athletes competing at the 1972 summer paralympics heidelberg, germany required financial assistance of $1800 to be eligible to attend the games. barrett contacted the international lions club of engadine, new south wales, australia, who held a fundraising event at the local returned servicemens league (rsl) club and raised $1000 towards the targeted cost. realizing that additional finance was needed, the club appealed to the sutherland shire council and all local organisations and interested people in the sutherland shire, a local government area of sydney, to support the raymond barrett olympic fund.