ALVA – Australian Ladies' Variety Association

President – Toni Stevens

Toni virtually started her career with charity work in Birmingham UK, going along with her dad when he performed at Hospitals, Nursing Homes and even the Winson Green Prison.
She performed on many charity shows in the UK and, the very first show she presented in Sydney was a fundraiser at Coogee Randwick RSL Club, which was a great opportunity to show what ‘the new kid on the block’ could do. Female comics in the early seventies were few and far between, so Toni was very warmly welcomed into Aussie show biz circles.
She has been a professional entertainer for well over 60 years, arriving in Australia from the UK in 1972, with an impressive record of rave reviews from T.V., Club, Theatre and Cabaret venues worldwide. Over the years, Toni has supported some of the worlds brightest stars: The Seekers, Tom Jones, Englebert Humperdinck, Morcambe & Wise, Val Doonican, Dave Allen, Lulu, Paul Hogan etc, and from the USA Bill Haley, Billy Eckstein, Jose Feliciano and many more.
In addition to her talents as a comedienne, singer and musician, she is also a very competent theatre restaurant performer, actress and show producer. In the early eighties, Toni produced and starred at the Golden Garter Theatre Restaurant where her show ran for over a year and she was the first to introduce the concept of Theatre Restaurant to registered Clubs, the most popular of her shows being ‘The Best O’ Bloomin’ British’ and ‘Oktoberfest’ which ran successfully for 26 years.
From 1987 to 1989 she produced her own Theatre Restaurant on Sydney Harbour, The Port Jackson Showboat. Then, in 1990, for over 5 years, 7 nights a week, she was producer and featured performer in The Jolly Swagman Show at the Argyle Tavern and Lowenbrau Keller at the Rocks.
Over the years Toni has also provided work for many other performers especially now, through her own business “Aunty Molly’s Seniors Entertainment Events” which she has hosted and featured A1 performers for seniors’ lunchtime theatre restaurant over three decades.
Four times nominee, in 1998 Toni was honoured with the prestigious John Campbell Fellowship ‘Mo’ Award for her work with the founding of ALVA, services to the Australian variety industry and for her endless charity work. Earlier she had also been nominated for inclusion in the ‘Australian Who’s Who of Women’ (1985) and subsequently the ‘World Who’s Who of Women’ (1986) and
in the same year was included in the ‘International Directory of Distinguished Leadership’.
Toni has personally been responsible for producing many fund raising shows and has generated well over a million dollars for numerous Charities, including, CanTeen, The Leukaemia Foundation, The Red Cross, The Royal Institute for Deaf & Blind Children, Cancer Research, Children’s Medical Research, Cerebral Palsy Foundation, Legacy, The Humour Foundation (Clown Doctors) and
Children’s Oncology Units at the old Camperdown and Westmead Hospitals, to name but a few.
More recently, in her work through Rotary International and her own Club, The Rotary Club of Warners Bay, Toni continues to help others by raising funds for needy people and various causes. She admits it’s what she does best and what she loves to do most.

Vice President – Lisa Crouch

Lisa Crouch is considered by her fans and peers to be one of the most unique “Powerhouse” entertainers in the industry. She has an amazing vocal style, energy to burn and a natural, infectious sense of humour. Lisa is incredibly down to earth and it is this part of her personality that audiences love.  Lisa began her career as a classical singer at Newcastle Conservatorium of Music and has gone on to perform in musical theatre, cabaret shows, jingles, and cruise liners. She has toured nationally and internationally with her solo cabaret show.  Lisa is one of Australia’s finest female vocal entertainers and her outstanding talent has been recognised by the Entertainment Industry at a variety of events. Lisa is a multi-award winning entertainer who regularly performs her production show “Powerhouse Divas” and her new show, “Experience the Divine – An Evening with Bette Midler”.  She also performs with her six piece retro band “Dig This” and her musical duo “Just Jammin”.

Despite Lisa’s busy schedule, she still finds time to be an active member of ALVA. Since joining in 2004, Lisa went from committee member to Vice President fairly quickly. She loves to help and you will often find her doing everything from picking up tables to welcoming guests at a function. Lisa can be relied upon to help in any situation. She has been Vice President since 2006.

Secretary – Kerri Lacey

Kerri Lacey is a multi award winning entertainer with a number of MO Awards to her credit. Kerri trained at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and has a Masters in Performance on Bassoon. Kerri not only performs in the duo Just Jammin’, singing and playing keyboards, but she also performs in the 6 piece band “Dig This”, and is a member of the cast for a variety of Production shows where she shows her talent in Drama and comedy. Kerri is also a Secondary Music Teacher currently working at Kirrawee High School. It is here that she uses her extensive knowledge of the entertainment industry to assist the up and coming young performers to achieve their goals. She also owns Klerrisa Custom Music, which is an educational portal designed to help music teachers and students here in Australia and around the world. And to top it off, she is also a photographer who has had her work recognised globally.

When Kerri is not engaging in all of these activities, she is working on and for ALVA. She started on the committee in 2004 when Maria Venuti was President. She has then supported the current committee as Treasurer from 2005 – 2014 and from 2015 to 2022 as Secretary.  

Committee Member – Gayle Wakeling-Taylor

Gayle has been an active member of ALVA since 2003. She started dancing professionally in 1968, taught dancing from 1976, and specialises in treating people with disabilities and spinal dysfunction through Pilates, massage and vibration training.  Gayle has over 30 years experience in the fitness industry, and in that time has been able to provide rehabilitation and core strengthening work to literally thousands of clients.  Gayle has the ability to give individual attention to a class of varying ages and stages, and makes you feel completely comfortable with your own abilities. She has an extensive comprehension of physical abilities & limitations, and is able to tailor exercises in a group to accommodate any problems.Her enthusiasm and encouragement enable her to be an integral member of the ALVA Committee. Gayle put her hand up to be the Treasurer in 2015 and has not looked back. She is usually the first person you see at the function and always with a smiling face and quick wit. In 2020, Gayle moved back into a committee role. 

Treasurer – Pat Scroope

Pat Scroope was one of the original Charter members and has been involved with ALVA for most of her life. The wife of Australian Actor Doug Scroope, Pat has been an incredibly active in many of the committee positions over the years. A bookkeeper by trade, it didn’t take long for Pat to become the Treasurer. Over the years, Pat has juggled full time employment along with being Treasurer, Membership Manager and sometimes Secretary of this very busy charity. Pat has always been involved in ALVA’s Benevolence. In 2005, the committee, recognising the huge work load of the Treasurer’s position, decided to divide the job between herself and another committee member. It was at this time that Pat started training Kerri in her role as Treasurer, whilst she continued to work with the many benevolent cases. Pat returned to the Treasurer’s position in 2020 and has continued to tirelessly manage both the Treasurer and Benevolent Treasurer’s role. She is also the person in charge of our properties and investments. 

 Pat keeps everyone on the committee on their toes, making sure the processes for ALVA are in good working order. She reminds us of our public obligations and ensures that ALVA has enough funds to help whoever may need assistance. 

Publicity Manager – Kaye Coleman

Kaye Thomas, better known as “Miss Kaye”, is the mother of Natalie Ettingshausen, and former owner of Ettinghausen’s School of Dance.  Kaye danced since the age of four years and as a teenager won the Channel 9 show “Opportunity Knocks. In her later years she worked professionally at the Tivoli, Her Majesty™s Theatre, Chevron Hilton, Chevron Silver Spade Room Sydney, Chevron Melbourne with Bert Newton, Theatre Royal, Channel 9, Bobby Limb Variety Show, and sang and danced as the lead in many pantomimes. She then danced overseas and returned to start her own dancing school full time, specialising in tap.

Kaye is a qualified teacher of the British Dancing Association jazz, tap and ballet syllabus and has been a BDA examiner for over 30 years. Kaye invests time in the community and has been the President of the Highfield Committee for Sutherland Hospital for the past 8 years and a member for 12 years.

Recently Kaye danced with Todd McKenny at Star City and danced in a TV commercial for Foxtel. At EDA, Miss Kaye teaches everything but her unbeatable knowledge and expertise is in Tap!

As an incredibly committed member of ALVA, the Australian Ladies Variety Association, she helps raise money for charities such as, Breast Cancer, Alzeheimers, The Garvan Institute and helps people who have been in show business and have fallen on hard times. Miss Kaye is the Publicity Manager and works tirelessly on events, particularly the Annual Banquet, where new members are introduced to the organisation.

One of Kaye’s mottos – “Shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you will land among the stars”. This is very fitting as Miss Kaye is one of our stars. 

Committee Member – Karen Beckett

Karen grew up in Perth Western Australia where she performed regularly on children’s television. Karen was chosen, while still at high school, to take on the position of resident vocalist at Perth’s top nightclub, Romanos. After her move to Sydney, Karen began working on the NSW club, Convention and television circuits. This led Karen to audition for, and eventually win the 10 Network’s “You’re a Star” quest. This gave her the chance to perform a cabaret season at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. 

Since her return to Australia, Karen has appeared on all the major TV shows including the Mike Walsh Show, Don Lane Show, Parkinson in Australia, Ray Martin Show, Bert Newton, Hey Hey, Midday Shows as well as many regional appearances. Karen is a regular performer on various cruise lines including Cunard, and Royal Carribean, just to name a few. 

In between travelling the globe, Karen takes time to be an active member of ALVA. She has been on committee several times, the most recent since 2015. Whilst she does lead a hectic schedule, Karen is always ready to help her fellow entertainer, whether it be by providing the infamous “Beckett Biscuits” at a function or providing transport via the equally famous “Beckett Bus”. Karen has a huge heart that has enough room for everyone. 

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

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

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. 

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.