Joseph Chidiac
Awarded Life Membership April 2020
Joseph Chidiac, a Director and founding member of Wheelchair Rugby League Australia (WRL) was awarded life membership for services to the organisation in April 2020. Martin Meredith, Chairman of WRL, described Joseph’s passion for the sport and contribution to its development in Australia as, “The driving force behind its establishment and growth.Regardless of his own personal challenges he has worked very hard to provide opportunity for others, with and without disability”.
Since the international sport was established here, Joseph has formed strong ties with the National Rugby League, NSW Rugby League and their affiliates. As well as growing the sport across Australia the code has also fielded representative teams at international World Cups.
Joseph Chidiac’s dream for Wheelchair Rugby League in Australia started to take shape in 2008, the year that Australian Rugby League celebrated its centenary, acknowledging the efforts of the game’s pioneers and its future. Wheelchair Rugby League made its Australian debut that year as part of the Rugby League Festival of World Cups that featured the Men’s, Women’s, University, Police and Defence teams in international representative games played in Queensland and New South Wales.
As part of the Australian team’s preparation, and with no prior direct experience, Joseph was called in to coach a rookie team that did Australia proud.
Joseph built on the momentum from the successful Rugby League Festival of World Cups to play his part in a new chapter of Rugby League history He worked hard behind the scenes to ensure that people with disability and their families could not only play the game together but have a defined pathway to representative level.
Setting himself a personal challenge, Manly Sea Eagles fan Joseph sought out the support of the National Rugby League (NRL), NSW Rugby League and the Rugby League International Federation to carry out WRLA’s integration into the fold of mainstream Rugby League in Australia and beyond.
Under Jospeph’s stewardship, the organisation was broadened from a state to a national organisation. In 2010 Wheelchair Rugby League Australia was established, along with the first competition.He secured the NRL’s support for the Wheelaroos team representing Australia at the 2013 World Cup in England. The sport’s profile was raised during this time, providing a great springboard for its ongoing growth and development.
Joseph said on receiving his Life Membership award, “When I first started this journey the large majority of people said it wouldn’t work. I must admit that I was strongly driven by my desire to be part of the game that I loved, but over the years my greatest joy is to see the faces of the young players and knowing that sport is the great equaliser. This sport gives everyone a chance to belong and that’s what continues to drive me to ensure its growth and success.”