Ron Finneran OAM was Australia’s only representative at the inaugural Örnsköldsvik 1976 Paralympic Winter Games, but it was his work in sport administration which earned him an induction into Paralympics Australia’s Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame.
Finneran was Chef de Mission of the Australian Paralympic Team at five consecutive Winter Paralympics, and a member of the working group that established Paralympics Australia in 1990. He was President of Paralympics Australia in 1993, and Chairman of the Bid Committee for the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
As a co-founder of Disabled Wintersport Australia and its Executive Director for 31 years, Finneran transformed the opportunities available for Para-alpine skiers in Australia. He was also a Member to the Advisory Committee to the Australian Bicentennial Authority’s National Disabled Sports Program between 1984 and 1988, and Chairman of the New South Wales Advisory Committee for Athletes with a Disability from 1987 to 1992.
Recognition of Finneran’s achievements in Para-sport administration includes:
- Australian Sports Medal in 2000
- Australian Paralympic Medal in 2002
- Medal of the Order of Australia in 2004
- Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2005
- Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2016.
Over a career spanning more than 30 years, Finneran totally evolved sport for people with an impairment in Australia.
