Uncle Kevin Coombs, the revered Wotjobaluk Elder and distinguished Paralympian, has recently experienced a markedly different phase of life, shaped by the constraints of the COVID-19 era. At the age of 79, he and his wife, Linda, reside in Pascoe Vale, a suburb north of Melbourne. The pandemic’s social isolation measures have largely confined him to the comforts of their two-bedroom unit.
Reflecting on his current routine, Uncle Kevin humorously quips, “I’m going from the lounge room to the kitchen to the bedroom,” highlighting the drastic curtailing of his once globe-trotting adventures.
In his youth, Uncle Kevin traversed the world, competing in the inaugural Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960. He also captained and coached wheelchair basketball well into the late 1990s. His journey into sports followed a life-altering event at the age of 12 when he sustained a paralyzing injury after an accidental gunshot to his back. His introduction to basketball occurred during his rehabilitation at the Austin Hospital.
During these times of coronavirus restrictions, Uncle Kevin has postponed one of his cherished indulgences: a visit to the barber for a haircut. While he can undertake permissible trips, such as check-ups with his Fitzroy-based doctor, who has confirmed his good health and robust immunity due to a healthy diet and abstention from alcohol, he misses accompanying his wife, Linda, on shopping excursions.
He acknowledges the pivotal role his wife plays in maintaining his health, remarking, “I’ve got a very good wife, and she’s the key to my health nowadays,” a sentiment he’s held for many years.
When discussing the pandemic, Uncle Kevin emphasizes the vulnerability of older individuals to illnesses and underscores the importance of taking precautions. He is acquainted with another Aboriginal man who tested positive for the virus and recognizes the need for caution in these times.
Uncle Kevin’s current circumstances find him yearning for the opportunity to attend committee meetings for organizations like the Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health and Murrup Barak, the Melbourne Institute for Indigenous Development. His decades of experience working with young Koorie people have enriched the missions of these two Melbourne University organizations.
For 13 years, he served as an Elder with the Koori Courts and played a pivotal role in establishing and managing Victoria’s Koori Health Unit. Additionally, he served as an ambassador for the National Indigenous Strategy for Literacy and Numeracy.
Despite not participating in the recent Black Lives Matter rally in Melbourne himself, Uncle Kevin notes that both his daughters, Janine Coombs, a native title and Treaty campaigner, and Rose Falla, a magistrate, as well as one of his granddaughters, took part. He expresses his preference for focusing on education and encourages young Indigenous people to pursue it diligently.
Born in Swan Hill in 1941, Uncle Kevin faced early hardships, losing his mother, Rosie, at the age of five. Subsequently, he resided with relatives in Balranald, New South Wales, where he attended primary school and assisted at his uncle’s timber yard.
Reflecting on his life’s lessons and experiences, Uncle Kevin imparts advice to young children, emphasizing the significance of education. He believes that a good education is a powerful tool and often encouraged young people to study and invest in their education.
As he contemplates his future, Uncle Kevin, with his characteristic sense of humor, shares his upcoming plans, saying, “In the next couple of days, I’ll be getting myself out of this unit and having a look around,” adding with a laugh, “and getting my hair cut.”
Uncle Kevin Coombs is a remarkable figure in the Wotjobaluk community and beyond. He has received numerous accolades and awards, including the Medal of the Order of Australia, an Australian Sports Medal, and induction into the Basketball Australia Hall of Fame. His contributions to sports and Indigenous advocacy continue to inspire and shape the future of Indigenous communities in Australia.