Sir George Montario Bedbrook, OBE[1][2] (8 October 1921 – 6 October 1991)[3][4] was an Australian medical doctor and surgeon, who was the driving force in creating the Australian Paralympic movement and the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games, and helped to found the FESPIC Games.
In 1953, Bedbrook moved back to Australia, where he and McKellar Hall started a private practice in orthopaedics.
[6] In 1988, he was the Director of the Spinal Injuries Programme and Clinical Sub-dean of the University of Western Australia.
The year after Guttmann's visit, Bedbrook helped Australia to send its first team to compete in the Stoke Mandeville Games.
Bedbrook did extensive fundraising to help cover the travel expenses of the athletes from Royal Perth Hospital.
[11] Bedbrook, Hugh Leslie and John Grant were credited with making the games a huge success, with athletes such as Sally Haynes praising the friendliness and helpfulness of everyone working at the event.
[12] In 1964, the International Stoke Mandeville Games Committee (ISMGC) held a meeting of managers and trainers in Tokyo, Japan.
His commitment to the rehabilitation and care of Australians living with a spinal cord injury has received worldwide recognition.
Sir George Bedbrook established PBF Australia in 1984 as he was frustrated by the lack of financial support available for patients living with a spinal cord injury.
He found that 70% of patients were not eligible for any insurance or compensation payment following their spinal cord injury, with many being institutionalised after discharge from hospital.
Under authority of a Royal Warrant the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, at Government House, Perth, on 15th September 1978, conferred the Honour of Knighthood upon Sir George Montario BEDBROOK, O.B.E.
[19] In 2011, he was one of the first people to be inducted into the Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame, along with Frank Ponta and Louise Sauvage.