COVER STORY
WORDS Lorraine Williams | PHOTOGRAPHS Blue Razoo
CONNECTING
WITH SPORT
WITH 15 Paralympic medals (six gold, six silver and three bronze), a former world
record, a current Australian record and an Order of Australia medal - Neil Fuller has
achieved much in his life – and all as a below-knee amputee.
The athlete is now helping others to discover the world of sport
through the City of Salisbury’s Sports Development Plan for people
with a disability, of which he is an ambassador.
The program aims to provide increased opportunities for people
with disability to participate in sport. It is estimated that in excess of
25,000 City of Salisbury residents have specific access and inclusion
needs, representing 20 per cent of the Salisbury community.
The program introduces more activities for those with a disability
who want to participate in sport, both socially and competitively. It
is also intended to educate parents and carers about the benefits
for participants of taking part, as well as providing opportunities for
people with a disability to volunteer in sport.
I am always doing things I can’t
do, that’s how I get to do them.
Neil knows exactly what it is like to participate in sport programs,
especially after being able-bodied. Neil was 18 years old when
he had the lower part of his right leg amputated. He had
just represented South Australia at the National Youth Soccer
Championships when, two weeks later, he broke both bones in his
right shin, severing an artery. After three weeks in hospital, five
operations and just four days after his 18th birthday, Neil was forced
to have the lower part of his right leg amputated.
8 | SUMMER 2013 | SALISBURY AWARE | www.salisbury.sa.gov.au
“I grew up in the Salisbury area and played a number of sports
throughout my younger years,” explains Neil. “After my accident
in 1987, I was well supported in the community and in 1997 I was
named the Salisbury Australia Day Young Citizen of the Year, so I’m
honoured to have been considered to be ambassador.”
Highly regarded, Neil is one of Australia’s most successful
Paralympian’s and was one of the world’s best amputee athletes.
However, it’s not just his attitude when he’s competing that has
earned him respect from fellow athletes and peers; it is his positive
outlook on life and his encouragement of others who, like him, have
a disability, that is gaining him recognition.
“I did return to soccer after having my leg amputated but I found
it very difficult,” explains Neil. “I was then introduced to amputee
sports and it was a huge learning curve. It took me eight years to
win my first individual gold medal back in Sydney in 2000.
“Salisbury has a long and proud history of developing programs for
a wide range of members in the community, including those with a
disability,” continued Neil.