Nev McLachlan began his square dancing journey in the early 1960s and has been calling since 1967. He founded his first club, Circle W, in 1969 and has been the long-time caller for Suncoasters Square Dance Club, established in 1970. His contributions to square dancing are nationally and internationally recognised, having attended most Australian National Conventions since 1974 and countless State Conventions. Nev called at his first National in Brisbane in 1967 as a prize for winning the Queensland amateur callers contest.

Nev has convened multiple National Conventions—Brisbane (1990 & 1999), Buderim (2016), and Morayfield (2025)—and is currently the Chairman of the Australian National Square Dance Conventions Board. His leadership and mentorship have left a lasting legacy in Australian square dancing. He served as Secretary of the Square Dancing Society of Queensland Inc for 20 years and as Secretary of the Australian Callers Federation, a role he has held from 1991until 2020.

Nev’s calling career includes notable highlights: he once called from the top of Ayers Rock in 1970 and was a resident caller on the TV show Reg Lindsay’s Country Homestead (1977–1982). He has also represented Australia abroad, calling in every Australian state and territory, in the USA and Canada, and at international conventions such as the 31st US National Convention in 1982 and two Callerlab Conventions in 1982 and 2011.

Together with his wife Bev, Nev helps run the Sunshine Coast Square Dance Centre, a purpose-built venue dedicated to Squares, Rounds, and Clogging since it’s opening in 1985.

A passionate educator, Nev helped design the Square Dance syllabus for Queensland’s Education Department while still a student teacher. His dedication has earned him numerous accolades, including:

•            Silver Spur Award (1991)

•            Life Membership of the Australian Callers Federation (2000)

•            Life Patron of the Australian National Square Dance Conventions Board (2004)

•            Life Membership of the Square Dance Society of Queensland (2013)

•            Honour Roll of the National Square Dance Society of Australia (2024)

Nev is also known for his commitment to environmental conservation. Alongside his wife Bev, he has volunteered for over 50 years monitoring marine turtles at Wreck Rock, earning them the EPA Excellence Award in 2008 for their environmental stewardship.

 Updated June 2026