Advocacy & Achievements
ParaQuad NSW was established in 1961 to provide support to people with spinal cord injury by developing services and care with the aim to help achieve their life choices after injury.
Until the early 1980s, ParaQuad operated from a suburban house at Hurstville and had a small, but very active membership. The organisation moved headquarters to Ashfield, then to Homebush, and in 2003, to a purpose-built site at Newington and added services such as accommodation and clinical services.
Milestones in ParaQuad’s History
1960
13 March 1961
The Paraplegic Association of NSW was incorporated.
Its key goals were to lobby for specialised spinal
injuries units and to establish accommodation
facilities for people with severe spinal cord injury.
1966
Successfully lobbied the NSW Government for the development and expansion of spinal injuries units at Royal North Shore and Prince Henry Hospitals.
13 March 1961
The Paraplegic Association of NSW was incorporated.
Its key goals were to lobby for specialised spinal
injuries units and to establish accommodation
facilities for people with severe spinal cord injury.
1960s
Paranews, our first member newsletter is produced
1962
The Association hosted the 2nd National Paraplegic Games.
Held at Gore Hill Oval near Sydney. It also
sponsored 24 athletes to participate in the first
Commonwealth Paraplegic Games held in
November in Perth.
1963
The Silver Wheel Committee was established
and focused on
raising money for the Association.
1964
The Association established a centralised purchasing scheme
under its Welfare Department, to provide
continence and pressure prevention aids to
members in response to difficulties members
encountered in getting access to these products
at reasonable prices.
1966
Successfully lobbied the NSW Government for the development and expansion of spinal injuries units at Royal North Shore and Prince Henry Hospitals.
1966
The Workshop began
(later ParaQuad Industries)
operations and was one of the first
sheltered workshops in NSW
providing employment to people
with disability.
1970
1970s
Hosted the 7th National Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Games at Merrylands.
The Association continued its strong association with wheelchair sports in 1972 establishing the Paraplegic Sports Club. This led to international competitions and the support of an Australian Team to compete in the 1979 International Stoke Mandeville Games in the UK – the precursor to the Paralympics.
30 March 1979
The Hon. Malcolm Fraser, Prime Minister officially opened Ferguson Lodge,
the first support accommodation facility for those with spinal cord injury.
1970s
Hosted the 7th National Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Games at Merrylands.
The Association continued its strong association with wheelchair sports in 1972 establishing the Paraplegic Sports Club. This led to international competitions and the support of an Australian Team to compete in the 1979 International Stoke Mandeville Games in the UK – the precursor to the Paralympics.
Facilitated driving lessons for members with a qualified driving instructor who was also paraplegic.
This continued until 1989 when courses became available through the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service and Cumberland College, Lidcombe.
1974-1984
The Quest of Nations fundraising and awareness raising event
held annually with the finals televised live on Channel 9 and covered by the Australian Women’s Weekly magazine.
1976
ParaQuad Engineering established to fit hand controls into cars,
manufacturing tailored controls, repositioning car seats and for those with quadriplegia, installing switches for indicator lights and high beam into car headrests. It also constructed and repaired wheelchairs.
1978
The first Golden Stave luncheon is held at Sydney’s Sebel Town House,
the only fundraising event supported by the entire music and entertainment industry in Australia. The fundraising luncheons and events ran for over 30 years.
30 March 1979
The Hon. Malcolm Fraser, Prime Minister officially opened Ferguson Lodge,
the first support accommodation facility for those with spinal cord injury.
1979
The Association established its Northern Region Branch in Newcastle.
1980
1980
Introduction of wheelchair accessible taxis and training for taxi drivers.
The Association became more involved in lobbying with key achievements including the establishment of the Mobility Allowance in 1983.
1987
Sporting and outdoor activities were expanded,
with a Fishing Club, weekly swimming sessions at the Western Suburbs Hydrotherapy Pool, horticulture classes at Ferguson Lodge, gliding with the Southern Cross Gliding Club and weekly rowing sessions with the NSW Adapted Rowing Programme at Glebe Rowing Club.
1980
Introduction of wheelchair accessible taxis and training for taxi drivers.
The Association became more involved in lobbying with key achievements including the establishment of the Mobility Allowance in 1983.
1980
The Welfare Department expanded its operations to include rehabilitation officers, a spinal nurse, rehabilitation counsellor and a continence advisor.
The Welfare Department also commenced the preparation of highly regarded medico-legal reports for members who had sustained a spinal cord injury via a motor vehicle accident
1980
The newsletter, Paranews is renamed ParaQuad News.
1987
Sporting and outdoor activities were expanded,
with a Fishing Club, weekly swimming sessions at the Western Suburbs Hydrotherapy Pool, horticulture classes at Ferguson Lodge, gliding with the Southern Cross Gliding Club and weekly rowing sessions with the NSW Adapted Rowing Programme at Glebe Rowing Club.
Late 1980s
The Community Development Program provided a weekly social club,
plus a Parents and Friends Support Group.
Late 1980s
The Association employed Occupational Therapists as part of its Community Living Service.
1988
The Association established the Attendant Care Service to provide in-home personal care
and became a provider under the Government-funded Attendant Care Scheme.
1990
Early 1990s
With the Government Rehabilitation Service Network now providing many services, the Association re-evaluated how to more effectively use its resources to eliminate duplication with the Government on service provision.
This evolved into the launch of the Community Services Division which provided a Peer Support Program, Regional Network Program, Community Spinal Advisory Service (paving the way for the Spinal Outreach Service) and the Community Living Service.
1996
Created a pilot multi-disciplinary outreach clinic at Lourdes Hospital in Dubbo.
Called the Rural Spinal Cord Injury Project, it confirmed the need for multi-disciplinary clinics in regional areas and led to a three-year trial examining the effectiveness of these types of clinics. The clinic was created by The Association, with funding from the Motor Accidents Authority and in partnership with the Spinal Injury Units from Royal North Shore and Prince of Wales Hospitals.
1990
The Community Development program expanded its activities
to include drama classes, wheelchair dancing and dragon boat racing.
1990
The centralised purchasing scheme evolved into Personal Equipment and Continence Supplies (PECS).
Originally established in 1964, to aid selling and distributing crucial supplies to members.
Early 1990s
With the Government Rehabilitation Service Network now providing many services, the Association re-evaluated how to more effectively use its resources to eliminate duplication with the Government on service provision.
This evolved into the launch of the Community Services Division which provided a Peer Support Program, Regional Network Program, Community Spinal Advisory Service (paving the way for the Spinal Outreach Service) and the Community Living Service.
1996
Created a pilot multi-disciplinary outreach clinic at Lourdes Hospital in Dubbo.
Called the Rural Spinal Cord Injury Project, it confirmed the need for multi-disciplinary clinics in regional areas and led to a three-year trial examining the effectiveness of these types of clinics. The clinic was created by The Association, with funding from the Motor Accidents Authority and in partnership with the Spinal Injury Units from Royal North Shore and Prince of Wales Hospitals.
2000
2008
BrightSky Australia was launched as the commercial arm of ParaQuad NSW
selling a broad range of medical consumable products to customers both nationally and internationally.
2011
The new Ferguson Lodge was officially opened at Lidcombe
2003
The Association moved to its first ever purpose built headquarters at Newington,
which was officially opened by the Governor of NSW, Marie Bashir, who was also the Association’s Patron.
2004
Wendy Potter was the first woman to be appointed as Chairman of the Board.
2004
A Mobility and Functional Support contract with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs commenced
providing over 2,000 products to returned servicemen and women who are registered with the Department.
2008
BrightSky Australia was launched as the commercial arm of ParaQuad NSW
selling a broad range of medical consumable products to customers both nationally and internationally.
2008
BrightSky Clinical established to provide a range of direct clinical services
including continence and wound care product application advice, continence consults and assessments.
2011
BrightSky Clinical launched the BeBright Study Series
providing clinical education for healthcare professionals.
2011
The new Ferguson Lodge was officially opened at Lidcombe
Celebrating ParaQuad’s 50th Anniversary
To celebrate our 50th anniversary, we created a commemorative history book “The ParaQuad NSW Story”.
You can either download a copy of this book or contact ParaQuad NSW on Tel: 02 8741 5627 or email paraquad@paraquad.org.au and we will send you a hard copy at no cost.
ParaQuad Leadership
ParaQuad NSW has had a strong and professional leadership, both at Board and CEO level over the years.
Presidents and Chairmen
Mr Jack Ferguson (Deceased): 1961 – 1968
Dr John M F Grant, AO, OBE (Deceased): 1968 – 2000
*Dr Edward Watts (Deceased): 2000 – 2003
Mr David Kerr: 2003 – 2004
*Ms Wendy Potter (Deceased): 2004 – 2012
*Mr Anders Halvorsen: 2012 – present
Chief Executive Officers
*Mr Ashley Coops – Founding Secretary/CEO: 1961-1983 (Deceased)
Mr Bob Duncan (Deceased): 1983-2002
Mr Greg Smith: 2003 – 2006
Mr Max Bosotti: 2006 – 2019
Mr David Clarke: 2019 – present
*Denotes a wheelchair user.
Life Members
- Dr John M F Grant, AO, OBE (Deceased). Founding member of the Association and President from 1968 to 2000. Pioneering neurosurgeon and Head of the Spinal Unit at Royal North Shore Hospital. Dr Grant also dedicated much time to supporting sporting activities at the highest level for disabled individuals and this led to his Presidency of the Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee where he oversaw the planning and delivery of the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.
- *Mr Fred Kaad OBE, Member of the Board of Directors from 1966, Vice-President 1975 to 1998. Deputy Chairman of SpinalCure Australia since 2004.
- Mr John E Quick (Deceased) ParaQuad Board member, and president of Ferguson Lodge management committee. Life member since 1987.
- Mr Neville Kidd. Board member from 1967-1991. Life member since May, 1991. Treasurer of the Association.
- Mr Francis P Coyne (Frank) OAM (Deceased). Life member since 1998, for his ‘dedication, support and encouragement of the Association’.
- Ms Mary Cleary president of the Newcastle branch from 1980 – 1989.
- *Mr Bob Duncan (Deceased). CEO of ParaQuad 1983-2002. Life member since 2006.
- Dr Sue Rutkowski AM, long-standing supporter of ParaQuad, former Board member and spinal specialist.
*Denotes a wheelchair user.