"The
Not So Square" Australian
Caller & Ex-Journalist
"The
Not So Square" Australian
Caller & Ex-Journalist
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"If ever an Australian film producer
decides to turn out a colossal, scintillating, technicolor, musical extravaganza
of the struggling bright boy soars to fame variety, he has an ideal subject
on tap, guaranteed to produce a tear in the eye, a pang of joy in the
heart and rhythm in the feet – ace Melbourne square-dance caller
Jim Vickers-Willis."
Then followed the real life drama. Having survived flying Spitfires in World War 2, Jim was at the epicentre of the brief but spectacular 1950's Australia's Square Dancing boom - an entertainment boom that had the whole of Australia tapping its feet, the story of which is gradually being lost over time. At that time, Jim was one of the highest paid entertainers in Australia, calling for thousands of dancers, night after night in Melbourne's largest Ballrooms, beamed by radio into homes throughout the nation - ironically, despite acute stage fright. Then, "POW!" At the height of his entertainment fame, aged 36, Jim contracted a life threatening virus - polio. As he lay in an iron-lung life support system, gasping for his life, Jim's career as one of Australia's premier entertainers was over - and simultaneously Australia's square dancing BOOM died. Doctors gave Jim little hope of ever escaping the iron-lung,
and a short life expectancy. But Jim's 'fight back' to confound medical
opinion, to go on to live a long, productive, and influential life - despite
post-polio paralysis - is an amazing and inspiring story of human resilience,
with strong parallels to that of America's 'Superman', Christopher Reeve.
More information on The Jim Vickers-Willis Story is available in the four sections of this site: FOOTPRINT tells the story of Jim's life and, in so doing, uncovers clues on how you too can positively conquer your own life difficulties. Historical newspaper and magazine clippings illustrate the very public highs and lows of Jims life. The AUSTRALIAN SQUARE DANCING section chronicles the 1950s Australian square dancing entertainment BOOM!, with a particular focus on Jim's pivotal role in setting it off. It includes square dance teaching resources, so you too can learn to square dance - absolutely FREE. Its easy, and great fun. Get some friends together, and give it a try - you won't be disappointed. Surviving polio had a profound effect on Jim's thinking - and a quality of life evangelist was born. Thousands have since benefited from his information and his great insight and wisdom about relationships, about our ignorance of our own sexuality, and about how to find more happiness and quality in our lives. Jim's information resources are available in the QUALITY OF LIFE section of this site. Finally, Jim's renaissance following polio started with his creation of puppet pantomimes for children. These have been repackaged so todays kids can use his scripts and soundtracks to perform their own puppet shows at home. All materials are available in the OZ HOME PUPPETS section of this site, and these are provided for FREE. Most resources on this site are available free. A few resources are available for a small fee, which helps us support Rotary Internationals ongoing campaign to immunise kids in third world countries from polio - it costs just 66 cents to immunise each child. Or you can usse the Rotary International link at right to make a direct online donation to this campaign. AND NOW? Half a century on, after interviewing hundreds of men and women whilst conducting his 35-year investigative journalist survey into relationship attitudes, writing three books, producing five documentary cassettes and also a revealing DVD on the Australian Nudist Movement, and being Convener of the 'Quality of Life OnLine (QLO)', JIM IS CALLING .............. "Make this world a better place and improve your quality of life by......
Click each underlined topic above to find out more about QLO's clear-cut and brief answers to these important social issues. If you would like to lend your support to any of these QLO objectives, simply Click here to send us your email, and we'll put you on the mailing list and keep you informed on QLO's actions. We trust you enjoy your visit to Jim's site. If you did, please suggest to your family and friends to visit Jim's site. |
Go To FREE Downloads Jim's best selling
book (Pdf) A story about the
great Australian 1950's square dancing BOOM! (Pdf) Perform shows at home
using Jim's original puppet plays (pdf & mp3) Jim's war diaries
- an eye-witness account of WW2 service (Pdf) Jim's fireside chat
for parents & couples (55 minute mp3):
Use
this link to donate on line to
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Contact Us | Privacy
Statement
Home | Footprint
| Australian Square Dancing | Quality
of Life | OZ Home Puppets | SHOP
All materials on this site are Copyright©Vickers-Willis Corporation, 2008
In
July 1953 the popular magazine PEOPLE wrote:
Listen
here to the brief but dramatic live radio broadcast of Jim's 1954 "Come
Back" square dance. 3000 fans welcome a thin & pale Jim as he
is wheelchaired onto stage for the first time since surviving polio. With
dogged determination, an out of breath Jim calls the 'Alabama Jubilee'.
Then he has a surprise for his audience and his family (3 minutes 38 seconds).
