ABC TV prepared this short video profile of Ashley Adams prior to the 2012 London Paralympics
Ashley Adams
A respected cattle producer from Queensland’s central west with a high record of achievement as a Paralympic rifle shooter and as a beef industry innovator has been hailed as an inspiration to all following his death in a motorbike accident yesterday.
Queensland police confirmed last night that Blackall cattle producer, Ashley Adams, died after falling from his quad bike late yesterday afternoon on his property ‘Darracourt’ 40km north west of the town.
Mr Adams was paralysed in a motorbike race in Blackall in 1982 when he was 26.
He made changes to infrastructure on his 64,000 acre property to enable him to continue to produce cattle, including installing gates that open both ways, and also focused his energies on the sport of rifle shooting, which his grandfather introduced him to as a boy.
He went on to represent Australia in rifle shooting at the Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London Paralympic Games.
He was dual-medallist at Athens in 2004 and won the 2014 IPC World Championship in Suhl, Germany.
He was due to lead Australia’s Paralympic shooting team at the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016.
In 2008 Mr Adams was recognised for his pioneering work focused on breeding cattle genetically pre-diposed to producing tender beef, by being named as that year’s Rabobank Queensland Beef Producer of the Year.
Mr Adams was one of the first producers to use GeneStar tenderness marker testing to selectively breed cattle with a five-star or higher tenderness test rating, which he sold under his own TendaBEEF brand.
Shooting Australia said the nation had lost a great rifle athlete who will be remembered for his his larrikin personality and his great enthusiasm for adjusting and testing his firearms.
He was ‘an ideas man’, someone who tried to get the best out of himself and others.
An emotional head coach Miro Sipek, said, “Ashley was a leader for the rest of the team. Now, I know, we will be doing it for him.”
“No one slept last night, everyone is just shattered. Ashley was meant to lead the team to Rio in 2016, now, they’ll do it for him instead.”
The Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) President Glenn Tasker said Australian Paralympic sport had not only lost one of its best athletes, but one of its great characters.
“We are absolutely devastated. Our deepest condolences are with Ashley’s family and friends, as well as the many people within the shooting community who were touched by Ashley’s talent, warmth, wit and humour,” Mr Tasker said.
“As a Paralympic shooter, Ashley was one of our finest ever. In fact, it is hard to imagine an Australian Paralympic shooting team without him, such is the impact he has had on our team and the sport over a long period of time.”
Shooting Australia CEO Damien Marangon said Mr Adams’ passing has left a gaping hole in the team.
“Our hearts go out to Ashley’s family, friends and loved ones at this tragic time. The sporting world and shooting community is a poorer place today with Ash no longer with us. He was a great athlete and a champion bloke and we will miss him,” Mr Marangon said.
Queensland Minister for Sport and Agriculture Bill Byrne said Mr Adams was an inspirational athlete with a great passion for his sport, shared equally by the love of his land in central west Queensland, where he honed his skills.
“Mr Adams was associated with the Queensland Academy of Sport since 1996 and represented Australia at the Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London Paralympic Games,” Mr Byrne said.
“He was an integral part of the Australian Paralympic shooting team and had been preparing for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.”
Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) Executive Director Bennett King said Mr Adams was well respected amongst his peers.
“On behalf of the QAS, our thoughts are with Ashley’s family, friends and colleagues at Shooting Australia,” Mr King said.
“Always a leader, Ashley will be missed by his fellow athletes, particularly as he was set to lead the team in Rio next year at the 2016 Paralympic Games after securing one of two quota spots for the Australian Shooting team.
‘We will remember Ashley as a hard worker, high achiever, proud Queenslander and consummate Australian,’ Mr King said.
Mr Adams is survived by his son Ian.
Ashley Adams cracked the code for high marbling, tenderness and feed efficiency in cattle. In particular the high tenderness markers that saw his cattle go into other satellite studs as well as his own near 4,000 head at Blackall Qld. The ‘high end of town’ restaurants were eagerly seeking his product. The Japan market was also showing interest. What an innovator, positive role model and brilliant person that Ashley Adams was. We will long remember him with great fondness and admiration. Rest easy Ash.
All above sentiments, Echoed … Ashley, you were always in a hurry; everywhere, all the time. In fact I always thought you lived life at Mach-4, with your hair on fire!
This energy was balanced with being a thoughtful fellow; even inventing a welding process for poly-pipe, to save on the cost of brass joiners.
You will surely be missed, and I hope your legacy continues.
VALE Mr. Ashley Adams Esq. RIP
As a fellow Blackall boy, I loved the way Ashley found his way around an obstacle — rather than succumbing to it. Modifying a dozer for a man with no legs was just as notable as his success in the Olympics. (Most would give up before achieving either goal.)
Thinking through how to make his beef more tasty, is a commitment we farmers all need to make to our customers. Ian, I hope you’ve taken on enough from the old man’s ideals to continue his legacy. If you ever need a hand, sing out.
Rosemary Champion hopes you rest in peace Ashley. And so do I. (Although, I suspect your inventive brain won’t allow you to rest too long anywhere!) I do feel for your team going into the Olympics without you. But I hope they’ve learnt a thing or two in the meantime.
Well done young fella. You’ll be missed — but remembered.
Ashley, was a one in a million loveable bloke , who had the admiration and respect from all those fortunate to meet this” larrikin of the bush.”. He never seemed to let adversity get him down and his innovative vision to manage his courageous life combined with his immense intellect, strength , determination, positive attitude will never be forgotten . Ashley’s energy combined with love for his cattle , his land and his sport and his family and friends will be an inspiration for ever . May you rest in peace Ashley .