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March 2004 Newsletter

AAWD

The AAWD Board continues to meet every six weeks with its next meeting scheduled to take place Saturday 15 May in Sydney.

The Board has released its funding guidelines for the year which are available on the AAWD website. Tony Gilmour has commenced part time employment with AAWD, one of Tony's first tasks is the coordination of all of AAWD's policies and procedures.

AAWD Board Member Profile Robert Cole

Bob Cole or Bob C. as he is known nationally and internationally, was born in Sydney. He has been married to Bev for nearly 38 years and is the father of Michele, Todd, Adam and Raya. He is also the very special Papa of Harrison who is 5 and a new grandchild expected in June.

He began his working life as a Fitter and Turner, progressing to Toolmaking and Engineering. His Managerial and People skills were developed over the years with Companies such as STC, Rheem, Road Safety Engineering and HPM. Currently he owns and manages Tarana Maintenance.

Bob became involved with Sporting events again as his children explored Athletics, Netball, Soccer, Basketball, Squash and Rugby Union. He became involved with training Athletics, supervising young people at Camps, Athletic and Rugby tours and Field trips.

His first experience as Manager was with the Trans Tasman Little Athletics Team to Auckland in 1983. In 1990 Bob led the Supporters Group Tour with the Australian Schoolboys Rugby Union Team to Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England.

In 1995 when Bev was encouraged by Bill Bradley, to go to "A Come and Try Day" for Wheelchair Lawn Bowls Bob decided to learn how to bowl as well. This was the beginning of his involvement not only with Bowls but also with the NSW Wheelchair Sports Association and the NSW Amputee Sports Association.

In 1995 Bob met Graham Golley at a National Bowls Championship in Adelaide. The pathway was laid down for Bob's involvement both in organising and managing.

1996 IPC Games Rosehill NSW Team Manager
1998 IPC Games South Africa Team Manager
1999 Southern Cross Games Sydney Co-ordinator Lawn Bowls
2002 Commonwealth Games EAD Lawn Bowls Manager

Bob has been Treasurer for NSW Amputee Sports Association for 6 years and Bowls Convenor for 3 years.

With the sad passing of Graham Golley Bob became the President of Australian Sports Organisation for the Disabled (ASOD). He was involved with the working party to set up Australian Athletes with a Disability and is the Representative for ASOD.

Bob is also the Australian Representative on the IPC Lawn Bowls Sports Committee. The other members are from England, South Africa and Malaysia. This International Committee is organising the IPC Lawn Bowls World Championships to be held in Kuala Lumpur in June 2004.

Being Manager of the Australian EAD Lawn Bowls Team for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2000 is one of Bob's proudest memories.

" Don't be afraid to take big steps.
You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps."

---- David Lloyd George

Wheelchair Sports Australia
The Wheelchair Sports Australia 2003-2004 Annual General Meeting will now be held in Brisbane 30th October 2004. Further details will follow.National Leaders in Sport Conference The Department of Sport and Recreation in Western Australia are hosting the National Leaders in Sport Conference to be held in Perth on November 11 and 12 this year. For further information visit www.dsr.wa.gov.au.

SPORTS NEWS

Archery

The 57th Archery Nationals commence in Queensland on Saturday April 10, 2004. Visit http://www.archerysqas.com/ for further information.

Basketball

- IWBF

The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) has awarded the 2005 World Junior Wheelchair Basketball Championships to Birmingham, England.

The IWBF has named the Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association (GBWBA) and the City of Birmingham as hosts of the Championships which will take place from the 8th to 13th August 2005.

The teams expected to qualify for the World Junior Championships include Canada, USA, Mexico, Australia and Japan. The European Qualification Tournament is in Belgium later this year, The Netherlands, Germany and Turkey are expected to join hosts, Great Britain who are the current European Champions.

- NRMA Insurance National League

The 2004 NRMA Insurance National League Women's Wheelchair Basketball commences in Brisbane on Saturday 3 April. In 2004 four teams will compete in the League Hills Hornets, North's Bears, Knox Ford Raiders and the Queenslanders.

- Junior Championships

The National Junior Wheelchair Basketball Championships start on Saturday 17 April 2004 at Penrith, NSW. Seven teams will be compete in the Championships NSW, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the USA.

- Asia Oceania Cup
The Australian Men's Wheelchair Basketball team, the Rollers, defeated Japan 63-51 to win the Asia Oceania Cup held in Shellharbour and earned the right to represent the zone in Athens. Japan came second, also winning through to the Paralympic Games.
The Australian Women's wheelchair basketball team, the Gliders, completed a clean sweep in the Gliders International Challenge defeating Mexico on the final day of competition 49-45 to complete an unbeaten six-game run.
- Avon National Women's Club Championships
The Hills Hornets won the Avon National Women's Club Championships defeating North's Bears in the final. Katie Hill was named Best and Fairest for the competition and Joy Kumar was awarded the Encouragement Award.

Handcycling

Final preparations are under way for the 3rd National Handcycling Championships to be held in Perth 17-18 April 2004. Best of luck to all competitors.


Wheelchair Rugby

The National Wheelchair Rugby League is proud to announce that Melrose will return in 2004 as its Chair Sponsor. Melrose has been the League's Chair Sponsor since its inception three years ago. They were there from the beginning right through the League's expansion last season. The League in 2004 will again feature a 50 game schedule with each state team playing 20 games. With more competitive play in Australia than ever seen before there is a higher expectation and demand on rugby chairs. Melrose is ready to meet the demand as one of the premier Rugby Chair makers in the World.

Table Tennis

Entries are still open for the National Table Tennis Championships coordinated by Table Tennis Australia contact AAWD for further information.

April Calendar of Events

3-4 Rugby Queensland Bash Brisbane, Qld.
3-4 Basketball Women's National League Brisbane, Qld
8-11 Shooting Rifle Nationals Sydney, NSW
10-18 Volleyball World Standing Volleyball Championships Germany
17-24 Basketball Junior National W/C Basketball Champ. Penrith, NSW
19 Athletics Boston Marathon Boston, USA
19 - 1 May Lawn Bowls 2004 Nationals Brisbane, Qld
24-25 Basketball Women's National League Sydney, NSW
27 - 2 May Cycling Australian Track Cycling Championships Sydney, NSW
29 - 2 May Rugby National Wheelchair Rugby League Sydney, NSW

 

Correct at time of print.