It is a great honour to be announced as a Co-Patron of the 2022 Australian Deaf Games on 16-23 April in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie with Cindy-Lu Bailey-Fitzpatrick OAM.
As I mention in the video, it is a privilege to represent the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community as Co-Patron, and to advocate for this community and the importance of all Australians to enjoy and have access sport.
MEDIA RELEASE FROM ADG
MARCH 2021
From the 16th – 23rd April 2022, the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region will welcome over 1000 athletes from across the country to compete in 16 medal and 4 demonstration sports at the Australian Deaf Games.The aim of the Games is to provide a four yearly event that brings together Deaf and hard of hearingAustralians in a multi-sport environment that enables all participants the opportunity to compete to whatever level they aspire.
The Deaf Sports Australia Board of Directors and the Games Organising Committee are excited and proud to announce we have two Co-Patrons for the Games. Cindy-Lu Bailey-Fitzpatrick OAM and Katie Kelly OAM.This is a great outcome that demonstrate the diversity of our community, showcases our leadership and sporting achievements and increases our network reach in the deaf, disability and wider communities.
Cindy-Lu, who is deaf, is a former swimmer who has represented Australia in both CommonwealthGames and in the Deaflympics. She represented her country at two Commonwealth Games (1982, 1986),two Pan Pacific Games and competed at 6 Deaflympics Games over a 20 year period (1977-1997). She wasranked in the top 16 on the 1982 Speedo World Rankings list.
Katie was born with profound hearing loss (diagnosed at the age of 5 years) and then at 22 years of age itwas confirmed she had the condition Usher Syndrome resulting in hearing and eye sight loss that progressively worsens. Katie Kelly is an Australian Paralympic Gold Medallist and had the honour of winningAustralia’s first medal at the Rio Paralympics where Paratriathlon (vision impaired class) made its debut.
