It is with the great sadness that we advise of the passing of Robert "Bob" McCullough OAM early this morning (9 January).

Bob McCullough OAM served as ISMWSF President (1996-2001) prior to the amalgamation of International Organisation for Amputee Sports and the International Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Sports Federation which finally formed International Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS).

IWAS Honorary Treasurer, Bob Paterson, recalls Bob McCullough’s presidency fondly;

‘When Bob was elected President in 1996 he brought fresh thinking to the organisation with a focus on how ISMWSF could best serve its members and the interests of the athletes. Being based in Australia, he was in a unique position to forge strong relationships and engage new like-minded groups with the work of IWAS. He challenged many “traditional” ways of doing things and made the organisation review carefully the way things were done moving forward.  He was a strong character and certainly left his mark on the organisation after six years as President.’

As well as Bob’s tireless work in the promotion of sport for athletes with impairments through his international involvement with IWAS, Bob also held many roles in his home nation of Australia including with the Australian Paralympic Federation. In recognition of his service to sport and the Paralympic movement, Bob received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1996. This award was followed by the International Paralympic Committee’s Paralympic Order in 2002.

IWAS is exceptionally grateful for Bob’s invaluable contributions to ISMWSF and in turn the IWAS that we know today. Our thoughts are with his wife, Yvonne, and daughter, Julie-Ann as well as his friends, family and colleagues, past and present.