The Bushfire Fundraiser* (Cafe Latin, Friday 27 March from 6.30pm) has really taken off with announcement that it will give away two return domestic air tickets!

The lucky winners get to choose their destination.

network is growing rapidly. Domestically, it flies to 8 major cities including Hanoi, HCMC, Nha Trang, Danang, Hue, Vinh, Hai Phong and Can Tho.

Internationally, Jetstar has direct links from HCMC to Bangkok and Singapore. In total, Jetstar can take you to 40 destinations globally.

To find out how cheap it is to fly this budget airline, click on and check out the bargains.

The support of , part owned by , is greatly appreciated.

In conclusion, as they have said for many years in football circles,

*All proceeds will be donated to the covering firestorm-torn communities such as Kinglake and Marysville.

The is renowned for its Legendary hospitality in the heart of Saigon. And now, we can add Legendary Generosity.

The Caravelle Hotel has advised that it will donate one night’s accommodation as a raffle prize at the Aussie Rules Bushfire fundraiser to be held at Cafe Latin, Saigon on Friday 27 March from 6.30pm.

If you don’t happen to win the free night’s accommodation, do not despair.

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the is slashing its room rates by… 50 per cent!

This deal will apply for on line bookings made from 1 – 31 May 2009 at . Stay must be completed before 31 December 2009 and rooms are subject to availability. Check the Caravelle Hotel’s website for full terms and conditions.

Sydney Swans Board member, Greg Paramor was in HCMC last week

Last week, Greg Paramor, a member of the Sydney Swans Board was in HCMC on business.

He arrived in HCMC unaware of the Vietnam Swans existence but left with one of our Vietnam Swans hats and a shirt.

While we weren’t able to secure a face to face meeting, Vietnam Swans National President, Phil Johns, did get to speak to Greg on the phone. Greg said that he expects to have irregular travel to Vietnam and next time will contact us in advance so that we can organise a Club function.

Greg is the second Sydney Swans Board member to have visited Vietnam. In 2004 (or was it 2005?), Chairman of the Sydney Swans, Richard Colless, visted Hanoi. Richard was the star of a very well attended club function – at which he handed over a kit of 20 Sydney Swans jumpers to the then Hanoi Swans.

Greg, the former Managing Director of the Mirvac Group, joined the Sydney Swans Board in March 2008 .

Auskick in the far, far north of Vietnam

Vietnam Swans coach in Hanoi, Willy, has just returned from Ha Giang which is in the far, far north of Vietnam where “you need a permit etc”. He went there with some of his senior geography students.

While Willy was there, he did an Auskick session. “Brilliant kids. Poor as you get but the smiles say it all”.

And as a footnote to this story, “You will be happy to know, two of the village guys have a Vietnam Swans hat pride of place in their homes”, says Willy!

Awesome work, Mr Willy!

has announced that it will supply the water for the Bushfire Bash between the Vietnam Swans and Bali Geckos on 28 March at RMIT University in District 7, Saigon.

La Vie Water, which first sponsored the Vietnam Swans in October last year, is one of the strongest brands in Vietnam. Established in 1992, La Vie is 65 per cent owned by the world’s leading company in bottled water, Nestle Water.

General Director of La Vie Water, Mr Gilles Duc said that La Vie would be “happy to provide water for the match again, especially as it is for a good cause in addition to a good sport.”

The Vietnam Swans sincerely thank for its generous suppport.

The design for the Bushfire Bash commemorative t-shirt is unveiled

This afternoon, stalwart Swans Sponsor, finalised the design of the commemorative t-shirt for the Bushfire Bash between the Vietnam Swans and the Bali Geckos on 28 March 2009.

On the back of the shirt is an image of a burnt landscape. Two of the burnt trees symbolise a set of goal posts. Significantly, there are new green shoots sprouting from the “tree” goal posts representing life, continuity and regrowth.

The blue footy sailing through the goal posts is actually the logo of the . The lines on their logo represent a road winding through the mountains of the Yarra Valley. At the base of one of the goal posts is a conical hat to represent both Bali and Vietnam.

The text says:

Vietnam Swans Vs Bali Geckos
Black Saturday Bushfire Appeal
28th March 2009
Saigon, Vietnam
vietnamswans.com www.baligeckos.com

A strictly limited number of these shirts will be made. They will be sold for approximately USD10. All profits will be donated to the YVMDFL appeal.

The two YVMDFL bushfire jumpers to be auctioned

Following a request from the Vietnam Swans, the (YVMDFL) is posting two of its inter-league jumpers to Saigon for the Bushfire Bash – for Cash! appeal that will be held at Cafe Latin from 6pm on Friday 27 March 2009.

Many of the communities in the YVMDFL, including Kinglake and Marysville, were devastated by the Black Saturday fires.

Stephen Walter, the CEO of the YVMDFL, said he had been unaware of the number of footy clubs outside of Australia and was moved that clubs like the Bali Geckos and Vietnam Swans wanted to do something to help. He described the five weeks since Black Saturday as being deeply traumatic – but also incredibly rewarding as communities rallied to support those less fortunate.

The two donated jumpers will be auctioned on 27 March at the Bali Geckos-Vietnam Swans function. Both  jumpers are likely to be signed by ex AFL players who now play in the YVMDFL.

If you would like to offer a raffle prize, please email .

has just confirmed that it will support the Vietnam Swans and Bushfire Bash – for Cash!

The Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers has generously offered Dinner for Two as a raffle prize when we hold a fundraiser at Cafe Latin, 19 Dong Du Street, Saigon on Friday 27 March from 6pm.

The fundraiser, on the eve of the Vietnam Swans Vs Bali Geckos match, will raise money for the which covers the worst hit areas in the Black Saturday Bushfires.

The Vietnam Swans and Bali Geckos sincerely thank the Sheraton Saigon for its generosity.

Nathan's Grand Final Poster No. 1

Nathan Forth, with Ruth, returned to Australia last week.

When Nathan first turned up to footy training in Saigon at the beginning of 2007, there were only 4 other regular blokes. Nathan was relatively quiet and unassuming. He certainly never talked himself up.

Nathan's Grand Final Posters Nos. 2 & 3

It’s probably fair to say that we didn’t fully appreciate just how silky Nathan’s footy skills were until the 2008 Vietnam Swans AFL Grand Final Party in Saigon. We could barely find a decent photo of any of the rest of us to blow up for the big day. So, 90 per cent of the posters featured Nathan!

The photos reminded us that he was a candidate for leather poisoning each time he ran out onto the field as the stat counter ticked over as freely as it ever did for the other Nathan, Mr Buckley.

The photos also reminded us that there was nothing soft about this silky player when it came to tackling. So long as it was in the play, it was fast, fierce and fair. Nathan never let any opposition player feel like he had had an easy disposal. Even guys twice his size.

The rest of us at the Vietnam Swans dreamed of having the dream centre line of Nathan, Sam Grigg and Matt Stewart. But alas, it was not meant to be.

Prior to his departure, Nathan spoke of his time with the Vietnam Swans. He said that playing for the Vietnam Swans had reminded him of how much “fun” it can be to play footy. Great people in great clubs just having great fun playing footy in Asia.

To lose Nathan and Ruth is a big loss for the Swannies. But of course, we wish them the very best and thank them for their major contributions in lifting the Swans to the next stage of our development. It’s also just part of the transient nature of footy in Asia that all clubs have to deal with.

But the good news is that Nathan has already flagged a comeback with the Swannies – for the ANZAC Day match next month in Thailand on 25 April!

Nathan Back & Forth… You Beauty!!

Commonwealth Bank offers US$100 bank account raffle prize for Bushfires

, has offered a raffle prize for the Vietnam Swans – Bali Geckos Bushfire Appeal on 27-28 March.

The Commonwealth Bank will give a VND denominated account credited with the equivalent of US$100 to a lucky winner.

In addition, the Commonwealth Bank will waive any bank charges that would normally apply when we transfer the funds raised from Vietnam to the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football Netball League (which covers the fire devastated areas of Marysville and Kinglake) in Australia.

Back in Australia, the Commonwealth Bank has already donated $1million to the Red Cross’ Bushfire Appeal and has opened up its vast network of branches for people wishing to donate money (as it has done for AusCham here in Vietnam).

To learn more about the , click .

has advised the Vietnam Swans that it would be delighted to support our Bushfire Bash/ Appeal with the Bali Geckos.

Accordingly, all artwork associated with the game on 28 March shall be designed free of charge by . In addition, renow.com.vn will pay for the printing of the match day banners.

is Vietnam’s Leading Real Estate Search. If you need to rent or purchase a property, now, you can find it on line. If you’re interested in finance, developments or wanting to track down a real estate agent – including the big boys like Savills or CBRE – now, you can find it online.

If you get onto ‘s home page, you’ll even see a Vietnam Swans logo.

The Sydney Swans donate a signed jumper to the Bushfire Bash - the Vietnam Swans Vs Bali Geckos

The have advised that they will donate an autographed jumper to the Bushfire Bash being organised by the Vietnam Swans and Bali Geckos on 28 March in Saigon (the jumper on the left was actually donated by Sydney for the Vietnam Swans’ AFL Grand Final Parties last year).

We will auction off the jumper and all proceeds will go to the which is distributing funds to some of the worst affected areas which includes King Lake and Marysville.

Jim Beam will also support the cause.

If you would like to donate a prize to help raise money for the bushfire victims, please email the Vietnam Swans at

The Sydney Swans continued support is very much appreciated.