Timeline - Paralympics

1960

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Athletics results at the summer Paralympics and IPC World Championships from 1960.

Athletics results for summer Paralympics and IPC World Championships from 1960

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Results of Australian swimmers at the summer Paralympics and IPC World Championships from 1960.

Swimming results for summer Paralympics and IPC World Championships from 1960

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Wheelchair basketball results from summer Paralympics and World Championships from 1960.

Wheelchair basketball results at summer Paralympics and World Championships from 1960

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Table tennis results at the summer Paralympics from 1960.

Table tennis results at the summer Paralympics from 1960

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Archery results at the summer Paralympics from 1960.

Archery at the summer Paralympics from 1960

The first Royal North Shore Paraplegic Games

"Now's the time ... let's set up some games."

Dr John Grant on the role of sport competition in rehabilitation

In the Table Tennis tent at the first RNSH Paraplegic Games

Basketball concluded the first RNSH Paraplegic Games

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The 1960 National Paraplegic Games were the selection event for the 1960 Paralympics, to be held in Rome in September that year.

The first National Paraplegic Games

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The Australian Paraplegic Council was established. Its roles included organising a National Paraplegic Games and selecting a team from those Games to attend the 1960 Paralympics.

The Australian Paraplegic Council became responsible for the Paralympic Team

All dressed up and off to the Nationals

Archery was a premier event

Every Australian state was represented

National Games medals and tickets to Rome for Cunningham and Coombs

Gary hooper: how lucky I am to be here

Gary Hooper talks about ‘making it’ as a Paralympic athlete

"We'd sit on street corners and sell raffle tickets"

Bill Mather-Brown talks about the public awareness benefits of early fundraising activities

Kalgoorlie crowd watches Paras push around police cadets

"It's a great feeling when you win, or even just put on a great performance"

Bill Mather-Brown talks about the joys of team sport

Paralympian Bruno Moretti discussing sport as rehabilitation and ability to play multiple sports in the early Paralympics

Bruno Moretti discusses sport as rehabilitation and being required to play multiple sports

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Australia sent a team of twelve athletes and four support staff to the first Paralympic Games.

Australia at the Rome Summer Paralympics 1960

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List of the members of the 1960 Australian Paralympic Team for the Rome Games, with links to the members’ Wikipedia articles.

1960 Rome Paralympics Australian Team list

1960 Paralympian Kevin Coombes reflects on being the first Indigenous Paralympian.

Kevin Coombs discusses traveling to Rome

Members of the 1960 Australian Paralympic Team pose with an entertainer at their hotel in Singapore en route to the first Paralympic Games in Rome, September 1960. At this time, it was seen as beneficial for people with paraplegia to spend time standing and even to learn to 'walk' using crutches and wearing calipers, so Daphne Ceeney (later Hilton) in the back row and Frank Ponta (seated, far left) are out of their wheelchairs in this photo.

Australian team en route to 1960 Rome Paralympics

They carried us on and off aeroplanes

Listen to Bill Mather-Brown praising the hard work of the team support staff

Members of the first Australian Paralympic Team, in Rome in 1960, disembark from a plane at Rome airport at the end of their journey to the Games. The team contained a mixture of athletes with polio and those with spinal cord injuries. In general, those with paraplegia were lifted from the plane and those with polio used the steps. Team physiotherapist

Australian team athletes disembark from plane Rome Summer Paralympics

Going up ten stairs with a wheelchair

Gary Hooper chats about the unusual and barely accessible accommodation at the 1960 Rome Summer Paralympics

The Athletes' Village for the 1960 Paralympic Games in Rome consisted of apartments above the ground, with no lift access. Although ramps were installed over the stairs, most athletes required assistance to enter and leave the buildings as the ramps were so steep.

Athletes’ Village Rome Summer Paralympics

Paralympic defined: Parallel, paralysed or paraplegic?

Bill Mather-Brown discusses the origin of the term “Paralympic”

Australian team marches Tokyo Summer Paralympics Opening Ceremony

Australian team Rome Summer Paralympics Opening Ceremony

Pocket from Kevin Coombs’ 1960 team blazer

Kevin Coombs on being the first Indigenous Paralympian

Paralympian Daphne Ceeney takes pride in being Australia’s first female Paralympian.

Daphne Ceeney on her pride in being Australia’s first female Paralympian

Paralympian Chris O’Brian on the best thing about being a Paralympian.

Chris O’Brien discuss best thing about being a Paralympian

The venue for the swimming events at the 1960 Rome Paralympic GamesThe venue for the swimming events at the 1960 Rome Paralympic GamesThe venue for the swimming events at the 1960 Rome Paralympic GamesThe venue for the swimming events at the 1960 Rome Paralympic GamesThe venue for the swimming events at the 1960 Rome Paralympic GamesThe venue for the swimming events at the 1960 Rome Paralympic GamesThe venue for the swimming events at the 1960 Rome Paralympic GamesThe venue for the swimming events at the 1960 Rome Paralympic GamesThe venue for the swimming events at the 1960 Rome Paralympic Games

Swimming venue Rome Summer Paralympics

Bill Mather-Brown and the dubious officiating

Bill Mather-Brown talks about the basketball officials at the 1960 Rome Paralympics

Gary Hooper: "Come on, you can do better than that."

Listen to Gary Hooper talk about the many events he participated in

"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

Members of the first Australian Paralympic Team, in Rome in 1960, relax at the archery venue. Seated on the far left is Daphne Ceeney (later Hilton), Australia's only female competitor in Rome and the first Australian female Paralympic gold medallist. Behind her, also looking at the camera, is Gary Hooper.

Australian Team members 1960 Rome Paralympics

Australia’s first Paralympic gold medal

Bill Mather-Brown: "We used to call him 'Spag'"

Bill Mather-Brown talks about amusing experiences involving Bruno Moretti at the 1960 Rome Paralympics

1960 Paralympian Gary Hooper comments on the role of pioneering Paralympians in inspiring later generations of athletes.

Gary Hooper on the place in history of the first Paralympians

Australian athletes are helped onto a bus with a rear wheelchair hoist during the 1960 Paralympic Games in Rome. Waiting at right is Ross Sutton, Australia's first Paralympic gold medallist.

Australian Team Members boarding bus 1960 Rome Paralympics

Bill Mather-Brown reflects on changes in the Games since 1960

Bruno Moretti discusses wooden wheelchairs and technical changes over time

Seven members of the 1960 Australian Paralympic Team - the first - at the reunion to mark the 50th anniversary of the Games. The team members and their partners were guests of honour at the 2010 Australian Paralympian of the Year Awards. All but one of the pictured athletes were accompanied by their long-term wives or husbands. Of the 12 athletes who attended the Games, eight were still alive 50 years later (Frank Ponta was too ill to attend). L to R (athlete and partner): Chris O'Brien with his sister; Daphne Hilton (nee Ceeney) and husband Frank; Gary Hooper and wife Jan; APC President Greg Hartung; Bruno Moretti and wife Scarlett; Kevin Coombs and wife Linda; Kevin Cunningham and wife Maureen; and Bill Mather-Brown and wife Nadine.

Australian team 50-year reunion Rome Summer Paralympics

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Looking for more about the 1960 summer Paralympics? Here are some links you can visit and ideas to find out more.

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I hope they appreciate us, and what we've done for the future

Listen to how Frank Ponta would like to be remembered

1962

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The 1962 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games were held in Perth, the then home of disability sport in Australia, with the Royal Perth Hospital being a key driving force.