Bush Lark

Red-capped Robin

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Folk dancing and a healthy/better society

Dance community - role in a healthy society

Physical exercise & health
Mental well being & health

Connecting with other humans, including touch (Mum’s quote)
Fun and joy
Inspiring live music
Laughter (quote)
Friendships
Sharing food, chatting
Group of volunteers
Breaking down isolation and anxiety

Community

All of the above

Sustainability

Low environmental impact entertainment
Community resilience

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Topical dances

Celebrating our magnificent wild places:

A Tangle of Tree Ferns (David)
Cradle Mountain Contra (Cathy)
Mt Geryon (David)
Walls of Jerusalem (David)
From Bay to Blade (David, Cathy, Sarah)

Promoting/celebrating places under threat:

Keep Kunanyi Wild (David)
Spero Wandering, Wondering (David)

Promoting/celebrating activism and activists:

Stay Wild, Stay Strong (David)
The Goodes Set (Cathy)

Promoting/celebrating causes:

Statement from the Heart (David)
Robins are Always Right (David)
There is no way to peace, peace is the way (Erik Hoffman)
Vote the Bastards Out (David)