Retired Australian swimmer, Ian Thorpe, who has won more Olympic medals than any Australian, brought Service Street in Bairnsdale to a standstill on Monday when he officially opened the new Optus service centre.
Ian, in his quiet and humble manner, cut the ribbon after East Gippsland Shire mayor, Cr Mendy Urie, welcomed Optus and the famous Olympic swimmer to town.
Prior to Thorpe cutting the ribbon, more than 50 young people were lined up in Service Street by the president of the East Gippsland Waterdragons Swim Club, Andrew Martin.
After the official ribbon cutting, the young swimmers were invited into the store for a chat and of course autographs from the Olympic champion.
IMAGE:
Australia’s most successful Olympic swimmer, Ian Thorpe (second from left), cutting the ribbon at the new Optus Service Centre in Bairnsdale on Monday alongside store manager Jayson Grool, East Gippsland Shire mayor, Cr Mendy Urie (obscured), and Optus Gippsland franchisee, Michael Koch.
