On Wednesday, about 60 carers and family members gathered at Castlemaine Town Hall for tango and high tea.

The free event was hosted by Bendigo Health Carer Support Services and featured a performance by the Castlemaine Argentine Tango Group.

Bendigo Health mental health carer support worker Bec Patterson said it was an opportunity for carers to have respite from their caring role, to meet other carers and to introduce Carer Support Services to new carers.

“The theme was inspired by some research into the effects of dancing on some conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease, but also its effect on everyone’s wellbeing and mental health,” she said.

It was not the group’s first dance function, but one of its most popular.

“We plan to run further social respite functions related to dancing in the future,” Ms Patterson said.