Hi folks, as you are aware, ALVA is turning 40 so as part of our celebrations we thought we would take a trip down memory lane. Every 2 weeks we are going to remind us all of some of the most amazing things that ALVA has done over the last 40 years.
For our first post, I thought I would pay tribute to those who started this fantastic organisation.

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 – ALVA – was conceived.

Those founder members were:
Toni Stevens – President
Tami Lind – Vice President
Lynece Morris – Treasurer
Pat Scroope – Secretary.

Committee members:
Dorothy Barry
Fay Warnock
Elizabeth Garnett
Margaret Flanagan
Bunny Gibson
Robyn Alexander

Each of these ladies invited 5 other ladies to get involved and together they had the 50 charter members.
Along with their friends and colleagues, a total of 104 attended the Inaugural Banquet at the Sebel Townhouse on the 26th February 1979. Toni had invited Dame Vera Lynn to be our International Patron – she graciously consented and was with us to present the ALVA badges to Founder and Charter Members. Our Constitution was drawn up and the Association was opened to female entertainers, the wives of male entertainers, retired female performers and the wives of retired performers. Over the years we have opened up the membership to others within the industry. We also have Associate Members, such as Rita Barnett (Cornish), our very first Associate Member, who are not entertainers, but who have helped ALVA tirelessly over the years.

Join us for our Members Meeting to kick off ALVA’s 40th year!   

After lunch we will be featuring a book launch with the amazing Katie Little.  Katie’s book “Catch a Falling Star” is a beautiful tribute to her Mum Jeannie Little and their life together. It’s an opportunity for us to honour Jeannie and hear about the journey Katie and her family are on. Looking forward to seeing you all as we join together to Celebrate the Ruby Anniversary of the 40  Fabulous Years of ALVA!

DATE:  Monday February 25​, 2019     

ARRIVAL: 10.30am for 11am start. 

VENUE:   Georges River 16ft Sailing Club  –  Sanoni Ave., Sandringham

EARLY BIRD:  $45  Closes Monday February 18

FULL PRICE:  $55   Starts February 19

(Includes a 2 course lunch)

ALVA would like to announce the Event Schedule for 2019.  We would appreciate it if you could put these in your diary. All the finer details will be sent approximately 6 weeks prior to each event.

• Annual General Meeting – Monday 25th February 2019
• 40th Annual ALVA Banquet – “ALVA – This is Your Life” – Monday 15th April 2019.
• Winter Luncheon – Monday 3rd June 2019
• ALVA Goes Gold Coast – Date TBA – will be August
• 2020 Nomination Luncheon – Monday 23rd September 2019
• 40th Annual Christmas Party – Monday 25th November 2019

It is with great sadness that we honour Actress Judy McBurney who passed away at the age of 70 after a three year battle with cancer. Surrounded by her family, including her sister Kay and niece, Melissa, Judy died peacefully in her sleep on Saturday 1st December. Her followers first heard the news via her official facebook page – ‘It’s with huge sadness the news has just reached me that Judy passed away at 6.15 this morning at a hospital in Sydney after a battle with cancer,’

She became a household name after rising to fame in the hit TV series The Young Doctors where she played the role of nurse Tania Livingston from 1977 until the series ended in 1982.   She then went on to play Sandra ‘Pixie’ Mason in Prisoner, a show inspired by the British television drama Within These Walls. The show gained a cult following for its portrayal of life inside a women’s minimum-security prison.

Judy was also well known as a model and voice-over artist for Television and Radio. In later years, she did many TV Commercial’s in Australia, America and Japan. Judy loved to pass on knowledge so it is not surprising to hear that she also taught modelling at The June Dally-Watkins School in Sydney.

Even as a young girl, Judy experienced a natural affinity for the healing of people who were in pain. She spend a number of years training to become a natural healer, in recent years Judy worked with the Acu Energetic Clinic.

Despite her battle with cancer, Judy always maintained a positive outlook. Her care and concern for her family and friends will be remembered fondly by those closest to her. The late Tony Alvarez, Judy’s on-screen husband in Young Doctors and one of her closest friends used to describe Judy as “a lovely lady who always finds a way to make you feel alive again when you’re feeling very down.”

Losing family and friends at this time of year is always difficult, so ALVA would like to honour Judy by posting her Christmas message recorded for the Perth Station STW-9

Judy’s farewell will be at Macquarie Crematorium – Crn Delhi & Plassey road Macquarie Park – Palm Chapel  on Friday December 7th. 11.30am.