Collette Dinnigan showing at Hamilton Island

by Di Pearson on 19 Aug 2007 Guests at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week were treated to a fashion spectacular last evening when renowned Australian designer and Audi ambassador Collette Dinnigan presented an exclusive showing of her Cruise Collection 07 / 08 at the Island’s new Qualia resort.

The collection includes a special signature Australiana print of wattle, frangipani, kookaburras and iconic Australian vintage stamps showcasing colour and style echoing the sunny days of Australian summer.

Following a tough day on the race course, yachting types swapped sailing clothes for elegant evening wear and enjoyed viewing the beautiful Dinnigan designs on the catwalk.

Audi Australia Managing Director Joerg Hofmann introduced Collette Dinnigan, one of the companies best known brand ambassadors, and the evening commenced with models on the catwalk in gorgeous silk tops, flirty swimsuits and sexy silk dresses.

Media personality, Sandra Sully, emceed the evening which included quests such as Audi Ambassador and Winter Olympic medallist Zali Steggall, tennis guru Todd Woodbridge and gardening supremo Jamie Durie.

Around 200 special guests attended the fashion parade, which was hosted by major sponsor, Audi Australia, as part of the first Audi Hamilton island Race Week.

Yachting identities, such as Australian Olympic campaigners Dr Michael Blackburn and Mat Belcher also enjoyed the evening.

Along with Mat Belcher, a 470 dinghy sailor, Blackburn is a member of the Australian Sailing Team, of which Audi is a major sponsor. Both sailors are in the unenviable position of having to race off against fellow Team members and current world champions in their respective classes for one Olympic place in each discipline.

Having recently competed on the international circuit in Europe, Belcher told us: 'We’ve been supported really well by Audi. In fact our whole team has been lucky enough to have Audi cars at their disposal. The cars have got us and our boats from one regatta to the next. We all feel spoilt.'