Gay Kayler (born 27 September 1941) is an Australian country music entertainer - a vocalist, television personality, recording artist, pianist, triple beauty quest title holder, model, scriptwriter and educator.
[2] In the early 1950s, Gay sang on one of the first reel-to-reel tape recorders in Australia – as part of its demonstration at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Ultimately, this led to Gay being contracted to Brisbane's Channel 7 for 3 years, where she appeared in shows such as the multi-Logie-Award-winning Theatre Royal with George Wallace Jnr.
As the 1960 Miss Darling Downs and a Miss Australia Quest State Finalist Australian Country Music Hall of Fame Gay received training on social skills, personal style and etiquette from June Dally-Watkins OAM, one of the 100 Australian Legends, a National Treasure, and Australia’s go-to expert on correct behaviour June Marie Dally-Watkins 1927-2020.
Gay’s charitable work included volunteering for Meals on Wheels, organising numerous fund-raising events,[11][12][13] and judging competitions from the most Beautiful Baby [14] and Ugly Man [15] to a Water Ski Past,[16] Snow Queen,[17] Princess of Youth,[18] Queen of Debutantes, Cinderella and Prince Charming, Miss Personality, Best Dressed Cowgirl and Cowboy, and more.
She had a double charting single in 1975 of "Nobody's Child"[20] coupled with the first Australian female trucking song, "My Home-Coming Trucker's Coming Home", composed by Ashcroft.
It was re-released as part of the 2007 Rajon Music Australian historical double CD set, Johnny Ashcroft, Here's To You, Australia!
Gay Kayler combined a major part of her career with Australian country music star, Johnny Ashcroft, whom she married in 1981.