Paul Nunnari Explained

Paul Nunnari
Birth Date:6 February 1973
Birth Place:Auburn, New South Wales

Paul Nunnari (born 6 February 1973 in Auburn, New South Wales) is a Paralympic athletics competitor from New South Wales, Australia. He was hit by a car at the age of 11[1] and is a wheelchair user. He has competed in wheelchair athletics events in three Paralympic Games - 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens. He won a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Games in the men's 4 × 100 m relay T54 event.[2] In 1993–1994, he was an Australian Institute of Sport Athlete with a Disability scholarship holder.

He has been a strong advocate for disability services and sports. In 2006, he raised the issue of Virgin Airlines making carers pay for accompanying wheelchair passengers.[3] He established the Bob Jane T-Mart Paul Nunnari Wheelchair Push to raise awareness of cancer.[4] He is a community development officer with Macarthur Disability Services.[1]

In 2010, he unsuccessfully stood in the Australian Labor Party preselection for the Federal Seat of Macarthur.[5]

In 2013, he auditioned for Australia's Got Talent and got through.

In 2022, he was awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM) for outstanding public service to New South Wales, particularly in the field of access and inclusion.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Plenty of Smiles on Faces of Macarthur. ARL Development Officer Campbelltown, 19 June 2007. 1 March 2012.
  2. Australian Honour Roll. Australian Paralympic Committee. Australian Paralympic Committee Annual Report 2010. 2010. 10.
  3. News: Metherell. Mark. Airline to wheelchair users: pay a carer. 1 March 2012. Sydney Morning Herald. 30 May 2006.
  4. News: Pleffer. Alexandra. Push is on to involve students in cause. 1 March 2012. Macarthur Advertiser. 14 September 2011.
  5. News: Bleasdale endorsed as Labor candidate for Macarthur. 1 March 2012. Campbelltown Macarthur Advertiser. 8 March 2010.
  6. Web site: 13 June 2022 . The Queen's Birthday 2022 Honours List . 13 June 2022 . The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.