Cerebral Palsy Australian Sports and Recreation Federation
Cerebral Palsy Australian Sport and Recreation Federation (CPASRF)
The Cerebral Palsy - Australian Sport and Recreation Federation was formed in 1989. The impetus to set up an organisation to cater specifically for the needs of people with cerebral palsy (CP) came from the following sources:
a) A need to represent athletes with CP who were already competing at an International level.
b) Cerebral Palsy – International Sport and Recreation Association (CP-ISRA) requested representation in Australia on the then recently formed Australian Confederation of Sports for the Disabled (A.C.S.D)
c) The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) accepted the Lockwood recommendations to set up specific organisations to cater for specific disabilities. The ASC also funded these organisations.
CPASRF’s inaugural meeting was held in January in 1989, Sydney. Mrs Judy Hill was elected President, Karen Denman as Vice President, Ricky Grant as Secretary, Brenda Lake Treasurer, committee members Cornelis Van Eldik and Tom Organ. Following the inaugural meeting, the ASC granted funding for a National Executive Director and subsequently Judy Hill was appointed National Executive Director and Karen Denman was elected President.
CPASRF encourages and supplies opportunities to people with CP and acquired brain injuries, ranging from recreational activities to the Paralympic Games. The classification system accommodates people with all abilities including people in electric wheelchairs through to ambulant participants. This system allows people with a similar level of ability to participate together.
The sports that are available include Track and Field, Swimming, Cycling, Lawn Bowls, Football, Boccia, Equestrian events, Powerlifting, sailing, Rowing, Table Tennis, Wheelchair Tennis, Archery, Judo and Winter Sports.
Highlights of CPASRF history include:
- First National CP Championships in 1994 in Brisbane.
- CPASRF hosted its first classification seminar in Melbourne in 1944 accrediting 32 Australians and 16 overseas people as classifiers.
- Boccia Australia was formed in 1990 and became a member of CPASRF
- Boccia Australia hosted the World Cup in 1995. The first international CP competition held in Australia.
- 1995 Priya Cooper’s outstanding performances in swimming won her the title of Paralympian of the Year.
- CP Football commenced in 1996 to develop a team for the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
Gregory Jones
Joan Stevens
David Campbell
Cornelis Van Eldik
Joan Steele-Mills