GOLDEN OLYMPIAN DROPS BY THE HUNTER

Budding swimmers have met with our most successful Olympians, Ian Thorpe.

The gold medalist visiting Wallsend – encouraging the community to use its public pool.

Swim instructors were also on hand promoting learn to swim programs.

Three people drowned in the Hunter in the past year – drowning deaths rising by 20 percent across the state.

(VISION ONLY)