Timeline - Paralympics

Year

1960

"We couldn't race in Rome, they reckon it was too dangerous."

Bill Mather-Brown talks about the events he competed in during 1960 Rome Paralympics

1964

Athletes warm up for the men's javelin event at the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games. On the left is an unknown Australian athlete and next to him is Gary Hooper, another member of the Australian Team.

Javelin warm-up Tokyo Paralympics

1972

Cherrie Ireland Competes in Wheelchair Slalom

1974

From the cool and windy Caledonian ground to the indoor warmth of the RSA club rooms, the acquired concentration of the snooker players. This semi-final match between Noel Simmons of NSW and Jimmy Gibson of Northern Ireland proved to be an easy win for Gibson and Noel had to be content with a bronze medal.

Noel Simmons wins bronze in Snooker, Dunedin Commonwealth Paraplegic Games

The Aussie sprint stars were favoured to take out the slalom events as well. Ray Barrett had won the class 2 sprint but was disqualified in the slalom. This particular obstacle course tested chair handling skill and light manoeuvres more than sheer speed. John Martin wizzes around the ramp platform. Terry Giddy whizzed too hard and came off the side and had to do it again much to his annoyance. Gwen Milbourne was a certainty beaten in the class 2 women’s slalom, when she came to grief in a big way on the ramp. Slalom is an obstacle race against the stop watch with seconds being added as penalties for hitting markers.

Australian Athletic Team, Slalom, Dunedin Commonwealth Paraplegic Games

Russel Morrison, a class 4 spina bifida from SA in the backstroke, in which he broke the commonwealth record.

Russell Morrison breaks Backstroke record, Dunedin Commonwealth Paraplegic Games

Here is Russel Morrison surging up the pool in his 50m freestyle which he won in record time. Well done congratulations from coach Kirkbride.

Russell Morrison wins 50m freestyle, Dunedin Commonwealth Paraplegic Games

Pauline English, also still a high school student has a good win in the 50m freestyle class 4. She also had a fine win in the 150m individual medley.

Pauline English, Swimming, Dunedin Commonwealth Paraplegic Games

The men’s relay team of Martin, Patterson, McIntyre and Giddy, complete the Australian clean sweep of the men’s track events, amid much jubilation from the Australian camp.

Australian Men’s Athletics Team, Wheelchair Relay, Dunedin Commonwealth Paraplegic Games

The bowls competition was held nearby in Logan Park and also proved successful for Australia. Ruth Twait winning the gold in the singles and the silver in the pairs with Don Bennett showed here in his chair specially fitted with rollers which enable wheelchair players to bowl in able bodied clubs.

Ruth Twait and Don Bennett, Lawn Bowling, Dunedin Commonwealth Paraplegic Games

Australian at the swimming event

Australian at the swimming event

John Lisle also competed in the small bore rifle shooting together with SA's Kevin Bourdan. This was held in the Saint Kilda indoor range and demanded the utmost concentration throughout the match. Kevin is set up on a special table connected to his wheelchair with a telescope attached to enable him to see where he hits the tiny targets 25m away. Graham Soreby-Adams admires the target place with which Kevin won the gold medal, with the excellent score of 395.26 out of a possible 400. It was a proud moment for Kevin when he received his medal at one of the meticulously conducted presentation ceremonies organised by the NZ army.

Kevin Borden, Shooting, Dunedin Commonwealth Paraplegic Games

Apart from the special events for quads, there is no class distinction in archery and it is surprisingly to find that Australia’s top archers are mostly high level injuries. John Lisle from Victoria is a class 2 competitor and completed a trio of silver medals for Australia in archery, although he had trouble shivering in the icy breezes.

John Lisle, Archery, Dunedin Commonwealth Paraplegic Games

In an adjacent hall in the students union the fencers were doing battle. Robert Jorgan was Australia only representative while the English and Scottish competitors were too experiences. The chairs are anchored at the correct distance and the competitors wired to the electronic score board. When a scoring hit is made, a green light comes on and a point is registers against the person hit. Robert is satisfied with his performance and puts it down to experience. The same hall was used later in the week for weight lifting.

Robert Jorgan, Fencing, Dunedin Commonwealth Paraplegic Games

Jeff Harrison in the class 1b discus. Jeff is a quadriplegic from SA. In the same class is Ree from Jamaica showing a good deal more strength and mobility. Morris Ireland from QLD in the class 2 discus event. The Kenyan's look more at home in the cold that Eric Russell and Dennia Kay, huddled in blankets. Dennis Kay from SA in class 3. Because of the lower level of his injury he can exert much more rotation in his trunk than those in the higher classes.

Australian Team, Discus, Dunedin Commonwealth Paraplegic Games

Bobby McIntyre and Hugh Patterson wins gold in Class 5 and Class 3 wheelchair dash respectively

Bobby McIntyre and Hugh Patterson, Wheelchair Dash, Dunedin Commonwealth Paraplegic Games

Here is the amazing Terry Giddy, powering his way to a new world record of 20.1 seconds in the class 4 100m. A record which was not allowed because of wind assistance.

Terry Giddy, 100M Dash, Dunedin Commonwealth Paraplegic Games

Here is the final of the 200m, starting from the other side of the arena. The wet track makes it a long hard push, but Australia scores 1, 2, 3, with Terry, Bob and Hugh showing their strength and giving warning of the Australian mens dominance in the remaining track events.

Australian Team, 200m Dash, Dunedin Commonwealth Paraplegic Games

Australia wins gold medals from Elaine Shriver and Noel Simmons.

Elaine Shriver and Noel Simmons, Precision Javelin, Dunedin Commonwealth Paraplegic Games

1994

1994 Lillehammer Winter Games, Australian athlete Rod Hacon

Rod Hacon takes a tight line in pre-Games competition

1996

James Nomarhas rests between shots, Atlanta 1996

Keith Bremner shoots, Atlanta Paralympics

2000

Natalie Cordowiner competes in Archery at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Natalie Cordowiner continued the tradition of archers and their hats

2008

Women’s S9 100m butterfly medallists

Photograph of wheelchair basketball player Clare Burzynski before the Australia v Brazil preliminary game at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games

Beijing is introduced to Australia’s Clare Burzynski

Cole and Williams embrace

Peter Leek 100m butterfly gold

Tristan Knowles Prepares to Pass

Scott Vitale Carries the Ball against New Zealand

Bryce Alman Moves with the Ball

Brad Ness Shoots Free Throw

Ryley Batt puts a Big Hit on New Zealand Opponent

Ryan Scott Takes the Ball Up

Lisa McIntosh Sprints Away in 100m Final

Richard Colman Competing in the T53 400m Final

Gliders line up pre-game for the national anthems

Grant Mizens 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games

Australian wheelchair basketballer Gauci looks to pass to Chaplin

Liesl Tesch shoots against the USA

Chris Mullins at the start for the 400m final

Julie Smith crosses the finish line in the 100m final

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