Endeavour Hills resident Juan Carlos Loyola has received the Medal of the Order of Australia.
A PASSION to help intellectually disabled people play sport has earned Endeavour Hills resident Juan Carlos Loyola the Medal of the Order of Australia.
The Medal of the Order of Australia is awarded for exceptional service to the community and comes from community nominations.
Mr Loyola received the prestigious honour for his contribution to disability sport, particularly the Doveton Special Soccer School, which he founded and has served as head coach since 1993.
The school allows people with an intellectual disability to play soccer and enjoy other physical fitness activities, as well as socialise and form friendships with other participants.
“I am happy to be honoured to receive the award and very proud for not only myself but for the people it represents,” Mr Loyola said. “It is our duty to give intellectually disabled people the opportunity to play sport. We don’t need to feel sorry for them, we need to give them hope.”
Mr Loyola coached the Australian Soccer Team for intellectual disability players at the Global Games in 2005, the World Championships in 2006, and the Special Olympics Victoria’s State and Southern Region Soccer Teams between 1989 and 1993.
To raise awareness of sport for the disabled, Carlos organised a soccer tournament for school aged intellectually disabled children. The tournament was held annually from 1999 to 2007, with more than 300 players competing each year.
For the past 15 years, he has also run soccer clinics around Victoria.
Anthony Byrne MP congratulated Mr Loyola for his contribution to the community and to young disabled people.
“Carlos is an outstanding member of our community and thoroughly deserves national recognition. His voluntary service to disability sport has changed the lives of many young sportspeople,” said Mr Byrne.
“Carlos symbolises what it means to be Australian, selflessly giving up his time and going the extra kilometre to help others.”
