To one of Sydney's best restaurants, Bennelong at the Opera House. A black tie dinner to celebrate one of the world's greatest sportsmen, swimmer Ian Thorpe's tenth year of charity work.
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| Michelle Catelam,Mark Jason, Christa Billich |
Ian's
Fountain For Youth does superb work for disadvantaged Indigenous and Torres Straight Islander children. Naturally his good pal
Cathy Freeman was on hand to celebrate with Thorpie along with NSW's highly popular
Governor Marie Bashir and the Thorpedo's mentor , broadcaster
Alan Jones.
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| Alan Jones, Geoff & Belinda Griff |
But the surprise for the evening-a video taped message of congratulations and best wishes from the newly engaged Royal, HRH Prince William. ( or Prince Williams as the TV monitor display read !).
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| the only way to welcome guests ! |
Thorpie not only loves his charity work with Aboriginal kids, he gets things done. Visit the website and donate if you can. In his words :
"Visiting Aboriginal people, in their homes, their communities, on their land, has allowed me to listen and given me some idea of the problems that Aboriginal people face.
I listened to the concerns of mothers and fathers for the betterment of their children. This unwavering strength, in the face of social injustice. Within these communities I witness poverty, despair and pain…. but I also see hope….hope from those men and woman who want more for their children."
Amongst the guests: designer Carla Zampatti (left) and Moulin Rouge star Richard Roxburgh and his beautiful Italian wife Silvia Colloca. Roxburgh, a friend of Canturi's from the Moulin Rouge days had another reason to celebrate that night-his hit show Rake premiered it's second season that night on ABC TV.
