THE idea of a collaboration between Vogue and photographer Mario Testino was raised outside the Louis Vuitton show in Paris two years ago.
Tomorrow the magazine goes on sale. Seeing some of the aerial images he photographed from a helicopter of the city I grew up in (one image focuses on the Sydney harbourside neighbourhood I was lucky enough to call home) gave me goose bumps. 
I love Australia. I love the creativity of Australians and their "can do" attitude.
I love the positivity, the beauty of the landscape and oceans and the extraordinary light.
I admire the selfless heroics of our surf life savers, and Mario does, too. In this issue he celebrates their strength and handsome beauty like never seen before.
He has also found the most handsome emu in Australia to photograph, too. There are problems in Australia, but we're indeed a lucky country.
Seeing our surroundings, our birdlife and fauna and some models we've worked with for many years through Mario's fresh eyes reshaped my view of this place and its talent.
Mario is a deep thinker and a very talented editor. This is his 10th edition of a Vogue title as editor.
It's a milestone of sorts for him, and a huge milestone for us at Vogue Australia.
From the very beginning, Mario wanted to explore the psyche of the Australian male; wondered why so many eccentrics were born here and yet had to travel overseas to feel acceptance and questioned why our open-minded society has been unable to reconcile gay marriage.
He's not a critic but a curious observer and is genuinely interested in encouraging thought, debate and the role creativity plays in enabling us to reconsider ourselves in a more introspective manner.
The strength in Mario's work is his versatility and his skill in telling a story by capturing the mood.
Mario says in his editor's letter introducing the special issue: "There is a sense of freedom and openness in Sydney which made me realise that it was the quality I had also recognised in all the Australian friends I know. Perhaps it was this quality that had made them so successful internationally." Mario's vision for the issue explores parts of our rich culture, heritage and as its dynamic contemporary landscape.
I believe the   April edition of Vogue celebrates urban Australia in a way that will resonate both at home and overseas.I cannot wait for you all to see it and in the meantime you can enjoy more Mario Testino images on our Instagram @vogueaustralia, which he has taken over for the weekend.