
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.
13 March 1961
Its key goals were to lobby for specialised spinal
injuries units and to establish accommodation
facilities for people with severe spinal cord injury.
13 March 1961
Its key goals were to lobby for specialised spinal
injuries units and to establish accommodation
facilities for people with severe spinal cord injury.
1960s
1962
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
and focused on
raising money for the Association.
1964
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
(later ParaQuad Industries)
operations and was one of the first
sheltered workshops in NSW
providing employment to people
with disability.
1970s
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.
the first support accommodation facility for those with spinal cord injury.
1970s
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.
This continued until 1989 when courses became available through the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service and Cumberland College, Lidcombe.
1974-1984
held annually with the finals televised live on Channel 9 and covered by the Australian Women’s Weekly magazine.
1976
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 only fundraising event supported by the entire music and entertainment industry in Australia. The fundraising luncheons and events ran for over 30 years.
the first support accommodation facility for those with spinal cord injury.
1979
The Association became more involved in lobbying with key achievements including the establishment of the Mobility Allowance in 1983.
1987
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.
The Association became more involved in lobbying with key achievements including the establishment of the Mobility Allowance in 1983.
1980
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
1987
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
plus a Parents and Friends Support Group.
Late 1980s
1988
and became a provider under the Government-funded Attendant Care Scheme.
Early 1990s
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.
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
to include drama classes, wheelchair dancing and dragon boat racing.
1990
Originally established in 1964, to aid selling and distributing crucial supplies to members.
Early 1990s
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.
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.
selling a broad range of medical consumable products to customers both nationally and internationally.
2011
2003
which was officially opened by the Governor of NSW, Marie Bashir, who was also the Association’s Patron.
2004
2004
providing over 2,000 products to returned servicemen and women who are registered with the Department.
selling a broad range of medical consumable products to customers both nationally and internationally.
2008
including continence and wound care product application advice, continence consults and assessments.
2011
providing clinical education for healthcare professionals.
2011
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 NSW has had a strong and professional leadership, both at Board and CEO level over the years.
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
*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.
*Denotes a wheelchair user.