January - February 2011

Australian Athletes with a Disability (AAWD) 

AAWD Website 

AAWD’s new website is live and we invite you to subscribe through the Newsletter tab or via the link (next to the search function).  AAWD will now be distributing its bi-monthly Newsletter through the website.  You will find an array of information including latest sports news, classification information, event details and links to other National Sports Organisations and State Sports Organisations for people with a Disability. Please also take the time to complete the subscription form so that AAWD can compile accurate data on disability sports participation rates in Australia and attract greater support of disability sport (personal details are treated in confidence).  

Log on at http://www.sports.org.au and stay tuned for further updates. We welcome all feedback. 

Wheelchair  Sports Australia 

Wheelchair Sports Australia (WSA) Board Member, Phil Tracey retired from the WSA Board, at the WSA 2010 AGM, after 9 years of service. In conjunction with serving on the WSA Board, Phil has also been involved with Disability Sport and Recreation (formerly known as Wheelchair Sports Victoria) for 37 years in which he served as Chair of Wheelchair Sports Victoria for 12 years. Phil was made a life member of Disability Sport and Recreation in 1999. 

Phil also represented Australia as a swimmer, competing in National Games and Paralympic Games. Throughout his swimming career, Phil won 2 bronze and 3 silver medals at the 1994 Stoke Mandeville, 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Games respectively.

WSA are greatly appreciative of Phil’s generosity and dedication to wheelchair sports over his career and wish him all the success in his future endeavours.

Wheelchair Basketball                

Osaka Cup

Congratulations to the Australian Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team, Australian Gliders, who finished 2^nd at the 2011 Osaka Cup. The Australian Gliders (70) went down to host nation Japan (72) in the final.  For more information visit http://www.basketball.net.au/index.php?id=302&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1822&cHash=028395536a

WNWBL and NWBL 

Final preparations continue for the 2011 Women’s National Wheelchair Basketball League (WNWBL) and National Wheelchair Basketball League (NWBL). 

Round one of the WNWBL will be held in Dandenong on 3-5 June, and round one of NWBL will be held on 15-17 April. 

For more information on the WNWBL, FIBA Live stats and results from 2010 or the upcoming 2011 season visit http://www.wnwbl.basketball.net.au/.   

For more information on the 2011 NWBL game times, dates and locations visit http://www.nwblaus.com. 

Boccia 

The 2011 Boccia Australia National Championships will be held 2-6 May at the Sydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen NSW. 

Boccia NSW is pleased to announce the inaugural Boccia NSW Junior State Titles, Friday 15 April 2011, at Avalon Recreation Centre. The Tournament will feature junior athletes from NSW and junior athletes invited from interstate & New Zealand. For more information please contact Peter King, Boccia NSW This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

If anyone is interested in playing or learning about Boccia, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Further information is available from http://www.boccia.com.au/. 

Cerebral Palsy Football 7-A-Side 

The 2011 National Paralympic 7-A-Side Football Championships will be held in South Australia on 12-15 April 2011. 

For more information please visit http://www.ffsa.com.au/ 

If you are interested in finding out more about CP Football please email David Campbell  ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or phone 0413 713 368 after business hours.

Volleyball

Volleyball Australia will be conducting a D-Volleyball Referee Course on 6-8 May 2011. The course will enable successful candidates to gain a refereeing certificate from Volleyball Australia. The Course will focus on refereeing sitting and standing volleyball and will also include information on beach volleyball rules for athletes with a disability. 

The cost of the course will be $150 per person including accommodation and meals and will be held at NSW Sport and Recreation, Narrabeen, NSW. 

For further information please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit http://www.sports.org.au/Volleyball Australia D-Volleyball Refereeing Course                                     

For further information on volleyball please visit http://www.avf.org.au/.

Lawn Bowls

2011 Wheelchair Sports Australia Lawn Bowls Multi-Disability National Championships 

The WSA Lawn Bowls Multi-Disability National Championships were hosted by Wheelchair Sports South Australia at the Clearview Bowling Club on 3-8 January. The men’s singles was won by Josh Barry (VIC) and the women’s singles by Carolyn Nelson (NSW). The open pairs were won by Ashley Pardon/Kaytlyn Smith (Qld), with NSW winning the Interstate trophy. Lucas Protopapas (VIC) was awarded the Clover Lester Encouragement Award. 

2011 IBD Lawn Bowls World Championships 

Wheelchair Sports Australia has announced the Australian team to compete at the 2011 IBD Lawn Bowls World Championships to be held in Pretoria, South Africa on 2-14 May 2011: 

Coach/Manager - Jan Palazzi

Athletes – Peter Henry (NSW), Josh Barry (VIC), Darryl Willson (SA), Liam Buckley (SA), Bernie Wolland (QLD), Barry Charity (SA), Carolyn Nelson (NSW) and Kaytlyn Smith (QLD). 

For more information on the 2011 IBD Lawn Bowls World Championships please visit www.interdisabledbowls.org. 

Please check with your state sports organisation for further lawn bowls updates (links are available from http://www.sports.org.au/).   

Australian Open 

The 2011Australian Open was held on 13-19 February at Darebin International Sports Centre hosted by Bowls Australia. 

The athletes with a disability program, incorporated men’s and women’s singles for vision impaired bowlers, AAWD bowlers (wheelchair/ambulant/cerebral palsy), hearing impaired bowlers and bowlers with an intellectual disability. Congratulations to Josh Barry (VIC) who defeated Bernie Wolland (QLD) in the grand final in the mixed AAWD division. 

Wheelchair Rugby 

NWRL 

The 2011 NWRL will be the tenth season of the National Wheelchair Rugby League. This season sees four teams compete for the title of National League Champion; the SA Sharks, Victoria ‘Coloplast’ Thunder, Jetstar Gold Coast Titans Wheelchair Rugby Squad and NSW GIO Gladiators. 

There will be a total of four rounds each hosted by the competing states. Round one for 2011 kicks off 15-17 April in Melbourne, followed by round two 13-15 May in Brisbane, round three 10-13 June in Sydney and the finals series 15-17 July in Adelaide. 

If you are interested in playing wheelchair rugby please contact your state Wheelchair Sports office or Wheelchair Sports Australia at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For information on the NWRL visit http://www.rugby.sports.org.au

Referees

Wheelchair Sports Australia is always looking for new referees; with training and development provided for suitable applicants.

If anyone is interested in becoming a referee, please contact your state Wheelchair Sports office or Wheelchair Sports Australia ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Calendar of Events 2011 (*Subject to alterations)

For more information on events in 2011 please visit the AAWD Events Calendar http://www.sports.org.au/events.html