WORLD-beating disabled sailor Ame Barnbrook has won another major award just before she leaves to compete in the World Championships in England in an attempt to qualify for the 2012 Paralympics.Ame is the recipient of this year’s Sir Roden Cutler Award awarded by the Primary Club of Australia, which acknowledges outstanding sporting achievement by a disabled athlete.Sir Roden Cutler (VC, AK, KCMG, KCVO, CBE) served as Twelfth Man and Patron of the Primary Club of Australia from its inception in 1974 until his passing in 2002. Richie Benaud OBE graciously assumed this role since.

Sir Roden agreed enthusiastically back in 1998 to lend his name to this special award, which the Primary Club and its members choose to present to an athlete or administrator who has performed an extraordinary service to his/her sport on behalf of people with disabilities.

As part of the award, the awardee now receives a grant of $20,000 for recreational facilities for the sport of his/her choosing.

Ame said she would dedicate the money to the Access Dinghy Foundation and Sailability NSW, both of which had helped her immensely over her 15 years of sailing.

She was also pleasantly surprised to get a call from world champion surfer Layne Beachley recently who told her she was chosen for a $3000 Aim for the Stars grant.

Ame continues to regularly train up Sydney with her sailing partner Lindsay Mason and they are set to fly off to Weymouth, England on May 26.

Ame will compete in the Skandia Sail For Gold Regatta in the first week of June and then in July she will compete in the 2011 World Championships, which is the qualifying event for the Paralympics.

There she has beat the other two Australian SCUD teams in order to qualify for the Paralympics.

Past winners and Ame’s story

Past winners of the Sir Roden Cutler Award include Michael Milton (skiing) in 2001 and Kurt Fearnley (wheelchair marathon) in 2006.

Ame’s story is a truly remarkable one.

Born with Phocoamelia she has only the lower half of her left leg, a small foot and three toes, she has no arms or right leg.

She uses her three toes for eating, writing, playing the trumpet and sailing. She has achieved more in her 22 years than most will in a lifetime.

Ame has excelled in music, and sailing and has a degree in Creative Arts from Wollongong University. Her current aim is to represent Australia at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

In her own words, “It’s about what I can do, not what I can’t do. My disability is continually judged before my abilities have been recognised and I like to prove people wrong.”

To get involved or help out with funding, contact Ame at amesarms@sailability.org