Aussie stars roll out for G'day ball

Sunday Herald Sun ^ | 14 January 2007 | Peter Mitchell

[Aussie Dasher]

BINDI Irwin shared the red carpet with Cate Blanchett, Russell Crowe was fashionably late and there was a taste of Kazakhstan at tonight's glamorous G'Day USA Penfolds Icon Ball in Los Angeles.

More than 1200 celebrities, business leaders, politicians and star-spotting Aussie commoners came together at the black tie event, which has become one of LA's hottest tickets.

With seats selling for up to $US1,000 ($1,285) each, the A-list guests included Sacha Baron Cohen, better known as Borat, John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John and Peter Fonda.

Cohen skipped the red carpet, but later joined his girlfriend, Australian actress Isla Fisher for the festivities.

The event was held at LA's Hyatt Regency Century City Plaza hotel to honour Crowe, Naomi Watts and the late Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin.

Crowe, who won the best actor Oscar for Gladiator in 2001, was presented with an excellence in entertainment award while Watts, a best actress Oscar nominee in 2003 for 21 Grams, was honoured with an excellence in film award.

Irwin, killed by a stingray in September last year, was treated to a special tribute, including an emotional video presentation by his wife Terri and eight-year-old daughter, Bindi.

Travolta introduced the video presentation.

[Aussie Dasher]

Righto you lot, come down and see us all!!!!