Ian Thorpe implores Federal Government to come up with better ways to tackle bushfires
Making a rare public appearance, swimming legend Ian Thorpe has spoken out about Australia’s devastating bushfires, saying a ‘better strategy’ is needed to deal with them.
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Ian Thorpe has joined the chorus of Aussie sports stars calling on the Morrison Government to come up with a better way of tackling bushfires, warning the devastating blazes that were seen this summer could become commonplace.
Looking fit and relaxed but staying on dry land, Thorpe made a rare public appearance to support a fundraising clinic organised by members of the Australian swimming team who were caught up in the bushfires.
“Australians are used to seeing fires but not fires like this,” the five-time Olympic gold medallist said.
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“I think now is the time for us to support all of the people that have been affected but we really do need to find a better strategy in the future of how to run and manage these kind of devastating climactic events that are happening and are going to be more frequently.”
Although he makes few public appearances, 37-year-old Thorpe has never shied away from speaking out on issues he feels strongly about.
He joined the campaign pushing for same-sex marriage and appeared alongside basketball legend Lauren Jackson in a video last year opposing the Government’s Religious Discrimination Bill.
Thorpe said he contacted the Government offering to help with the bushfire crisis but only got involved after two-time Olympian David McKeon called him asking for help.
McKeon organised a two-day clinic at the University of Wollongong on Saturday to raise $20,000 for the Rural Fire Service and Red Cross relief fund after his family witnessed the devastation first hand.
His parents and his sister Emma, a Rio Olympic gold medallist, had to be evacuated from their Lake Conjola home on New Year’s Eve. Their home was saved but more than 90 others were destroyed by the fires and one local man lost his life.
A who’s who of Australian swimming are attending the clinic, which continues today. They include the McKeons, Cate Campbell, Bronte Campbell, Emily Seebohm, Thomas Fraser-Holmes, Jess Hansen, Monique Murphy, and Jarrod Poort. But Thorpe was the star attraction.
“I was lying in bed one night thinking how can I help, and swim clinics are what we do,” David McKeon said.
“I contacted Thorpie and he just jumped straight in to help. It’s amazing to get someone like him but also all these other great swimmers who wanted to help the community.”