From Sydney to the South Pacific, Zoltina-J Medwik-Daley is spreading Swans cheer all year round.
A cruise director on the Pacific Dawn P&O cruiseliner, Zoltina-J describes herself as a ‘die-hard’ Swans fan – and spruiks her love for the Swans every night aboard the ship.
“I am in charge of the on-board entertainment for just over 2000 people each week,” Zoltina-J told sydneyswans.com.au.
“Each night I walk out on stage to the Swannies’ victory song and by the end of the cruise, everyone is singing the song whether they like it or not!”
While the Swans club song resonates with many passengers, it’s Zoltina-J’s unique, full-length red and white gown that attracts the most attention.
“A few years ago I had an idea to make a dress out of footy guernseys,” she said.
“The issue I had was finding someone who could make the dress without destroying the guernsey.
“I found a lady in the UK who made me a few costumes, so I sent her three guernseys I used to wear to the game.
“She sent me back my first dress - a corset made out of the Swannies’ jumpers and a white knee length skirt.”
Zoltina-J’s dress made its first public appearance at the 2009 Melbourne Cup, where it received widespread media attention from Melbourne newspapers and magazines.
The success of her first gown inspired her to fulfil her ultimate dream of creating a full-length Sydney Swans gown two years later.
“I sent over another three jumpers to the UK to get another corset made, and I found a gentleman, who was based in Sydney and had made outfits for Kylie and Lady Gaga, to make me my skirt,” Zoltina-J said.
“I left it in his hands and when I received the finished product I was shocked!
“It weighed a tonne and is really the heaviest thing I’ve ever owned, but it’s an excellent use of 20-odd Swans’ guernseys!”
The dress is worn regularly on board and is often mistaken as a wedding gown – not that Zoltina-J has dismissed the idea of wearing it on her big day.
“Why wouldn’t I wear it? It’s made out of guernseys of a team of champions! You can’t get more positive energy that that!” she said.
“I do joke about it (being worn as a wedding gown) as it was so expensive that I probably will have to wear it to my wedding one day.
“If I did, I think I would get another corset to change it up a bit and the groom would have to have a suit made the same way of course!”
The dress is not Zoltina-J’s only Swans’ symbol, with the popular entertainer also sporting a very special Swans tattoo.
Zoltina-J said the tattoo, which started out as just an image of a Swan, was updated late last year after the Swans semi-final win over the Crows.
“When we won, I emailed a tattoo guy I know, based in Vegas (where I was at the time),” she said.
“I asked him to design another Swannies tattoo as I knew we were going to bring it home that year.
“I ended up getting ‘Onward to Victory’ above my red and white Swannie on my right foot, but I didn’t tell anyone until we beat Collingwood because I didn’t want to jinx it.
“But when the siren went, it was up on Facebook for everyone to see, and I guess the rest is history”
