In the Media 2006

Three cool cats
30 April 2006
The Sunday Mail
By Lou Robson

Singing sensations' close encounter to protect wildlife. POP sensations The Veronicas admit the music industry is full of animals – but none quite like the cheetah they met at Australia Zoo yesterday.

Back home on a break from touring and recording in the US , the 21-year-old identical twins from Brisbane rubbed shoulders with two-year-old Foxtrot as ambassadors for conservation organisation Wildlife Warriors Worldwide.

The seasoned performers, who started writing and recording music when they were 13, said meeting the fastest mammal on Earth was more intimidating than singing in front of thousands of fans.

“He's absolutely beautiful but a little scary,” said Lisa Origliasso, the older twin by one minute.

“He's so strong and amazing, like many of the animals we hope to help protect as part of Wildlife Warriors Worldwide.”

Lisa and Jess, who grew up in Albany Creek, said they planned to promote the global conservation organisation and help raise funds for WWW projects such as a cheetah release program in South Africa.

“It's about getting information about what's going on to the younger market, who simply aren't informed,” Jess said.

The girls got involved after visiting Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast , which sponsors WWW, with their mother, Colleen, last year.

“Our mummy's amazing – she works all week and then volunteers at the Australia Wildlife Hospital at the Zoo on day a week,” Lisa said.

“She heard about WWW and filled us in and we thought it sounded like a really worthwhile project.”

Patting koalas and tropical parrots was a far cry from the hectic schedule the sisters have endured since their first album, The Secret Lives of the Veronicas , went double platinum and secured three Top 10 hits.

Jess said the duo had spent the past 18 months living in an “ant-infested” house in Hollywood and writing music in between tours.

“ Hollywood is crazy and nowhere near as glamorous as you'd imagine,” she said.

“But we've made some really solid friends and so far everything is going really well for us.”

The duo have signed a multi-million-dollar deal with American music label Sire and will help launch a Calvin Klein fashion promotion this year.

But back home, the petite sisters were very down-to-earth.

“We love coming home and seeing our family and friends but unfortunately we can't stay at home because we're both allergic to the family cat, Princess,” Lisa said.

“In fact, I can feel the sniffles coming on after patting Foxtrot but just seeing him up close was well worth it.”