Alan Dufty

Career

He competed in rugby league, rugby union, and amateur boxing while living in New South Wales.In August 1973, he broke his back and became paraplegic after a motorcycle accident. He worked for the Shire of Proserpine from 1975 to 2003, at first as a parking inspector. He has served on the committees of many organisations related to disability and sport.

He unsuccessfully stood as a candidate for Division 2 in the 2012 elections for councillors in the Whitsunday Region.

He and his family were the subject of a 1981 documentary that aired throughout Australia. Dufty competed in wheelchair sport from 1976 to 1996.

Achievements

• In 2003, he won a by-election to select a councillor after the previous holder of that position died suddenly, and he served out the remainder of her term. At the 1984 New York/Stoke-Mandeville Paralympics, he won two gold medals in the Men"s 400 m 1C and Men"s Marathon 1C events, two silver medals in the Men"s 200 m 1C and Men"s 4x200 m Relay 1A–1C events, and two bronze medals in the Men"s 800 m 1C and Men"s 4x100 m Relay 1A–1C events. At the 1988 Seoul Games, he won two silver medals in the Men"s 4x100 m Relay 1A–1C and Men"s Marathon 1C events and two bronze medals in the Men"s 1,500 m 1C and Men"s 4x200 m Relay 1A–1C events. At the 1992 Barcelona Games, he won a silver medal in the Men"s 4x100 m Relay TW1–2 event and a bronze medal in the Men"s 4x400 m Relay TW1–2 event.