Payneham Probus Club: Meeting Schedule and Entertainment -
Speakers
23rd January 2024
Richard MCGRATH - (SportsUnited Board Member) and Robert LAIDLAW (SportsUnited Project Officer)
Richard will provide an overview of SportsUnited, its history and evolution since starting in 2018. Richard and Robert will then discuss Sporting Memories Australia program, which delivers regular group sessions seeking to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of people over the age of 50, who are socially isolated, through engaging them in sports reminiscence and inclusive physical activity.
During the presentation, Richard and Robert will provide members with the opportunity to be involved with some sporting reminiscence activities and games as well as ask questions and explore volunteering options with the Sporting Memories Australia program.
27th February 2024
Libby KOSMALA - Australian Paralympian and Multiple Gold Medallist
Libby Kosmala is an Australian with paraplegia who has represented Australia in 12 Paralympics in which she participated from 1972 to 2016. During this time she has won 13 medals, 9 of them gold. Libby first competed in the Paralympic competition in 1972 in Heidelberg, Germany as a swimmer and field athlete. She went onto competition shooting, winning a gold medal at the next Paralympics in Toronto in 1976. She continued to excel in the sport at subsequent Paralympics, winning further medals and also breaking several records. The Seoul 1988 Paralympics saw her and her husband Stan, both win gold medals in shooting and lawn bowls respectively. She will also bring her medals, targets and her rifle for all to see.
In 1985 Libby received the Medal of the Order of Australia for her services to the sport of air rifle shooting.
Libby is also a staunch advocate for equality for disabled people and was influential in procuring parking permits for the disabled in South Australia. She was a public relations agent for the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of South Australia.
Libby will also include in her presentation “Why she is in a wheelchair” and about her family life.
Rob embraced community radio in 1984 in Warrnambool, Victoria, where he served as President for 6 years, culminating in gaining a full licence for 3WAY FM in 1992.
He relocated to Adelaide in 1994 to start up the first Capt’n Snooze retail bedding store in Adelaide and joined Coast FM 88.7 in 1998, based at the Glandore Community Centre.
After presenting the Wednesday Breakfast Program for 16 years, he now presents the Wednesday Coast Magazine morning program and has done so for 6 years.
Rob is passionate about music from the 60s and 70s and has an interest in particular, in vinyls.