ASOD
The Australian Sports Organisation for the Disabled (ASOD) held it's AGM on Saturday 12 November. The following elections took place: President Nicole L'Efevre, Vice-President Lyn Beebe.

VALE SANDY BLYTHE
- By BA Media and WBA.

Australian wheelchair basketball and basketball fans, colleagues and officials were shocked and saddened to hear of the passing on Friday 18/11/05 of former captain of the Australian Rollers, Sandy Blythe, aged 43.

Sandy was respected by all who met him. His presentation of a self assured competent young man with the world at his feet, despite his disability, gave people the opportunity to see him as a role model for a successful life. Sandy seemed to have ownership of his life and his own destiny. He would set his eyes on the trophy and go and get it no matter the size or the importance of it to others. He seemed to have time for everyone he met, regardless of their status. Sandy had the unique manner of making every one who came in contact with him feel important. He showed his love for his family and his friends in open conversation and was fiercely loyal to his beliefs and his friends and team mates.

After a short stint with the West Australia State team he returned to Melbourne, where for more than 10 years he was the star, driving force and some times coach, but always the leader of the NWBL team, the Dandenong Rangers. The high point for the Rangers and Sandy was winning the 2000 season at home. In the NWBL he was named in the All Star Five, five teams, in 2002 he was the Leagues MVP.

Sandy represented and captained Australia with distinction and was an outstanding wheelchair athlete and individual. The four-time Paralympian co-captained the Rollers to Gold in Atlanta where he was a starting five player. At the peak of his career many believed that he was the best 2.5 player in the world. He was intensely competitive and skilled on the court and in business, but always a gentleman.

Wheelchair Basketball, Basketball Australia and AAWD send their deepest sympathies to his partner Paula and his loved ones.

He will be sadly missed by all. Free at last.

Paralympics - 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000.
World Cup - 1994, 1998 and 2002

SPORTS NEWS

Archery
Archers with a Disability
In an effort to mainstream archery, Archery Australia (AA) and the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) are currently negotiating a program under the AA banner, which will see a program for Archers with a Disability running parallel to the current AA High Performance Program. In order to support this program we are in the process of trying to identify archers throughout the country. If you are interested in finding out more information, please contact Vicky O'Brien at awd@archery.org.au

Regional Co-ordinators
To best support the Archers with a Disability program, Archery Australia are currently looking to appoint appropriately qualified people to fill the positions of Regional Co-ordinators.

If you wish to apply for this position in your region (or to find out more information), please send your resume and ideas on how you can help the program to:

Vicky O'Brien
Archers with a Disability Committee
67 Araminta Chase
CAMERON PARK NSW 2285
Email: awd@archery.org.au

Closing Date: 31 January 2006

Archery Australia National Championships
The 5th Archers with a Disability National Championships will be held as part of the Archery Australia Nationals 23-29 April 2006 in Moorwell, Victoria. For more information and the Entry Kit, please visit http://www.sports.org.au/docs/EntryKit.pdf

Basketball
WBA Calendar
The Wheelchair Basketball Australia calendar for Season 2006 is out now. The WBA calendar has been incorporated into the overall AAWD Sports Calendar and can be viewed on our website.

Handcycling
Wild West Handcycling Tour
Wheelchair Sports Western Australia is hosting the inaugural Wild West Handcycling Tour 15-19 March 2006. The event will be made up of 5 stages and will cover a total distance of approximately 135 kilometres. Entries have already been received from a number of the world's top handcyclists, including several of the Athens Paralympic medallists. For further information please visit http://www.wheelchairsportswa.org.au/default.aspx?et=2&ei=20&subSiteID=3&strMode=eventDisplay&eventID=40

Tenpin Bowling
2006 National Championships
Tenpin Bowling Australia will be hosting its 1st National Championships for Athletes with a Disability at Bowl Australia, Castle Hill. The competition will run 3-9 June 2006. For more information, please visit http://www.sports.org.au/newsletters/news45.html

Wheelchair Rugby
Oceania Zonal Championships
The Australian Team heads to South Africa to defend their Oceania Zonal Championships title from 28 November - 4 December. With three of the World's Top 8 Rugby teams involved, this is one of the toughest Zonal Championships. We will be endeavouring to send results from South Africa as they happen, so keep an eye on the website. For a full team list, please see http://www.sports.org.au/newsletters/news45.html

Shooting
Para-Oceania Shooting Championships
Congratulations to Michelle Fletcher, Rhonda Hill and the many dedicated volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure a successful Para-Oceania Shooting Championships in Brisbane. President of the Oceania Shooting Federation, Graeme Hudson of New Zealand, expressed his delight with the event and the desire of the Federation to incorporate the Para-Oceania event with the next Oceania Championships in Sydney in 2007.

For full results of the event, please visit http://www.ausshooting.org/Oceania_results.htm

Volleyball
Asia-Oceania Women's Sitting Volleyball Championships
Australia will be hosting the Asia-Oceania Women's Sitting Volleyball Championships in Newcastle 11-18 February 2006. This event is a qualification tournament for the World Championships, so competition is sure to be fierce. If you are interested in becoming involved with this event, please contact the office and we can put you in touch with the Event Manager.

December-February Calendar of Events

2006
January
22-27	Athletics	Athletics Summer Down Under	Sydney NSW
26	Road	OZ Day 10K	Sydney NSW
26	Athletics	Telstra A-Series Meet	Canberra, ACT
2006
February
1-5	Tennis	Sydney International WC Tennis Open	Sydney NSW
2-5	Athletics	Telstra Australian Athletics Champs	Sydney NSW
11-18	Volleyball	Asia-Oceania Women's Sitting Volleyball	Newcastle, NSW
14-19	Basketball	OSAKA Friendship Cup	Japan
18	Athletics	Telstra A-Series	Melbourne, Vic
18-19	Basketball	Albury Festival of Sport	Albury
25	Swimming	SWDA State Champs	Brisbane, Qld

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subject to alterations
A full Calendar of Events can be found at http://www.sports.org.au/calendar.html


Building A 1 Herb Elliott Ave Sydney Olympic Park Homebush Bay NSW 2127
PO Box S83 Homebush South NSW 2140
Phone + 61 2 9763 5819 Fax + 61 2 9764 3757
ACN 104 461 814
info@sports.org.au
www.sports.org.au