Our Patron

Meet our Patron: Graham Edwards AM

Born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Graham Edwards attended Leederville Technical College, and worked for five years as a railway fireman before joining the Australian Regular Army in 1968. He was sent to Vietnam, where he was a member of the assault pioneer platoon of 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.

On 12 May 1970, Grahams’ platoon moved into an area where mines had been laid. An M16 mine exploded wounding three men; both Graham’s legs had to be amputated.

Graham never let his disability get the better of him

With the mobility offered by his many wheelchairs over the years, Graham has amassed a long list of achievements and accolades.

When he returned to civilian life, veterans’ welfare became a vital cause for Graham and he also moved into public affairs and politics. He served as a councillor on the City of Stirling for three years and in1983, was elected as a Labor member to the Western Australian Legislative Council. After 14 years in state parliament, he entered federal parliament in 1998, being elected to the House of Representatives for the seat of Cowan, in Western Australia.

As a returned veteran, Graham has also had a long association with the RSL and championing the voices of other veterans. Graham has served as State President of the RSL WA and was awarded ANZAC of the Year Award in 1991 for service to the veteran community.

Following his retirement from politics, Graham found time to volunteer for Wheelchairs For Kids Australia. He has travelled to Vietnam to see the impact our wheelchairs make to the lives of children born with disability and those who have been victims of landlines, left behind from conflict.

With his lifetime of community service to both veterans and people with disability, Graham was awarded the Order of Australia 2012 and WA Senior of the Year 2016.

Graham is a passionate advocate for Wheelchairs For Kids Australia and is committed to raising the profile of our work and helping secure greater funding. As someone who knows firsthand the power of mobility, Graham’s goal is to support Wheelchairs For Kids “to export more wheelchairs to more kids in more countries, making a lasting positive impact on their lives”. It’s a vision we all share.