Award Winners

Wyndham Cooper OAM

1928-2007

Affectionately known as Wyn, was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 1992 for his dedication to the Deaf community.

Wyn was a man of many commitments to serve the Deaf Community.

For over 45 years he was part of the Deaf General Committee which later became WA Deaf Recreation Association.

Wyn was also on the board of the WA Deaf Society for 49 years.

He was an avid table tennis player, having won the Deaf National titles five times as a single player and six times as a doubles player.

In 1958 Wyn won the WA Open Table Tennis championships in the doubles.

He also played cricket and tennis.

Geoffrey Maley

1925 - 2012

Geoff was a true all-rounder, and was deservedly awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the Queens birthdays honours list in 1997.

He was fully immersed into the Deaf community with many roles.

From 1987 to 1992 Geoff was President of the WA Association of the Deaf.

He was also the President of the WA Deaf Recreation Association for over 26 years and was on the board of the WA Deaf Society for many years. Geoff was an exceptional sportsman, having played football at an elite level, boxing champion of the Goldfields, and winning open swim competitions for his local lifesaving club in which he was a member of the club for over 50 years, and much more.

He taught Auslan to many people as a career later in life, travelling to Bunbury and Albany to teach every week!