PATRONS:

Dame Vera Lynn D.B.E. LL.D · Mrs Margaret Whitlam · Lady Joan Hardy · Lady Sonia McMahon

In August of 1978, Toni Stevens and Harriet Littlesmith discussed the idea of forming a ladies association within the variety industry. Initially, the main thoughts for this association were to unite the women of variety in friendship and form an alliance to help others less fortunate than ourselves within our ranks. A preliminary meeting was held with ten entertainers to discuss the possibility. The idea was overwhelmingly supported, possible names for the venture discussed and The Australian Ladies Variety Association was conceived.

Those founder members were Toni Stevens (President) Tami Lind (Vice President) Lynece Morris (Treasurer) Pat Scroope (Secretary) with committee members Dorothy Barry, Fay Warnock, Elizabeth Garnett, Margaret Flanagan, Bunny Gibson & Robyn Alexander, who then each asked five other ladies giving us 50 charter members. Along with their friends and colleagues a total of 104 attended the Inauguration Banquet at the Sebel Townhouse on the 26 th February 1979.

Toni had invited Dame Vera Lynn to be our International Patron - she graciously consented and was with us to present the badges to Founder and Charter Members. Dame Vera gave us numerous helpful fundraising tips and has supported us continuously through the years. Special guests were Comediennes Edith Dahl and Jenny Howard, Sadie Gayle (wife of Roy Rene) Maude Meredith (Radio’s Aunty Maude) and who were made A.L.V.A’s first Honorary Members. Later Muriel Haines (wife of song and dance man, Jimmy Haines) was added to that list.

The first A.L.V.A. Honours Award was presented to Kerri Dyer for her bravery and determination following her accident.

Our Constitution was drawn up and the Association was opened to female entertainers, the wives of male entertainers, retired performers and the wives of retired performers. Over the years we have opened up the membership to others in the industry and also have associate members, such as Rita Barnett (Cornish) who are not entertainers, but who have helped ALVA tirelessly over the years.

Many fundraisers were held, including casino nights on the Lane Cove River Boat, our gigantic Art Union (for which Tony Packard provided cars two years running – thanks to our then PR Bee, Cherie Donavan), The initial Variety Gala Balls were held at the Wentworth Hotel and many other great fun events which brought both men and women of our industry together on a great social level.

Our first combined endeavour for a member in distress was to help our colleague, singer Kerri Dyer, who was badly injured in a terrible car accident in July 1979. Kerri needed ongoing care, but when finally she arrived home from hospital, ALVA members and others, such as Carter Edwards and Rod Little (of the Collection) were on hand to help clean house, sort out her affairs, and look after her basic rehabilitation needs. We were also on hand to help her move when the time came for her to relocate to a disabled home. Happily, Kerri defied all notions of “never being able to do many things again” including walking and driving and is now settled in England with a husband and daughter and doing very well.

Over the past 28 years, and many fundraisers later, hundreds of variety and theatrical people have been helped physically and financially by ALVA, which can unequivocally boast the fact that it is the most influential and financially stable and respected organization of it’s kind in Australia .