Robin Kelly was born Robin Vandersluys in Mary Street, Kew. As a child, she sang in backyard concerts run with her brother, Leslie. The family moved to Deepdene in 1949 and Robin joined church and school choirs. Later she was to study classical singing with Stella Power, modern singing with Jack White, TV Presentation with Natalie Raine of Crawford Productions and acting/singing with Jessie Matthews. Following her victory in a talent quest at the Orama Ballroom, she was invited to join the Orama Big Band with singers Harry Cox and Arlene Forrest. She also sang with the Kerm Jones Jazz Band at Power House and with Frank Johnson's Jazz Band at Jazz Junction. Robin became resident band vocalist at the historic Federal Hotel in Collins Street with the Rudi Laquer Trio. She also sang at The Savoy Plaza with the George Cadman Trio. A year later she became resident vocalist at the Ress Oriental Hotel with the Lennie Holmes Trio. Later, Robin married pianist Peter Jones, singing under the name 'Robin Vanser' in clubs in Sydney and regional New South Wales. She was booked for a Vietnam War tour and also sang in Tahiti. Returning to Melbourne, her agent booked her to appear in shows in Tasmania including West Point Casino and Melbourne country venues. Another agent, John Bishop, booked her to do floor shows in Melbourne, including Xmas Seasons at the Hampton Hotel where she entertained audiences with her comedy and audience participation routines. In 1971, Robin Kelly retired to run her Robin Hood Antiques business in Canterbury, during which time she was married to tenor Glenn Kelly. Later she joined Sing Australia Camberwell Choir, performing as a soloist at their Melbourne Town Hall Concert.The Vandersluys-Kelly Collection of photographs, costumes and musical performance memorabilia was donated to the Kew Historical Society by Robin Denise Kelly in 2018. The collection is an important record of stage and recorded performances in Australia in the second half of the 20th century. This new nationally-focused and artistically significant collection augments and contextualises the local performing arts materials in our collection. Audio recording of performances Egyptian Follies at the Melbourne Jazz Club, including the singer Robin Kellyl.robin kelly, performing arts - victoria - australia, melbourne jazz club

Kewriosity was a local newsletter combining Kew Council and community news. It was published between November 1983 and June 1994, replacing an earlier Kewriosity [broad] Sheet (1979-84). In producing Kewriosity, Council aimed to provide a range of interesting and informative articles covering its deliberations and decision making, together with items of general interest and importance to the Kew community and information not generally available through daily media outlets.non-fictionFlying doctors descend on Kew [Crawford Productions] / p1. Computerised court opens [Penalty Enforcement by Registration of an Infringement (PERIN)] / p1. Stop or give-way? [Council assessment of intersections] / p1. Council seeks kinder review / p1. Diary dates for May / p2. Your marching champions [Kew Band, Kew Youth Band] / p2. Word of mouth [Pre-school story time at Kew Library 1996- ] / p2. Something airey [exhibition at Kew Gallery] / p2. Something pre-loved [Glass Street Kindergarten trash 'n treasure sale] / p2. Commentary [Willsmere redevelopment] / Cr Daryl Oldaker p3. Traffic headaches for Barkers Road [drain upgrade] / p3. Trees versus powerlines / p4. Loyal service [Tom Gascoyne] / p4. Traffic Management update [Area 7, Area 10] / p4. Cleaner shopping centres / p4. Hard rubbish collection / p4. Willsmere Drain / p4. Survey of dual occupancy / p4. Health [Department] stall / p5. Women's health workshops / p5. Baby Change Room [Walpole Street] / p5. Nursing Mothers' meetings / p5. Status quo for family day care [industrial award ruling] / p5. Immunisation - Important / p5. Daytime garden / p6. Library Friends' [book] sale / p6. [East Kew Bowling Club] Indoor bowls / p6. Chrysanthemums, M'am [Kew Garden Club] / p6. Handy Veterans Service [Kew sub-branch of the RSL] / p6. Crime wave [Neighbourhood Watch Areas G64, G97] / p6. All this for sixpence [Balwyn Cinema history] / p6. Positive [survey] feedback [to Kewriosity] / p6. Arthritis meeting / p6. Something fishy [Ian Napier at Raya Gallery] / p7. [Kew] Community House courses / p7. Coming events at Trinity [Grammar] / p7. Carmelite Monastery restoration / p7. Council Chamber or Council void? [descriptive comparison of Walpole Street Town Hall with the Chamber at the Municipal [Civic] Offices] / p8. Evangelist meeting [St Hilary's] / p8. Youth empowerment [Youth Resource Centre] / Kate Lang p8. Missions meeting [Kew Baptist Church Hall] / p8. publications -- city of kew (vic.), kewriosity, council newsletters, community newsletters