Ron Finneran
DWA’S YODA
Ron Finneran
DWA’s YODA
Ron Finneran was a founding member of the organisation now known as Disabled Wintersport Australia.
It is due to Ron’s efforts over the last thirty years that we still exist today. His passion, determination and willpower to forge an avenue for Adaptive snow sports in Australia is legendary.
Even today, although now officially retired from DWA, he still remains our figure head and role model for future generations.
Ron Finneran contracted polio aged 18 months. He took up skiing in 1972 after a visit to the Thredbo Ski Resort and trained in the United States and Canada.
He was the forerunner for the 1976 Winter Paralympics in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. He was not an official entrant as they were no events for his disability, but he did officially represent Australia.
He remained in Sweden after the Games until 1978 to study and train. At the 1984 World Championships in Switzerland he came 4th in the downhill.
In 1978, with Canadian ski instructor Bruce Abel, he formed the Australian Disabled Skiing Federation, now called Disabled Wintersport Australia (DWA). He retired as Executive Director of DWA in January 2010 after 31 years in the role. Whilst in the role of Executive Director, he was able transform disabled skiing in Australia particularly in terms of facilities, training programs, talent development and government support.
In 1992, Australian Disabled Skiing Federation opened its own ski lodge called Finsko's Lodge, the name of the lodge recognized Ron’s considerable work in its development.
He also played a major role in the establishment of the Jindabyne Winter Academy, a program designed to assist elite and talented able bodied and disabled alpine skiers.
The result of Ron's worked culminated in 2001 with the Australian Institute of Sport establishing a Paralympic Alpine Skiing Program in conjunction with the Australian Paralympic Committee.
In 1989, he was a member of a working group that helped to establish the Australian Paralympic Federation in 1990. He was a Board Member of the Federation from 1990 to 1995. He was president of the Australian Paralympic Federation in 1993. In 1993, he was Chairman of the Bid Committee for the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games.
Besides his participation at the 1976 Winter Paralympics, he was Chef de Mission/ Team Manager, of the Australian team for the 1980 Winter Paralympics, Team Captain for the Games in 1994 Winter Paralympics and Australian Team Manager for the 1992 and 1994 Games.
Other sports administration roles included: Member of the Advisory Committee to the Australian Bicentennial Authority's National Disabled Sports Program (1984 to 1988) and Chairman of the New South Wales Advisory Committee for Athletes with a Disability (1987 to 1992).
After receiving his OAM in 2005, he stated "To have had just a small part in profiling the abilities of people with disabilities, be it in recreational activities to the very elite in Paralympic sport, has been an enormously rewarding experience."
Steve Gibb
Steve Gibb
Current city and state of residence
Bermagui, New South Wales
Year first introduced or joined the organisation now known as Disabled Wintersport Australia?
1980
Through who or how were you introduced to the organisation?
I was Superintendent at the Jindabyne Sport and Recreation Centre, later to become the Jindabyne Winter Academy of Sport. It was part of a government Department under ever changing names, mainly the New South Wales Department of Sport and Recreation. A friend Ron Rueben, a Jindabyne police officer, did work assisting with the Thredbo DWA golf day. He introduced me to Ron Finneran.
What roles or positions did you have within the organisation?
Life membership in 2001
Committee member - various committees
Chairman Joint Management Committee APC /DWA elite sport.
During your time with DWA what particular achievements are you proud of contributing to?
Initially Ron just bled us dry with donations for the golf day and providing storage for equipment for DWA. By the mid 80's, without realising it, we were providing subsidised meals, accommodation and ski lessons for 250 to 500 skier days per year for a variety of disabilities. Then for some reason we started donating specialised equipment, administration services and free lunches when he was in town. In the late 1980's Ron had by then infiltrated the entire NSW Department of Sport and secured grants and no interest loans to build "Finsko's Lodge". I supervised construction of the lodge.
In the background of this initiative, people like Ken Brown, the then Director of the Department, Terry Holt, John Kean and Neville Goldspring had provided the unmeasurable support to make everything happen. Not satisfied with this achievement in the mid 1990's, Ron then organised the whole thing again to provide extensions to the lodge to what it is today. By then I was General Manager of the Winter Academy and once again I supervised construction and managed the funding.
By 2000 the Department supplied office space and just about everything else Ron had dreamed of. Through all of the growing process of achieving Ron's dreams, unheralded in the background had been the NSW Ski Resorts Selwyn, Thredbo and Perisher. by the late 1990's they were providing upwards of 750 annual skier days to the programs run by DWA as well as first class training facilities for our elite athletes. Kim Clifford of Thredbo and Ashley Blondel of Perisher, in particular, remain the unsung true hero's of the story, slowly guiding the resorts to provide ever improving disabled facilities, opportunities and support for all programs and individual disabled skiers and visitors.
I retired in 2003, the rest of the story is still unfolding
Paul Griffiths
Paul Griffiths
Current city and state of residence?
Sydney, New South Wales
Year first introduced or joined the organisation now known as Disabled Wintersport Australia?
1981 when we (Lend Lease) first asked Ron Finneran to speak at an important conference and raised ‘seed’ funds to get the organisation up and running. I’ve had my hand up his back – and he, his hand in my pocket - ever since.
Through who or how were you introduced to the organisation?
I made a TV story (This Day Tonight – ABCTV) in 1978 about ski instructors (poor) conditions. I heard ruckus in Keller Bar with police trying to remove a very drunk, raucous patron. It turned out to be Ron. I paid for his bail – and have been paying ever since!
What roles or positions did you have within the organisation?
Publicity Officer for Ron (as an individual) hence the organisation.
General Factotum
First Media Director for Australian Paralympic Federation (now Committee).
First Media and Protocol Director for International Paralympic Committee (1994) finishing up following Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games
During your time with DWA what particular achievements are you proud of contributing to?
Ron’s bail
Assisting with fundraising for Finsko’s Lodge, filming of five docos - one of each disability and a general one for recruitment (all thanks to Westpac) during 1988 – Australia’s Bi-centennial year.
Negotiating with ABC TV for prime time coverage of early Paralympics; gaining much-needed publicity, especially prime time TV for superb athletes, more especially, away from sports shows thus making disabled skiing mainstream.
Negotiating with Optus to cover costs of transmission of early summer and winter Paralympics from Europe/US/Japan to Australia.
Co-writing and co-presenting (with Adrienne Smith and Ron Finneran) the bid (in Lillehammer and Berlin in 1993/4) to have the Paralympics in Sydney following the Olympics in 2000.
Gaining a Knighthood for Ron Finneran and providing solace for Lady Lisa Finneran for all those years.
What is your fondest memory of your time with the organisation?
Mutual support through (what were very tough) early growing years,
Adrienne Smith’s special talents for initiating and garnering support
receiving Ron’s bail money back from the sheriff’s office – despite him absconding – three times;
Disabled Skiers Australia’s Board backing of the Executive in the face of (sometimes) chronic lack of support, even opposition, from the Olympic movement – both Australian and internationally – at the highest levels.
What has been the biggest impact DWA has had on your life?
Wonderful friendships through hard times, much greater appreciation of the task for disabled people (in those days) and quiet pleasure in seeing mainstream betterment of access, acceptance, publicity and durability of services for persons with a disability.
Please sum up your vision for the future of DWA?
It’s really quite simple – the day that DWA does no longer need to exist - because all its services/advocacy etc. will have succeeded at all levels in all minds, political, social and financial then the vision and objectives will have been accomplished.
I wish DWA well and continuing success.
Ken Brown AM
Ken Brown AM
Current city and state of residence?
Rose Bay, New South Wales
Year first introduced or joined the organisation now known as Disabled Wintersport Australia?
1980
Through whom or how were you introduced to the organisation?
Mr Ron Finneran OAM
What roles or positions did you have within the organisation?
No specific roles or positions with the organisation. However, I was nominated by DWA for appointment to the Board of the Australian Paralympic Committee.
During your time with DWA what particular achievements are you proud of contributing to?
The Establishment of Finsko's Lodge at Jindabyne Winter Academy of Sport.The provision of assistance in the acquisition of vital safety and training equipment for DWA. The securing of financial assistance for DWA. Assistance in the provision of scholarships for DWA
What is your fondest memory of your time with the organisation?
Attendance at the official opening of Finsko's Lodge, Jindabyne Winter Academy of Sport, a joint venture between the NSW Government and DWA, a first of its kind of project that many thought would never be realised. Attendance at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Paralympic Games to witness first hand skills, commitment and courage of our athletes on the international stage.
What has been the biggest impact DWA has had on your life?
The opportunity to support the endeavors, commitment and goals of athletes who I believe participate in sport at all levels for the right reasons.
Please sum up your vision for the future of DWA?
A strong and viable organisation assisted both by Government and the private sector which is well placed to continue magnificent support of current and future winter disabled athletes.
Graeme Morris
Graeme Morris
Current city and state of residence
Bonny Hills, New South Wales and Aspen, Colorado, USA
Year first introduced or joined the organisation now known as Disabled Wintersport Australia?
1978
Through who or how were you introduced to the organisation?
I was part of the discussions held in the Lounge Bar of the Thredbo Alpine Hotel, with Nick Dean, Bruce Abel and Ron “Finsko” Finneran.
What roles or positions did you have within the organisation?
Instructor for disabled skiers at Thredbo Ski School for over 30 years, from 1978. Also APSI Trainer and Examiner to ski and snowboard instructors nationally. Helped organise the Australian Professional Snowsports of Australia (APSI) to introduce Adaptive Ski instructing, as part of our curriculum.In 1999 I helped develop APSI training and exam process for instructors to obtain the APSI Disabled/Adaptive Certificate. Wrote the first Disabled Skiing Instruction Manual in 1988.
During your time with DWA what particular achievements are you proud of contributing to?
Coaching our 1992 Paralympic Ski Team in Albertville, France where we won our 1st medals for Alpine skiing.
What is your fondest memory of your time with the organisation?
Watching and teaching Finsko to relearn to ski on both legs instead of one. Also meeting and being involved with so many wonderful people.
What has been the biggest impact DWA has had on your life?
Being happy with the contribution that I made.
Please sum up your vision for the future of DWA?
From the beginning we’ve gone from strength to strength, from the grassroot level to international competition and Paralympic Games. In the future, I hope everyone who knows, or is a person with a disability, finds out about the endless possibilities of snowsports.
Peter Rickards
Peter Rickards
Current city and state of residence
Melbourne, Victoria
Year first introduced or joined the organisation now known as Disabled Wintersport Australia?
1978
Through who or how were you introduced to the organisation?
I was competing in open cross country ski events when my coach Barry Field from Melbourne Nordic Club suggested I should try to represent Australia in the 1980 Winter Paralympics in Norway.
What roles or positions did you have within the organisation?
Founder and President of Victorian Disabled Skiers Association (DWV) from 1980 to about 1994, after that I spent several years running ski camps for people with disabilities and organized people with their ski guides to participate in the Kangaroo Hoppet for several years.
During your time with DWA what particular achievements are you proud of contributing to?
Starting DWV, helping to start the ski guide program, Starting dog sledding and cross country ski programs.
What is your fondest memory of your time with the organisation?
Probably helping run the Hal O’leary disability ski camp at Howmans Gap.
What has been the biggest impact DWA has had on your life?
Being able to represent Australia as part of the 1st official winter Paralympic team in Geilo Norway 1980, and help establish an organization which gives so many people so much satisfaction and sense of achievement.
Please sum up your vision for the future of DWA?
To enable people with disabilities, to enjoy winter sport and recreation with their fellow competitors, families and friends.
Bruce Abel
Bruce Abel
Current city and state of residence
Sydney, New South Wales
Year first introduced or joined the organisation now known as Disabled Wintersport Australia?
The Year I was Introduced to DWA was 1973. I was an instructor in Banff Alberta and the head instructor Jerry Johnson was the head of disabled skiing in Canada. That is when I was taught.
Through who or how were you introduced to the organisation?
Ron Finneran, Nick dean and I started DWA
What roles or positions did you have within the organisation?
Head instructor for disabled skiing, taught other people in NSW and Victoria how to teach disabled people to enjoy winter. I Taught Michael Milton.
During your time with DWA what particular achievements are you proud of contributing to?
Seeing blind skiers enjoy playing in the snow
What is your fondest memory of your time with the organisation?
Playing golf with Ron, after getting him skiing many years ago and then 3 years ago meeting a group of blind golfers and having to play 18 holes at royal Sydney golf club and have a great lunch. They did not have to pay a thing.
Please sum up your vision for the future of DWA?
DWA will continue to expand and more disabled people will have the time of their lives rolling in the snow and when in competitions beat other countries like Canada and the USA.
Nick Dean
Nick Dean
Current city and state of residence
Adelaide, South Australia
Year first introduced or joined the organisation now known as Disabled Wintersport Australia?
1978.
Through who or how were you introduced to the organisation?
Founding member – lounge bar of the Thredbo Alpine Hotel, winter 1978, along with Finsko, Abel, Flutey, and Konrad.
What roles or positions did you have within the organisation?
Been involved since then in an official honorary capacity on the “Board”.
What is your fondest memory of your time with the organisation?
Most cherished times – the people I have met and known along the way and getting through the tough times.
Please sum up your vision for the future of DWA?
My Vision – to strengthen our bond with the broader recreation community as a vibrant and forward thinking leading participant in our field. Secondary – advocacy. Not to lose sight of our charter which is to make wintersport more accessible to all.
Kim Clifford
Kim Clifford
Current city and state of residence
Thredbo, New South Wales
Year first introduced or joined the organisation now known as Disabled Wintersport Australia?
In 1978 I helped Ron Finneran organise the first fund raiser raffle for the organisation as it was getting established.
Through who or how were you introduced to the organisation?
Ron Finneran
What roles or positions did you have within the organisation?
I never held any positions/roles, just assited from the outside.
During your time with DWA what particular achievements are you proud of contributing to?
Giving Ron Finneran a lot of support in many areas in the early days of the organisation.
What is your fondest memory of your time with the organisation?
Helping Ron Finneran test the first sit ski that was made locally and Ron tried to use, then called on me as his guinea pig to do the testing for him.
What has been the biggest impact DWA has had on your life?
Working with Ron and others it made me much more aware the there are many facets of the ski industry and all have a place and all can work together to help all parts of the industry and all participants.
Please sum up your vision for the future of DWA?
To endeavour to be fully inclusive and try to be part of the main stream sports organisations NSO's.
Lynne Johnston
Lynne Johnston
Current city and state of residence
Melbourne, Victoria
Year first introduced or joined the organisation now known as Disabled Wintersport Australia?
1989/90
Through who or how were you introduced to the organisation?
I saw a TV report on Hal O’Leary teaching a young boy to ski with a frame. I thought I’d like to try guiding to help others experience the fun I had skiing & contacted VDSA via Cecilia Dempsey.
What roles or positions did you have within the organisation?
Victorian Disabled Ski Association Ski Guide
VDSA Treasurer
VDSA President
DWA Vice President
Current DWA Membership Officer
During your time with DWA what particular achievements are you proud of contributing to?
I’m proud to be part of a team that has done, and is still doing, an amazing job building an accessible skiing environment.
What is your fondest memory of your time with the organisation?
The impact of disabled skiing was highlighted during lunch at Cloud Nine, Falls Creek. I’ll never forget the joyful young first time camp participant who looked out the window at the able-bodied beginner classes and said truthfully ‘I’m a better skier than them’. Watching the emotional growth of members as they conquer fears and develop new skills – particularly the young guys who get to indulge their need for speed (controlled of course!)
What has been the biggest impact DWA has had on your life?
DWA has done for me what it can do for all members – challenged me to move outside my comfort zone and develop skills that have enriched my life and taken me around the world. Plus skiing attracts really interesting people from all walks of life. And becoming a committee member was a wonderful training ground in up-skilling for my day job.
Please sum up your vision for the future of DWA?
I hope to see DWA continue to grow as a force behind fully accessible skiing in Australia, supporting strong links between disabled skiers and the skiing industry.
Julie Hale
Julie Hale
Current city and atate of residence
Melbourne, Victoria
Year first introduced or joined the organisation now known as Disabled Wintersport Australia?
1988
Through who or how were you introduced to the organisation?
RVIB (Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind) Ski Club
What roles or positions did you have within the organisation?
Mainly training roles for Ski Guides in Victoria, camp coordination, general Committee member.
During your time with DWA what particular achievements are you proud of contributing to?
Working with Ski Guides and seeing people who never thought they could ski having a go.
What is your fondest memory of your time with the organisation?
Seeing a young boy in his early teens who had severe hemiplegia (who came from a family of skiers) getting to experience skiing for the first time under the guidance of American pioneer Hal O’Leary at Falls Creek. The boy’s family were there and everyone who was part of the day had tears in their eyes. It was a freezing day but the young boy, once he found his ski legs, was not going to be stopped. He skied along the home trail for several hours. The smile on faces such as his is what makes the time and effort worthwhile.
What has been the biggest impact DWA has had on your life?
Being able to share my passion for skiing with others.
Please sum up your vision for the future of DWA?
A vibrant organisation that is able to provide a quality experience for people with disabilities - skiing, boarding - at every level from beginner to international competitor.
David Howells
David Howells
Current city and state of residence
Kootingal, New South Wales
Year first introduced or joined the organisation now known as Disabled Wintersport Australia?
1987
Through who or how were you introduced to the organisation?
Steve Gibb introduced me to Ron Finneran
What roles or positions did you have within the organisation?
Liaison Officer for NSW Dept. of Sport & Recreation, co-ordinating the Disabled Ski Program.
Team Administrator for the 1992 & 1994 Winter Paralympic Team and the 1996 World Championship Team
During your time with DWA what particular achievements are you proud of contributing to?
The building of the original Finsko’s Lodge at Jindabyne and then the extensions and renovations of the same lodge.
What is your fondest memory of your time with the organisation?
Watching Michael Milton win the first Gold Medal in Australian Winter Olympic and Paralympic history in 1992 at Tignes, France.
What has been the biggest impact DWA has had on your life?
Being able to introduce so many people with disabilities to snow sports and watching so many of them go onto to be champions at their sport.
Please sum up your vision for the future of DWA?
With so many defence personnel coming back from conflict injured there will be a need for DWA to help them find a new outlet. It is a great opportunity for DWA to be at the forefront as a world class organisation in assisting with the rehabilitation of service personnel injured in the service of their country.
Ashley Blondel
Ashley Blondel
Current city and state of residence
Pambula Beach, New South Wales
Year first introduced or joined the organisation now known as Disabled Wintersport Australia?
First introduced to DWA in 1996 and became a member in 2006.
Through who or how were you introduced to the organisation?
Introduced to DWA by the then Executive Director, Ron Finneran, OAM. On becoming CEO of Perisher Ski Resort in 1996, Ron requested a meeting, and our professional and personal relationship began.
What roles or positions did you have within the organisation?
Committee member and, later, President and Chairman.
During your time with DWA what particular achievements are you proud of contributing to?
There were many notable achievements during my terms of office with DWA. All of the achievements realised were the result of wide consensus and the contribution of all Committee members, as well as everyday members and their families and friends. Perhaps the most important matter achieved during my tenure as President was the writing of a new constitution and establishing a framework that is DWA today, across all borders and encompassing a wider member base.
What is your fondest memory of your time with the organisation?
Working with so many people that inspired and humbled me. From elite Paralympians to everyday people enjoying their first snow experience, and the dedicated Committee members of DWA. In particular, I have fond memories of the late Adrienne Smith, OAM, a tower in sports administration and in championing people with disabilities, Ron Finneran, OAM, the inaugural Executive Director and face of DWA for decades, Nick Dean, a founder of DWA and much valued Committee member of DWA to this day with incomparable knowledge, and Jim Blackburn who drove the administrative changes from what was the Victorian Division with skill and passion.
What has been the biggest impact DWA has had on your life?
Bringing me face to face with remarkable people who challenge, and more often than not conquer, what many consider impediments to life and who demonstrate enormous courage, skill and great humanity. I will never forget seeing the sheer joy and happiness on the face of a young boy with cerebral palsy on his first descent in a sit ski on Perisher’s Front Valley.
Please sum up your vision for the future of DWA?
That it endures forever because the need for organisations such as DWA will never be out dated or made obsolete. It may change direction and character in the years ahead but its principal purpose can and will enrich the lives of its members, their family and friends, and ordinary people such as myself who are fortunate to share the journey.
Ross Passalaqua
TREASURER
Ross Passalaqua
TREASURER
Ross is a company director and business consultant with broad leadership, commercial, operational, and technical experience ranging across multiple sectors including the tourism, safety, services, transport and logistics, oil, gas, and chemical industries in both Australia and internationally. Following an early career in consulting engineering and project management, Ross worked in corporate roles in Australia and expatriate postings in PNG, the UK and in the USA primarily with the Shell Group of Companies. Post Shell, Ross added tourism management and development in a role as CEO at the Falls Creek Alpine Resort.
Ross has been a member of the DWA Board since 2011. He is also currently Chair of Tourism North East and Chair of the People and Parks Foundation.
Jim Blackburn
BOARD MEMBER
Jim Blackburn
BOARD MEMBER
Jim is an experienced senior executive and corporate practitioner with broad leadership, operational and technical skills and experience across the investment, finance, corporate services and not-for-profit sectors.
He has represented SME entities across a wide range of international, national, public and internal forums, and is a recognised business leader in these forums. Jim has held key Board positions in the corporate and not-for-profit community sector.
Jim has been a member of DWA since 2001, starting as a volunteer guide. He has participated in the development and funding of the organisation over the past 20 years.
Joining the board in 2007, he was DWA Chairman until 2017. In this time, he remained actively involved in guiding and was one of the first accredited DWA Level 1 Trainers in 2009. Jim became a Life Member of DWA in 2018.