AGL Energy Ltd : Little Audrey to skip on sunshine

Little Audrey, Melbourne's oldest little girl, was honoured today with a fitting tribute in celebration of 75 years of skipping on the Melbourne skyline.
To commemorate the milestone, AGL Energy Limited (AGL) has bestowed an enduring birthday gift to the long adored Melbourne icon, announcing the installation of 27 solar panels to sustainably power Little Audrey long into her future.

Mark Brownfield, General Manager Marketing and Retail Sales at AGL said AGL's gift was a wonderful tribute to a cherished figure in Melbourne's cultural history.
"As you can imagine skipping all night takes a lot of energy, so AGL thought it appropriate to present Little Audrey with the ultimate gift and give her added endurance through AGL solar power," said Mr Brownfield.

Since responding to public appeal in 2009, AGL took Little Audrey under its wing and fully restored the sign to its current glory, repairing the structure and neon tubing. AGL have been powering her through carbon-neutral, renewable energy ever since.

"Our plan has always been to transition Little Audrey to solar power and from today Melburnians will witness her skipping on sunshine.

"AGL actively supports the communities in which it operates and we are passionate about this local project, which demonstrates an innovative application of a renewable energy sources," said Mr Brownfield.

AGL's birthday gift announcement was made at a high-energy event which featured over 50 little Melbournians from Heart Foundations, Jump Rope for Heart Demonstration Teams and local Melbourne schools Hesket Primary School, Bacchus Marsh Grammar and Birmingham Primary School, who jumped for joy alongside Little Audrey in celebration of one of Melbourne's most significant landmarks.

"Little Audrey has brought great delight to generations of Victorians and AGL is proud to not only play a part in ensuring future generations are able to appreciate this icon, but also witness and enjoy efficient energy usage at its best," said Mr Brownfield.

The celebrations will continue tonight as AGL hosts a solar party for Little Audrey at a spectacular venue overlooking the iconic sign.

Constructed in the mid 1930's, Skipping Girl was Australia's first animated neon sign.  Mystery still surrounds the identity of the real Little Audrey. Some say the model for the Skipping Girl logo was the local milk bar owner's daughter. Others claim that she was modelled on a girl who later went on to become a nun in a convent near Frankston. Whoever she was, she's been preserved in this famous sign.

For all media enquiries and more information please contact:
Giselle Lloyd, Publicity Manager
Mobile: 0414 299 658
Work: 03 8633 6115
Email: glloyd@agl.com.au

About AGL
AGL is one of Australia's leading integrated renewable energy companies and is taking action toward creating a sustainable energy future for our investors, communities and customers. Drawing on over 170 years of experience, AGL operates retail and merchant energy businesses, power generation assets and an upstream gas portfolio. AGL has one of Australia's largest retail energy and dual fuel customer bases. AGL has a diverse power generation portfolio including base, peaking and intermediate generation plants, spread across traditional thermal generation as well as renewable sources including hydro, wind, landfill gas and biomass. AGL is Australia's largest private owner and operator of renewable energy assets and is looking to further expand this position by exploring a suite of low emission and renewable energy generation development opportunities.

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