Our team
contact is:
President/Secretary: Jenny Caldwell
Ph: 04 905 1066
Coach and President: Graham
Lawton
Still “Marching On” after 20 years
The first marching club, Kapiti Grans Leisure Marchers (it was known as then) was formed
in the Kapiti district 20 years ago then split into two teams shortly afterwards and
become known as the Groovy Grans and the Waikanae Joysteppers.
In August (2011) the Waikanae Joysteppers held a 20th reunion and invited ladies who had
marched for either teams. About 40 ladies attended our celebration including our team
members. We also remembered those who were not able to celebrate with us.
We had a lovely morning tea and “tiny cakes” and of course a 20th birthday cake
and Margaret Lawton (a life member and one of the inaugural members of the team) welcomed
everyone. A great morning was had by all.
The present team came in their dress uniform and put on a display. |
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Left: The team at the evening function of the 2010 North Island
Display Day. Sober - Yeah Right! |
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We are very grateful to Pub Charity for assisting us with our costs to attend
the New Zealand Nationals in Dunedin March 2012.
The Happy Team at Taupo - 2010
above: Tauranga North Island Day 2010
The idea of leisure marching on the Kapiti Coast was inspired by an item
on The Holmes Show in 1991 when he interviewed the newly formed Tauranga team.
Proving age was no barrier, a group of over 50’s Kapiti Coast women formed their own
marching team and we called it Kapiti Grans and later became the Waikanae Joysteppers.
Our first march was at the Levin Christmas Parade in December 1991.
The Joysteppers needed a coach and looked for someone with an ex army or Waaf background
to teach them the finer points of marching. With a brass band background and a little time
spent in the Military, Graham Lawton was soon seconded to our team as our Coach. He is
still our Coach some 17 years later.
A poem written by Zel Gibson one of our Marchers at the time says it all about our Coach.
We’re the
friendly Waikanae Joysteppers
No doubt you have
already heard
We march with precision
and care
And always a friendly
word
Our coach you know is
one so rare
He plans our every
routine
With earnest passion
and meticulous flare
He guides with skill
our marching
So Graham please
without any fuss
Do carry on tutoring
all of us.
The criteria of our marching team is to adhere to all the objects and aims in our
Constitution with particular emphasis on the leisure marching MOTTO “Fun,
Fitness and Friendship".
The team in 1992 |
