Australia’s Indigenous Paralympians have been honoured with the unveiling of new plaque ©APC

The Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) and First Peoples Disability Network Australia (FPDN) have recognised three of the country’s indigenous Paralympians with the unveiling of a plaque.

The plaque has been placed on the Paralympian honour board at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) in Sydney.

The celebration formed part of NAIDOC week, where events are held across Australia every July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Among those honoured were the two indigenous athletes who represented Australia at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Amanda Reid in cycling and athlete Torita Blake.

Also celebrated was 1972 Paralympian Ray Barrett, whose indigenous heritage was recently rediscovered through the APC’s Paralympic History Project.

Barrett, who passed away in 2000, was represented by his family at the function while Reid, who won her first Paralympic medal in Rio, was also in attendance.

Barrett competed at the Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games, winning bronze in the 100 metres wheelchair 2 event.

His other sporting achievements included competing at the 1974 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in Dunedin in New Zealand, where he set a world record in the 100m wheelchair 2, and he was part of the team that won a bronze medal in wheelchair basketball.

Amanda Reid won silver in the C2 500m time trial at Rio 2016 ©Getty Images
Amanda Reid won silver in the C2 500m time trial at Rio 2016 ©Getty Images

Named Sportsperson of the Year at this year’s NAIDOC Awards, Reid competed at her second Paralympic Games in Rio after making the transition to cycling from swimming.

She won silver in the C2 500m time trial.

Blake also became a dual Paralympian last year after also competing at London 2012.

In the Brazilian city she placed fourth overall in the 400m T38.

“Today’s ceremony was a wonderful way to celebrate the achievements of two Rio Paralympians, Torita Blake and Amanda Reid, and the legacy of Ray Barrett," said APC chief executive Lynne Anderson.

“To be joined by Amanda and relatives of Ray’s today was a privilege for the APC in an important week which celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Australia’s indigenous community.

“The aspiration of the Paralympic movement is to build a more inclusive society for people with a disability through Para-sport.

“We know that through sport, Para-athletes challenge stereotypes and transforms attitudes, and that’s something that all three athletes celebrated today have done in both the indigenous and wider Australian communities.”