Drive in for smiling Spring service. Amp…

Large Australian advertising adversting poster featuring Shirley Abicair promoting Ampol and Qantas.

Shirley Abicair was born in Melbourne in 1930 but lived in Adelaide prior to tertiary studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and/or Sydney University. She was self-taught on the zither, a harp-like instrument. She won a Sydney radio talent quest which led to radio, theatre and cabaret engagements. In 1953 she went to London and whilst coming off a aeroplane was photographed which quickly led to her appearance on BBC television. She recorded, hosted a children’s TV series and appeared in films. She became an unofficial ambassador and promoter of Australia to British children. She returned briefly to Australia in 1959 to record a series of television documentary films she had conceived based on Australian folk songs entitled “Shirley Abicair in Australia” for ABC television. In 1962 she toured Russia and the US, and gave a recital in Festival Hall. She continued her recordings, films and wrote a children’s book Tales of Tumbarumba. Her trademark was her zither and her Australianness.

Collections:
National LIbrary of Australia:  Bib ID3769175