Mary Ronnie

Though born in Scotland, Mary started Scottish Country dancing at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand over 50 years ago.

Mary gained her Teacher’s certificate in 1966, and has taught at many day, weekend and summer schools. In the early years of dancing in New Zealand, Mary was concerned that copyright was being breached in the duplication and circulation of dances.  In 1965 she formed the New Zealand bookshop, and ran it for six years before handing it over to her brother Jim.  On Jim’s sudden death in 2004, Mary again took over until a replacement was appointed.  In 1975 she became the first Record Shop Organiser for the Branch, and held this post for nine years, as well as being Custodian of the New Zealand Branch Memorial Book.

Mary has served on both the Branch Technical Committee and on Branch Council. She was South Island Vice President at various times, and held the position of Branch President from 1973 – 1975. In 1999 Mary was appointed Chairman of the Branch’s Strategic Planning Committee, which was charged with the comprehensive changes required to modernise and streamline the New Zealand Branch Council into the current Management Committee, a structure which has been operating very effectively since 2003. She has also been the organiser of several successful New Zealand Branch Summer Schools.

Awarded Honorary Life Membership of the New Zealand Branch in 2003, there has been more giving than taking in Mary’s membership of the RSCDS.