AUSTRALIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2005/06 1 CONTENTS Australian Paralympic Committee 2 President’s Report 3 Message from the Australian Sports Commission 4 Honour Roll 5 Chief Executive Officer’s Report 6 Finance and Fundraising 10 Torino 2006 Winter Paralympic Games 14 Sport Reports 16 Archery 16 Athletics 17 Wheelchair Basketball 18 Cycling 19 Equestrian 20 Football 21 Judo 22 Powerlifting 23 Rowing 24 Wheelchair Rugby 25 Sailing 26 Shooting 27 Swimming 28 Table Tennis 29 Tennis 30 Winter Sport 31 Acronyms 32 Sponsors 33 Cover photos Claire McLean Toby Kane at the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games 2 AUSTRALIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2005/06 3 THE APC PRESIDENT’S REPORT The reality of Paralympic sport is that today’s world record can be next week’s minor placing. That is the world in which our athletes compete. One measure of the success of the Australian perspective, through its contributions to the Paralympic Committee is the performance of international Paralympic movement. The APC the Australian Team at the Paralympic Games helped to establish and continues to support and, increasingly, Paralympic achievements the Oceania Paralympic Committee (OPC). are hard-won. In Athens, there were 304 new Through the OPC, Paralympic sport in the world records. In Torino this year, the Oceania region is developing. The introduction competition was the toughest ever, with 52 of the Oceania Paralympic Championships hopefuls finishing behind bronze medallist within the 2007 Arafura Games – an APC Toby Kane in the Super-G. For Beijing, the initiative – will mark another milestone. forecast is more of the same. The Australian Paralympic movement is The reality of Paralympic sport is that today’s increasingly represented on the International world record can be next week’s minor Paralympic Committee, from its Governing placing. That is the world in which our Board through to classification committees and athletes compete. anti-doping, medical and coaching forums. The APC also operates in an environment Back in Australia, the past year has seen the where, if you are not moving forward, you are Australian Sports Commission conduct a going backwards. The Board of the APC is major project to develop a national plan for conscious of the need to keep the APC at disability sport. While the APC made a the forefront of Australian sport – in terms of submission to the ASC, the APC Board also sport performance and the organisation’s saw the need to appoint a Paralympic Sport corporate performance. Task Force, under the chairmanship of Jim Ferguson, to ensure that there was due The need to constantly better our previous consideration of the needs of Paralympic performances is an ongoing philosophical sport. I expect that we shall see the results of driver for the APC. The APC regularly examines both exercises unfold in the coming year, its role and how it can best achieve its strategic appreciation to all those from whom we hopefully to the benefit of all people with aims. While we learn the lessons of the past, receive support, especially the Prime Minister, disabilities, including those who are and who L–R Standing: Doug Denby; Paul Bird; Justin Holdforth; Joyce Parszos; Graeme Watts we keep our sights firmly on the future. John Howard, the Minister for Sport, Rod L–R Seated: Nick Dean; Ken Brown; Greg Hartung (absent: Steve Loader and Darren Peters) aspire to be Paralympians. It is essential that Kemp, the CEO of the Australian Sports This approach has resulted in a number of the APC (including our members) controls our Commission, Mark Peters, and his staff. recent APC initiatives, including the destiny – our record is unparalleled in sport. mainstreaming of the Paralympic Preparation This year I have been delighted to see the The Board of the APC continues to play a vital Program with national sporting organisations, establishment of a supporters’ group of APC Board APC Member Organisations role in ensuring that the APC is dynamic and the Talent Search Program, the APC Federal Parliamentarians, Parliamentary relevant. In the past year its members have Greg Hartung OAM President Athletics Australia Classification Program (under the IPC Friends of Paralympians. I am particularly continued to be active on a range of Classification Code) and the Paralympians pleased that the Prime Minister and the Leader Nick Dean Vice President Australian Sports Organisation for the Disabled committees and, once again, on the Australian Alumni. The APC will soon launch the Telstra of the Opposition have agreed to become joint Paralympic Team. The APC is fortunate to Ken Brown AM Vice President Australian Blind Sports Federation Paralympic Education Program. patrons of the Parliamentary Friends and I have such a committed and talented group to express my appreciation to the group’s Paul Bird OAM Director Australian Sport and Recreation Association for Persons In March 2006, the Commonwealth Games oversee its progress. Chairman, Senator Michael Ronaldson, and with an Intellectual Disability showed how the media can create household Doug Denby Director I also wish to acknowledge the role played by Deputy Chair, Senator Kate Lundy. I wish this names of Australia’s leading athletes with a Basketball Australia the APC’s CEO, Darren Peters, and his staff. valuable group every success. Justin Holdforth Director disability. The APC understands the need to We have become a completely different Cerebral Palsy – Australian Sport and Recreation Federation provide opportunities for Paralympic athletes The past year has been another good one for Steve Loader Director organisation over the past four years, in large to be seen in Australia and the value of the APC. We have set the foundations for the Cycling Australia part due to the ability of Darren, with his core Joyce Parszos Director communicating images and messages future, so that we can continue to make the group of senior managers, to make the Disabled WinterSport Australia about Paralympic sport and we are initiating best use of the resources available to us and Graeme Watts Director changes necessary to keep us effective and relevant programs. continue to provide the best possible Riding for the Disabled Association of Australia relevant to the needs of Paralympic sport. Darren Peters Chief Executive Officer/ opportunities for Australians with a disability to In the coming year, many of these APC Non-voting Director Swimming Australia The APC is fortunate to enjoy strong and pursue their dreams in the Paralympic arena. programs will take centre stage. ongoing support from a range of sponsors Table Tennis Australia Greg Hartung Through the performances of its athletes, most and providers. The most important of these is President Tennis Australia recently in Torino, Australia is seen as a leading the Federal Government and the relationship Australian Paralympic Committee Paralympic nation. The APC seeks to support we enjoy with the Government is a factor in our Wheelchair Sports Australia that position from an administrative success. Once again, I extend my Yachting Australia 4 AUSTRALIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2005/06 5 MESSAGE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPORTS HONOUR ROLL COMMISSION The Australian Government is a strong finishes, in addition to the medal winning supporter of Australian sport. The Australian runs, signify a great achievement for a Paralympic Medal recipients Sports Commission (ASC) is the government relatively inexperienced team where six of the body that develops, manages and invests in ten made their Paralympic debuts. This 2001 Mrs Marie Little sport at all levels in Australia. success continued at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, where Australian 2002 Mr Ron Finneran The Commission funds and works closely elite athletes with a disability won four gold, with a range of national sporting two silver and three bronze medals. 2004 Ms Adrienne Smith organisations, state and local governments, schools and community bodies to ensure The 2004 election policy contained a 2005 Mr Nick Dean sport is well run and accessible so that commitment by the Australian Government to everyone can participate and enjoy the establish a working group to strategically benefits. The Commission upholds the review the current environment for including integrity of sport through many innovative people with a disability in sport and sport- Australian Paralympian programs to promote ethical sporting related physical activity. The purpose of this practices and sport free of performance review is to determine if the participation in of the Year enhancing drugs. sport by people with a disability can be better met and to develop a plan at During 2005/06, the Australian Government, 1994 Louise Sauvage community, regional, state and national levels through the ASC, supported the Australian to address these needs. The review has Paralympic Committee (APC) through 1995 Priya Cooper progressed well, and the Commission will funding of approximately $5.5 million for the continue to work with the APC to develop a 1996 Louise Sauvage development of the Australian Paralympic National Sport Plan for People with a movement and the continued support of elite Disability report. 1997 Louise Sauvage athletes with a disability. The Australian Sports Commission looks 1998 Louise Sauvage The Commission acknowledges that the APC forward to a continued winning partnership has continued to work to achieve Paralympic with the Australian Paralympic Committee. 2000 Siobhan Paton success, resulting in commendable Australian performances at the IX Winter Mark Peters 2002 Michael Milton Paralympic Games in winning two Alpine CEO Skiing medals. The four Alpine Skiing top ten Australian Sports Commission 2004 Tim Sullivan Michael Milton Five time Paralympian Michael Milton retired from Paralympic competition after the 2006 Torino Paralympic Winter Games. During his career, Michael won 11 Paralympic medals, including six gold. He was named the 2002 Laureus World Athlete of the Year with a Disability, the 2002 Paralympian of the Year and currently holds the world speed record for skiers with a disability.