The Sir Roden Cutler Award

The recipient of the 2006 Primary Club - Sir Roden Cutler Award is Kurt Fearnley.

Born without the lower portion of his spine, Kurt is the youngest of five children and sport was always a big part of the family's life. Amazingly oblivious to his disability, he happily played in everything against his able-bodied brothers and mates.

Kurt remembers competing at school athletics carnivals. As the others ran, he pushed his everyday wheelchair as fast as he could down the grass track - an incredible feat by any stretch of the imagination.

Living in the small western town of Carcoar where he was born, Kurt had no idea there was actually organised sport for people with disabilities. He was ecstatic when staff from NSW Wheelchair Sports Association undertook a regional tour of western NSW and introduced him to the sport of wheelchair basketball. Finally he could compete on an even keel.

Kurt excelled at wheelchair basketball and it wasn't long before he was representing Australia in junior wheelchair basketball competition. Eager to get involved with another sport, he took up wheelchair racing. Within four years of making a decision to focus solely on wheelchair racing, Kurt was representing his country at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. In a tumultuous preparation leading up to the Games, Kurt was involved in two quite serious car accidents, but he remained positive and quietly confident.

With less racing experience than most of his international rivals, Kurt was certainly seen as the underdog. However, in true Aussie fashion, he pushed the race of his life, winning silver medals both in the 800m and 1500m, instantly gaining the respect of the world's best racers, some of whom he had come to idolise. The result also left National and NSWIS Coach Andrew Dawes to say, "At 19 years, his potential is frightening."

Since his success at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, Kurt has travelled extensively and achieved outstanding results in road races and track meets throughout the world.

Kurt made the Australian Team for the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games where he competed in the T54 800m, 1500m, 5km, Marathon and 4x100m Relay. In one of the most astonishing performances of the Games, Kurt sustained a blown tyre halfway through the 42km marathon, but kept on to win GOLD!

Kurt, who returned home with two GOLD and one SILVER medal, was announced "Male Athlete of the Year" jointly with South Australian Cyclist, Kieran Modra.

Sporting Achievements – Kurt Fearnley

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2004 Male Athlete of the Year
 

The Primary Club of Australia Inc
PO Box 783
Pennant Hills NSW 1715
Australia 

phone: (02) 9980-2525
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