The Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association is the peak body for sport, recreation and fitness for people with a physical disability or

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. The not-for-profit organisation's mission was 'to enhance the lives of people with a disability through community engagement and education, sport and healthy activity', and was changed after 2019 to 'Engage, empower and develop people with a disability to live a more healthy, active and fulfilled life of their choosing'. It supports people with a range of disabilities including acquired brain injury, amputations, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, spinal cord injury, other Neuromuscular disease, neuromuscular and Orthopedic surgery, orthopaedic conditions, and

(partial or total vision loss). The organisation's sports programs and services encourage participation from social level through to elite competition such as the Paralympic Games. The organisation's headquarters is in Brisbane, about September 2020, moving from 60 Edmondstone Road, Bowen Hills, to 30 Dover Street, Albion. There were offices in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Queensland, Mackay and Central Queensland.

Governance

Under the association’s constitution, the general control and management of the administration of Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association is by a board of six. An advisory council of Queensland business and community leaders meets on a regular basis to advise and assist the Board in the development and implementation of association policies. Five-time Paralympian and coach Ray Epstein was the chief executive officer of the association from 1998 to December 2016.

History

The association has its origins in the 1960s as a small sports club within the Paraplegic Welfare Association in Queensland. Sport for people with spinal cord injuries was gaining popularity following the first Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960, and the 'Queensland Sports and Social Club for the Disabled' played an active role in promoting disability sport and raising funds for Queensland athletes selected for national and international competitions. In 1977, the club became a registered charity in its own right as the Paraplegia, Paraplegic and Tetraplegia, Quadriplegic Sport Association of Queensland. By the following year, the association had extended its programs and services to include people with physical disabilities other than spinal cord injuries. The decision was made to change to the current name to reflect the association's broader mission and capitalise on the popular term 'sporting wheelies' to describe wheelchair athletes. The association also works with national bodies such as the Sport Australia and the Paralympics Australia.

Notable Paralympians

*Ashley Adams *Rene Ahrens *Greg Ball (cyclist), Greg Ball *Brendan Burkett *Lyn Coleman *Cameron de Burgh *Stephen Eaton *Amanda Fraser *Darren Gardiner *Marayke Jonkers *Adrian King (basketball), Adrian King *Warren Lawton *Karni Liddell *Alison Mosely *Mike Nugent (athlete), Mike Nugent *Christopher Scott (cyclist), Christopher Scott *Brooke Stockham *Darren Thrupp *Geoff Trappett *Rachael Watson Association members inducted into the Queensland Wheelchair Basketball Hall of Fame have included Robert McIntyre (Paralympian), Robert McIntyre (1996), Rene Ahrens (1996), Beryl Ahrens (1996), Kevin Bishop (1996), Fred Nitz (1996), Mike Nugent (athlete), Mike Nugent (1996), Mathew Le Busque (2001), and Adrian King (basketball), Adrian King (2003).

Services

Member services include financial support to participate in representative sporting events and training camps; junior development squads for young athletes; social sporting competitions; subsidised recreational activities; and fitness and rehabilitation services through its Brisbane gym. The organisation also works with partners in disability services, the public sector and sporting bodies to promote inclusion and increase participation of people with a disability in sport and active recreation.

References

External links

* {{official website, http://www.sportingwheelies.org.au/ Parasports organisations in Australia Organisations based in Queensland Cerebral palsy organizations Sports organizations established in 1977