The hoodies were worn in support of the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) and Virgin Blue’s four-year sponsorship of the program. This year was the AIME’s first National Hoodie Day, but was quite the success, with fellow supporters including: Ian Thorpe, Libby Trickett, The South Sydney Rabbitohs, The NSW Waratahs and Wendell Sailor; business man Andrew Forrest and entertainer Adam Spencer.

Check out Virgin Blue’s Facebook page for more information or go here to learn more about this great cause.

There were plenty of great stories of fans on board having a great time including this from Cabin Leader Rhiannon Condon, who was on a flight which departed Australia on 12 June, the day before the Socceroos were due to play their first game. Rhiannon tells us…

“The flight was 15 hours of absolute mayhem, with every Guest travelling to South Africa for the World Cup. The crew really got into the spirit of things as well and wore football jumpers, scarves etc with their uniforms. The cabin lighting proved popular too and I heard that the crew who flew our aircraft home, left them on that setting. Overall it was a brilliant flight, the passengers were really well behaved and we even managed an “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi” over the PA. A group of the crew travelled to Durban for the match, which was the most sensational experience. ”

There was a suggestion that maybe there would be a need for a bit more beer on the flight, which turned out to be a good call – the additional 10 cases of beer were all drunk bar two cans!

V Australia provided the main auction prize of the evening – two Business class tickets to from South Africa to Melbourne, including dinner at the newly-opened Maze Restaurant, located at the Crown Metropol, in Melbourne’s Southbank precinct.

The proceeds raised R80,000.00 (about AU$13,000) which went directly to the charity, Bobbi Bear, which looks after sexually abused children and those made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. The funds will help build a new safe haven home for local children.

It’s not often that a dinner can change lives, but the Gordon Ramsay dinner at Maze in the One&Only Resort in Cape Town, did just that. The deep love and unconditional support provided by the Bobbi Bear team is helping change children’s lives; making them feel and see hope, safety and a future.

Ashley & Jen (pictured left to right) took a break from the podium to help out at the V Australia booth

For the major North American stage races, only two girls are selected per race.  The girls travel throughout the duration of the Tour and assist the sponsors and athletes with the podium presentations each day  – presenting the winning jersey and the V Australia “kiss” to the cyclist winner that wins the stage.

Their job is extremely important, requiring a commanding stage presence and the confidence to lead presenters and athletes through the podium ceremony in front of a large crowd and media.   The V Australia Fly Girls also participate at the V Australia booth during the Lifestyle Festival where they greet guests, take pictures with fans, and promote V Australia’s product and service flying from Los Angeles to Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne.

Name: Jennifer Caudill
Age: 28
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

This is Jen’s 5th time serving on the podium!  She worked at the Tour of Georgia in 2005 and 2006 and at the Tour of Missouri in 2008 and 2009. Completing the 2010 Amgen Tour of California will make Jen the only young woman to serve as a podium hostess for all three major North American races. She grew up with the sport, is an avid cyclist and even writes a column for VeloNews.com.

Jen currently lives in Girona, Spain with her boyfriend, Garmin Transitions rider Steven Cozza.

Jen is a professional fashion model, freelance writer and photographer. When she isn’t in Girona, she can be found in Northern California or Atlanta, Georgia. Jen is also an animal lover. She enjoys volunteering with a variety of animal rescue organizations and is an accomplished equestrian.

Name: Ashley White
Age: 25
Hometown: Douglasville, GA

This is Ashley’s first time working as a podium hostess at a cycling tour.  She is a graduate of the University of Miami and was a Miami Dolphins cheerleader and a former news anchor.  Recently, Ashley went on a thrilling AFE Military Tour entertaining troops overseas in the Middle East.

Ashley has a toy poodle named Maggie that she loves taking to the dog park.

In addition to the V Australia water bottles we’ll be handing out, we’ll be raffling off a Fly V Australia team jersey at each stage. Be sure to stop by early, because just like the riders this gear moves fast, and supplies are limited.

A big shout out & congratulations to all the winners of our VIP pass giveaway. We can’t wait to see you, don’t forget your cameras.

We’d love to see any photos from the tour, post your favourites to our Facebook page.

Go V!

As the largest cycling event in America, the 2010 Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race, sponsored by V Australia, that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course from May 16-23.

The goods we’ve got to share:

Multiple pairs of passes to: Stage 6 – V Australia Sponsored Stage
Friday, May 21st
Big Bear Lake, CA
Lifestyle Festival – 11:00am-4:30pm
Estimated time of rider arrival to the finish line – 2:54pm to 3:52pm

Two pairs of passes: Stage 7 – Individual Time Trial
Saturday, May 22nd
Los Angeles, CA – Downtown LA Live
Lifestyle Festival – 11:00am-4:30pm
Start 1:00pm – Finish 4:15pm

Two pairs of passes: Stage 8 – Tour Finish
Sunday, May 23rd
Thousand Oaks, CA
Lifestyle Festival – 11:00am-4:30pm
Estimated time of rider arrival to the finish line – 3:39pm to 4:10pm

As if  VIP access to various stages and locations was not fabulous enough, we’re making the entry super simple: leave a comment on this post telling us:

1. Why you want to go to the tour.

2. The name we should add to our VIP guest list

3. The stage you want to attend.

The first fans to post will be the first to win– we’ll count comments until we run out of passes! As always, extra points if you plan to cheer on Fly V Australia.

Note: no travel or lodging expenses are included, so this one is only for our mates in California.

Get posting and be sure to tell your friends. We’ll see you this weekend, Go V!

Check out our peek into the week that was!

Two deco ice sculptures, framed the series of 1950’s inspired bathers and gorgeous prints, hand created by designer Bonnie Coumbe.

Check out some of our favourites below.

All you have to do is post a photo on our Facebook wall or tweet us a link to a twitpic, of a glammed up, fashionista YOU! Tag your entries with VAFashionista, so we know it’s not just you being fabulous.

Best outfits join us at their choice of show (first in best dressed!)

Bec & Bridge Collection Show
When:  7 :30pm Monday 3rd May
Where: The  Cargo Theatre , OVERSEAS PASSENGER TERMINAL, CIRCULAR QUAY, SYDNEY
Invitation includes:
Reserved seating at  Bec & Bridge’s Collection Show
VIP bar access for one hour prior to the Collection Show

or

V Australia and Nicola Finetti Encore Show
When:  7pm for 7:30pm Tuesday 4th May
Where:  The OPT, OVERSEAS PASSENGER TERMINAL, CIRCULAR QUAY, SYDNEY

And now for the fine print– the details to help you win & official jargon– because we have to:

1. Contest period is from April 29, 2010 (10 a.m.) to May. 3, 2010 (12 p.m.).
2. Employees of V Australia; Virgin Blue; Pacific Blue; their contractors and business partners; as well as immediate family members are not allowed to participate.
3. All entries must be submitted through Twitter (@VAustralia) or Facebook (http://facebook.com/vaustralia) to V Australia.
4. The judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entertained.
5. Each entrant is eligible to win only once during the contest.
6. The prizes are not exchangeable for cash.
7. V Australia reserves the right to change the prize or contest mechanics without prior notice.
8. The winner will be notified via Twitter @Reply or Facebook message, respectively according to the method of entry.
9. V Australia will coordinate prize pick-up with each contestant directly. However, V Australia will not be liable for any loss or damages with regards to the delivery or the usage of the prize.
10. All submissions become property of V Australia.
11. Winners must be over the age of 18 years of age
12. Those lucky enough to join us will be contacted by the V Australia team – tickets are to be collected by at the Rosemount Australia Fashion Week Registration desk one hour prior to the show on the day of the show desk prior to the show on the day.
13. There are no travel costs included in this invitation, so essentially this is for our Sydney fashion lovers, we’d still love to see your outfits!

It was the summer of 1989-90. The twin peaks of revivalist 60’s psychedelia and post punk garage rock and roll had collided in Australia. Out of the West Australian surf crawled 4 long haired boys determined to make their own special guitar noise….. The Chevelles were born. 20 years later The Chevelles have played over 1000 live shows, released over 20 recordings and extensively toured Australia and the US, Brazil and Europe over a dozen times in their career….playing in small sweaty rooms, massive outdoor stadium concerts and wild beach festivals . They  have earnt  their  underground reputation as  “Australian Cult Garage Power Pop Legends”.  In 2010 they kickstart their 20th Year Anniversary World Tour in the US with the release of their new album “Accelerator” and once again drive down the highway on another Rock and Roll adventure !

“The guitars are some of the biggest in the business, towering power chords straight from the loins of Pete Townsend almost to big and always melodic in an immaculate way” Houston Press, USA

Get It On is free through April 30, so check it out & tell your friends.