Australia at the 1980 Summer Paralympics

Background

"I encourage all disabled people to follow your example and take an active part in sporting activities" This was the line delivered to the Paralympic team by the Prime minister at the time, Mr Malcolm Fraser. He remarked that "These Olympics are the culmination of many years of dedication and hard work." He congratulated the team "on behalf of the Government and all Australians" and wished them good luck and success. He spoke to the team on June 18 1980 and this was reported on in the national newspaper ‘The Australian’.

To compete in the 1980 Paralympics in Arnhem, the athletes were required to raise their own funding for travel expenses as there was no governing body in Australia at the time. One particular wheelchair athlete (Fred Pointer) was reported to be travelling from Melbourne to Sydney in his wheelchair to raise funds. He completed this in a wheelchair he designed his self.

Team

Australia competed in 3 classes of 4 in 10 sports and won medals in six sports. Amputee athletes in Australia did not have a national body but the previous experiences at the Torontolympiad and at the Sydney FESPIC Games provided the impetus for individual athletes to attend Arnhem. There were no selection trials and the 11 athletes who competed had to cover their cost to get and from the Games. There were also eleven vision-impaired athletes from Australia who attended Arnhem. These athletes had the advantage of a national organisation, formed in the same year as the Arnhem Games, which raised funds and assisted in preparation in participation. The biggest contingent of Australians at Arnhem was athletes with a spinal cord injury and they experienced the most success winning a total of 34 medals. Even though the 1980 Paralympic Games were the first time that cerebral palsy athletes joined spinal cord injury, blind and amputees athletes at the Paralympics, Australia did not have a national organisation and did not send any cerebral palsy athletes.

The team was led by Coach Terry Keneghan.

Medalists

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Archery

Australia represented by:
Men - Dennis Kennedy, Eric Klein, Ian Trewhella
Women – Susan Davies
Australia won a silver medal through Ian Trewhella's performance in Men's short metric round tetraplegic.

Athletics

Australia represented by:
Men – Rene Ahrens, Chris Alp, Rene Andres, Paul Bird, Kevin Bishop, Donald Dann, Joe Egan, Robert Faulkner, Peter Hill, Erich Hubel, Barry Kalms, Wayne Lanham, Peter Marsh, John Martin, Michael McFawn, Robert McIntyre, Jeff McNeil, Brian McNicholl, David McPherson, Kevin Munro, Michael Nugent, Richard Oliver, Wayne Patchett, Fred Pointer, Eric Russell, Bruce Sandilands, John Sheil, Murray Todd, Ian Trewhella, Robert Turner
Women – Charmaine Cree, Sue Hobbs, Julie Langhorne, Pam Nugent, Julie Russell, J. Wilson
Athletics was Australia's most successful team winning 34 medals - 8 gold, 9 silver and 17 bronze medals.

Dartchery

Australia represented by:
Men - ?
Women -  ? Australia did not win any medals.

Goalball

Australia represented by:
Men - Robert Faulkner, David (Dave) Manera, Robert McIntyre, Bruce Sandilands
Australia did not win a medal.

Lawn Bowls

Australia represented by:
Men – Mike McGuire, N. Hunter, E. Wratten
Women – Gloria Pascoe
Australia won a gold medal through Gloria Pascoe in women's singles B.

Shooting

Australia represented by:
Women – Barbara Caspers, Elizabeth Kosmala, Gloria Pascoe
Australia won 6 medals - 2 gold medals, 3 silver medals and 1 bronze medal

Swimming

Australia represented by:
Men - Rene Andres, Paul Bird, Peter Carroll, Gary Gudgeon, Peter Hill, Dennis Kennedy, David (Dave) Manera, David McPherson, Charlie Tapscott
Women – Carolyn Connors, Maureen Pybus
Australia won 11 medals - 1 gold, 8 silver medals and 2 bronze medals. Gary Gudgeon won the gold medal.

Table Tennis

Australia represented by:
Men – Donald Dann, Peter Marsh, John Martin, John Sheil, Charlie Tapscott
Australia did not win any medals.

Weightlifting

Australia represented by:
Men – Barry Kalms, Brian McNicholl, John Sheil
Australia won 2 bronze medals.

Wheelchair Basketball

Australia represented by:
Men - Rene Ahrens, Robert Augustine, Kevin Bishop, Peter Burt, Kevin Coombs, Len Ettridge, Erich Hubel, Robert McIntyre, Brian McNicholl, Kevin Munro, Richard Oliver, Fred Pointer

Australian results: United States d Australia 87-36 ; Japan d Australia 77-50 ; Spain d Australia 73-56 ; Australia d Denmark 53-33 ; Great Britain d Australia 62-33 ; Germany d Australia 58-49 ; Australia d Brazil 68-44 ; Australia d Denmark 48-37

Australia did not win a medal.