History of Disability in South Australia

After a series of tests for an unrelated condition, nobody was more surprised than Libby Kosmala to hear at the age of 60 that her disability was due, not to spina bifida, as she and everyone had always been told, but to a birth injury. After all this time, she has not let this concern her. Whatever the cause of Libby’s being a wheelchair user, it has not stopped her from being Australia’s leading Paralympian, and a world champion with nine Olympic gold medals to her credit.

So far Libby has been involved in 10 Paralympics over a period of more than forty years. She has thus succeeded in outstaying any other athlete, whether able-bodied or not. In 2008 year she will be off to Beijing, for her 11th Games, and seeking an incredible 10th gold medal. In addition to her nine gold medals, Libby has also won something over a hundred silver and bronze. “Too many to count”, she says. “It’s only the gold that counts”.

Libby was always interested in sport, initially as a table tennis player and an archer. When a friend invited her to visit the rifle range in 1974, her first shot was a perfect 10. Everyone there said that had to be a fluke, so she fired another shot, and another perfect 10. Libby took to the sport easily and began training in earnest. She was included as a member of the 1976 Paralympic team and there won her first gold medal.

Son Luke was born in 1978, timed perfectly for Libby to have 18 months off from training, and to return to the 1980 Games. James arrived in 1982, again giving Libby time to care for him as a young baby and enabling her to take part in the 1984 Games. At these Games she won four gold medals and broke 4 world records. Libby has been the top Paralympic shooter since 1985 when she was also awarded her OAM for services to sport and the disabled community.

As with any elite sport, rifle shooting is demanding, and training is intensive. Libby says the effort is 95% mental and 5% physical, with the emphasis on hand/eye coordination and intense concentration. With such concentration, the outer world can seem to disappear and the focus is solely on the target in front of her. This is being “in the zone” and is the prerequisite for success. Libby knows this state very well and can achieve it quickly. She enjoys training, and revels in competition.

The sport demands a great deal of stamina as it involves frequent Interstate and International travel. State championships are held every year by the Australian Rifle Association and International competitions at least once a year, increasing to 2-3 overseas trips as the Paralympics approach. Libby has visited Switzerland, Poland, Korea, Japan, Germany, England, Canada, the USA and others. She is grateful to be able to do this, having been financially supported by the SA Sports Institute and the Australian institute of Sport.

Until 1998, the Paralympic Games had always been held in a different venue from the Olympics, sometimes with poor facilities, and attracting relatively little attention from the world. With the Athens games, however, the Paralympics were held in the Olympic City which meant using the same facilities and accommodation as the Olympians. That move created a greater awareness of, and interest in the Paralympics. Libby says the effect on the athletes of this change on her and other Paralympians was to feel at last complete recognition of their outstanding abilities.

At her first Games, Libby says she felt overwhelmed and in awe of everything and everybody. Now as the most senior and longest lasting of all athletes, she is able to take it as just going to another shoot. She says the Sydney Games were universally recognised for the warmth and friendliness, the high quality of the accommodation, transport catering and entertainment.

In 1984 Libby was named champion of her local rifle club, Morialta. The entitled her to compete in the Champion of Club Champions organised by the South Australian Small Bore Rifle Association. The Championship was not subject to international rules as it was not a competition at which a world record could be established.

Libby competed in the championship and shot the highest score of all competitors. The Association however refused to award her the championship trophy on the grounds that she had not complied with International rules. The rules specify that competitors shoot from various positions, including standing. Since Libby was unable to comply with this rule, she was disqualified after the competition was ended.

Believing this to be unjust, since International rules were inapplicable, Libby lodged a complaint of discrimination with the SA Equal Opportunity Commission. Conciliation was unsuccessful; and the complaint was referred to the EO tribunal. The matter was resolved when the Association agreed to:
1. That a public announcement be made that the Association regrets that Ms Kosmala, having been given to unde stand that she had been permitted to compete in the championship, and having shot the highest score on the range, was later disqualified on the basis of the application of rules which had not been clearly communicated in advance.
2. To adopt certain procedures with a view to preventing a repetition of what occurred in 1994,
3. To the adoption of certain initiatives designed to improve communication between the Association and its members, including people with disabilities. *
*http//: www.playbytherules.net.au

An achievement of which Libby is very proud is gaining parking concessions for people with disabilities. In the early 70 there were no disability parking permits. Libby was working at Adelaide’s Botanic Gardens and would sometimes drive into Gawler Place in the City where there was a 30 minute parking limit. She paid a great many parking fines before she thought perhaps she could do something about the situation. She knew that in other places overseas people with disabilities had extended parking times. Initial approached to the Adelaide City Council were met with a refusal. Libby took legal advice not to pay her parking fines, and let them accumulate, thus precipitating a court case. Libby represented herself, and the court ruled in her favour. She did not have to pay the fines, but was required to meet all court costs. This was reported in the papers, and the costs were met by an anonymous donor. Libby still has no idea of his/her identity. Libby’s achievement was the precursor of government issued parking permits for people with disabilities.

Libby gives a great deal back to the community. In addition to her demanding sporting commitments, Libby works as fundraiser and PR person for the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephus Association. Her community work includes being a member of various Boards:
• Disability information and Resource Centre,
• Community Benefits SA
• TransAdelaide
• Youth Opportunities
• Charity Card Shop (President)
• Morialta Rifle Club (secretary).
She hopes to round off her sporting career by being included in the Paralympics team for London in 2012 when she will be 70.