Committee Member – Olive Johnston

Committee Member – Olive Johnston

Olive has been an active member of ALVA for many years. She began her dancing career as a Tivoli girl, working in all the cool places in Sydney. Tap was her specialty, eventually joining the Ballet of a Thousand Years. She remained a member of that group until the start of the new millenium, the year 2000.  She has been a member of the ALVA committee for most of it’s life.  Olive continues to support ALVA with incredible raffle displays and fantastic floral affairs. 

Committee Member – Di Georgeson

Committee Member – Di Georgeson

Di started singing on radio 2SM’s The Gang and at 14 won the Coca Cola Talent Quest on 2UE.  Her professional career took off at 16 on teenage TV shows 6 O’Clock Rock, Sing Sing Sing, Teen Time and The Youth Show. She then joined NLT Talent School for Channel 9 and was a regular on Mobil Limb Show, Australian Singalong and Bandstand, Melbourne Tonight, Adelaide Tonight and The Rex Mossop TV Variety Show. She also worked at nightclubs Chequers, Romanos and Taboo at Kings Cross.    

In the cabaret club scene, Di supported many international acts including Des O’Connor, Gene Pitney, The Platters, Bobby Rydell, Toni Christie and Warren Mitchell.  She has appeared at Wrest Point Casino, on cruise ships, and as a partner in Sentimental Productions. Di has performed in many shows at the Sydney Town Hall and AJC Randwick Racecourse, and with many with Big Bands including the Australian Army Band.   Her greatest thrills have been to perform in the Great Hall Parliament House Canberra and being chosen to sing the Vera Lynn songs for 3 shows at the Sydney Entertainment Centre for the 50th Anniversary of the end of WW2, appearing with Jacqui Trent, Tony Hatch and our own Slim DeGrey.  Di retired after 49 years in the biz.  

As a founding Member of Australian Ladies Variety Association and twice recipient of “Golden Girl Award”, Di has served on various committees over the years, and is very much involved on committee, whose aim is to make sure show business friends are always cared for.

Committee Member – Monique Montez

Committee Member – Monique Montez

Multiple award winning vocalist Monique Montez has performed in many facets of the entertainment industry, making her a force to be reckoned with. Her captivating stage presence has wowed audiences worldwide, and she has hired and admired by the likes of Sir Richard Branson, Richard Pratt and Baz Luhrmann.

From musical theatre & cabaret, to television & the corporate world, Monique’s career spans over an amazing 23 years. Starring in Saturday Night Fever, We Will Rock You, Dusty The Original Pop Diva, Fiddler On The Roof and Dusty The Concert, she has also supported acts like Hollywood Legend Micky Rooney, Taylor Dane, The Drifters, Tom Burlinson, Human Nature & Sneaky Sound System to name a few.

Her career is dynamic & diverse, with television appearances on All Saints, GMA, Fresh, The Footy show, Kerri Anne, Carols in the Domain & Foxtel’s Channel V. More recently, Monique won the coveted “Female Vocalist of the Year” at the ACE Awards (Australia Club Entertainment).

Monique became a member of ALVA many years ago and in 2017, joined the ALVA committee. She took a small break but is back to help all. We are so excited to have Monique on the Committee. 

VALE: Helen Lorain OAM

VALE: Helen Lorain OAM

Helen’s rich contralto voice and dynamic personality have endeared her to audiences all over the world. Helen joined Actor’s Equity in 1948 and her professional singing career continued successfully for the following 40 years. She then became a businesswoman, enabling her to educate her two sons. Helen Lorain Rasko is an Alumni of Oxford University and still sings for Charities.  Helen’s  life long commitment helping raise funds for charity is well known and, as the longest serving Member of the ABF Committee, her knowledge is greatly appreciated.   Dear Helen was a wonderful supporter and Life Member of ALVA, passed away on Saturday, 11th March, 2017.
 
Committee Member: Shirley Mc Donald

Committee Member: Shirley Mc Donald

Shirley has been a member of the current committee since 2006, working tirelessly to help those in need. As avid supporter of the Mc Grath Breast Cancer Organisation, Shirley set up ties between this organisation and ALVA, showing how two charities can connect for a common cause. 

Congratulations Nicolette Norris AM

Congratulations Nicolette Norris AM

When you read the Australia Day Honours List, you will see that Nicolette Norris (aka Niki Dene) is now a Member in the general division of the Order of Australia ” for significant service to the community, particularly to the rights, protection and welfare of children.” She is now Niki Norris, AM.

 
CONGRATULATIONS NIKI!!!!
 
From Johnny Pace…… I could not be more delighted that her commitment and dedication to the cause has been so recognised. For the past 10 years she has donated up to 12 hours a day, seven days a week to the cause and I habitually am compelled to feign annoyance about 7.00pm each night to make her close the office and come to dinner. Our weekend evenings are frequently interrupted by phone calls from desperate mothers and never has she told them to ring back on Monday. Instead she breaks from whatever we were enjoying together to listen, advise and counsel – a process that never seems to take less than an hour. Our home is often used as a refuge for Mothers and their children from Intrastate who have to come to Sydney for Hearings etc and who can’t afford hotel accommodation. She is currently working with the State Member for Heathcote, Lee Evans, on the setting up of a Child Abuse Tribunal, with a panel of experts to investigate claims of abuse and to act as what Lee calls a ‘Gateway’ before these cases are dealt with by the Family Court. She has formed a separate group, Young Survivors Against Child Abuse (YSACA), made up of young people who have been returned to the custody of the more protective parent, more often than not, through Niki’s intervention. She arranged a meeting with the Federal Children’s Commissioner, Megan Mitchell, who listened to their stories and is already acting on the issues the children raised. Her many meetings with Government departments dealing with children has seen a marked improvement in attitudes and practice as she makes them understand the underlying flaws that see too many children suffering Court sanctioned abuse. All this just touches on the work she does and the outcomes she has achieved. That all this work is now recognised with an AM for her makes me the proudest man on the planet. Well wishing to: ndene@optusnet.com.au