Former Geelong Mayor Srechko “Stretch” Kontelj OAM has been appointed honorary consul for the Republic of Slovenia for Victoria. The ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, Jurij Rifeij, visited Geelong on Monday to confirm the appointment and to formally open the consul office on Vista Rd, Newtown. 

“I am very proud to have been accorded this honour by the Republic of Slovenia, my parents’ country of birth,” Dr Kontelj said. 

Dr Kontelj resigned as a Geelong councillor in 2015 after 17 years’ service to take on the role of ground general counsel of Specsavers Optometry Group based in Guernsey, in the English Channel. During his five years in Guernsey, Dr Kontelj was appointed honorary consul for the Republic of Slovenia to the States of Guernsey and led several official trips to Slovenia to explore economic opportunities. 

“My appointment at this critial time as the world comes out of the Covid lockdowns is well timed for Australia and Slovenia to forge stronger economic relations that mature and prosper in the future, ” Dr Kontelj said.