Kevin Coombs

Kevin Richard Coombs (30 May 1941 – 5 October 2023) was an Australian wheelchair basketballer and athlete who competed at 5 Paralympics including the first Paralympic Games in 1960. He was the first Australian Aboriginal Paralympic competitor for Australia.

Coombs was born on 30 May 1941 in the Victorian town of Swan Hill, to Cecil Coombs and Rosie Clayton. After losing his mother at age five, he and his four siblings lived with relatives in the New South Wales town of Balranald. He grew up in rural Victoria in a large family. He became a paraplegic at the age of 12 when he was accidentally shot in the back while out shooting rabbits. Outside of sport, Coombs worked for the Victorian Department of Human Services until 2000. During his career with the Health Services he established the Koori Hospital Liaison Officer program, was the coordinator of the Koori Drug and Alcohol Program and was also Manager of the Koori Health Unit.

One of Coombs' daughters, Rose Falla, was the first Aboriginal magistrate in Victoria and the first Aboriginal Judge in Victoria. His other daughter, Janine, is the Deputy Chair of Barengi Gadjin Land Council.

Coombs died on 5 October 2023, at age 82.

Sporting career Coombs was part of the Australia men's national wheelchair basketball team at the 1960 Rome, 1968 Tel Aviv, 1972 Heidelberg, 1980 Arnhem and 1984 New York/Stoke Mandeville Paralympics. He served as coach/captain at the 1972 games and as captain at the 1984 games. He also participated in athletics events at the 1968 and 1972 Paralympics. He captained the silver medal-winning Australian wheelchair basketball team at the 1974 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in Dunedin, led the Australian team in gold medal performances at the 1977 and 1982 FESPIC Games, captained the team at the 1977 Silver Jubilee Games, and played in the 1983 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship.

Recognition

In 1983 Coombs received a Medal of the Order of Australia "in recognition of service to sport for the disabled and to Aboriginal welfare". That year, he received an Australian Sports Medal.

In 2007, Coombs was inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame.

In 2011, the Victorian Department of Health and Department of Human Services named a meeting room in honour of Coombs achievements.

In 2012, Coombs was inducted into the Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll.

He was a life Member of Paravics / Wheelchair Sports Victoria.

At the 2016 Australian Paralympic Committee awards, the Uncle Kevin Coombs Medal for the Spirit of the Games was awarded for the first time.

He was the first person conferred the 'PLY' postnominal letters.