Knee Deep squares is similar to us having had another child. It's something Chris & I started together, nurtured, gave our love to and watched it grow. It has developed and matured far beyond our wildest expectations. Brought us great joy, great friendships and enormous satisfaction. The greatest satisfaction, of knowing no other club had "Knee Deep" atmosphere - that feeling of warmth and caring, that special hum of friendship as everyone walked in the door.

Although Chris has explained his reasons for deciding to retire, in his usual way of not complaining, he left out a very important point. Just how exhausted he has felt over the past couple of years. I was often amazed at how he could give everyone such a great fun filled night of dancing when I knew how tired he was when he returned home from work and how stressful many of the days had been.

No other caller I know of has done things quite like Chris. He would be one of the few who has worked full time, run one of the biggest Clubs in Australia and supported and raised a young family of 4 children

From memory, Chris has had one "sickie" in our 23 years due to a suspected appendix attack. (I've had about 4 more, but with good little reasons) The only other nights we may have been away were for conventions of square dancing or an interstate or international booking. He always tried to wangle bookings around our second and fourth Friday dances, feeling if we were loyal to our commitments of running Knee Deep Squares our dancers would be loyal to us too.

Chris has not only excelled as a Caller in his teaching, singing and patience, he has always had the attitude that everything had to be for the greater good of square dancing, not just Knee Deep Squares. He has shown this by writing books on not just learning to call, but books he called "Callers' Helper Books" which so many clubs and callers all over Australia use as their "Bible" to run their Clubs. All these books are filled with hundreds of formations for Callers to teach square dancing and then enable them to use the move in a singing call. Not too many professionals give away their trade secrets for the betterment of their activity.

Along the way dancers asked Chris for a tape of his calling for a party or forthcoming BBQ and not being happy with the recording quality of just 'running off a tape', then professionally recorded and produced tapes and more recently CD's for everyone's dancing enjoyment. He receives much praise from record and tape clubs for their clarity and smoothness.

Chris has taught many new callers to call, has been President of the Caller's Association of NSW, Co-Convenor for the 1988 Australian National Square Dance Convention (the biggest convention ever held in Australia with 2500 dancers), is Editor for the NSW Callers' Association Newsletter, Vice Chairman of the Australia Callers Federation, member of Callerlab Mainstream & Plus Committees and written many thought provoking articles for the Square Dance Review. It has been a great thrill to hear dancers come up to Chris and say "It's the first thing I read in the Review each month. You make a lot of sense. We love it!"

Chris has been credited with the commencement of the majority of square dance clubs on the NSW south coast through his caller training, and ex Knee Deep members who retired and thought they'd like to start a club in their new area.

While doing all of these things he has also excelled in his daytime profession and has climbed the corporate ladder to Management level at Sydney Water where once again his peers hold him in great respect.

My love and admiration for Chris is enormous as I know his decision to retire from professional calling is probably one of the most painful things he has had to do. But many years ago we said to one another that if square dancing interfered with our family we would not hesitate to walk away. These are easy words to say, not too many other professionals have had the courage to choose family over their ambitions & dreams. Overwhelming tiredness is a sad state to live in. Due to this overwhelming tiredness choices needed to be made and because of Chris's choice, Katie, Hayley, Benjamin, Michael and I look forward with great joy to a bright, happy future with our great Dad and wonderful Husband.

I'm told by a dear friend "That change is never easy, but it is always for our greater good."