So it was a proud moment for Carcoar’s Kurt Fearnley when he joined fellow Paralympian Christie Dawes and Australia’s wheelchair head coach Andrew Dawes in opening the resurfaced ‘Fearnley Dawes Athletic Centre’ in Newcastle.

The new facility is one of very few in the world to have a purpose built outside lane dedicated to wheelchair racers. It will help prolong careers of existing athletes and develop new talents.

“It’s good for our longer life in the sport. It’s a bit more gentler on our wrists and elbows to push around on the smoother surface. I can’t believe how it’s turned out,” three-time Paralympic Gold medallist Fearnley, who also has a park in Carcoar named after him, said.

“Kurt and Christie have done amazing things over the last 10, 15, 20 years, but now we’re going to have a whole new range of athletes coming through as well,” Andrew Dawes added.