On behalf of the Australian Paralympic family, Paralympics Australia sends condolences to the family and friends of Paralympian No.24, Kevin Bawden, who passed away recently.
Mr Bawden represented Australia at the 1968, 1976 and 1984 Paralympic Games, and was an assistant basketball coach at the 1988 Seoul Games. However, his contribution to sport for people with a disability stretched far beyond his feats in the sporting arena.
Mr Bawden contracted polio at age four and became involved in sport at age 18. A year later, he established the Wheelchair Sports Association of South Australia and served as its president for the next 28 years.
In 1995, he was awarded the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of service to people with physical disabilities, including as President of the Wheelchair Sports Association of SA. This followed earlier recognition, including the Sir Ludwig Guttmann Award in 1986 for his significant contribution to wheelchair sport in Australia.
Paralympics Australia Chief Executive Cameron Murray said: “The Paralympic Movement of today rides on the shoulders of giants like Kevin Bawden, whose contribution to Australian sport was immense, on and off the field.
“I hope Kevin’s loved ones accept our deep gratitude for his remarkable body of work in service of the Paralympic Movement and sport for people with a disability and they take comfort in knowing that his contribution will be remembered for generations to come.
Paralympics Australia is only able to continue doing its work driving the Paralympic Movement forward in Australia because of the generous support it receives from Government, Corporate Partners and donors.
The focus continues to be on delivering teams to each Summer and Winter Paralympic Games and supporting Para athletes as they enter and progress through the Para sport system and into their post-sporting careers.
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