to pay their transport and stop over costs to and from Australia. Other Australian states were consulted and requested to provide funding of A£9,250. The specific state funding quotas were £2,500 for Victoria, £2,500 for New South Wales, £2,600 for Western Australia, £1,000 for Queensland and £450 for South Australia. There was a concern as to not impact on the fundraising required by the Commonwealth Games appeal. Several reports of the games highlight the importance of large spectator attendance and 'passing the hat' around in the fundraising efforts. The total cost at the games was £11,717 with a surplus of £2,089. Ceremonies Opening The games were opened by the Governor of Western Australia, Sir Charles Gairdner, on 10 November 1962. In his opening speech, Gairdner stated that "the public must learn that the handicapped person is not an invalid. I am handicapped, but the one thing I loathe is for people to treat me as an invalid. We, the public, must realise what can be done to rehabilitate people who have suffered a grievous physical disadvantage". The opening ceremony was described as a "colourful spectacle" due to the Army's Western Command Band wearing scarlet jackets and white helmets, the Army Guard of Honour in jungle green clothing and the blue uniforms of the mounted escort. The order of the wheelpast was Singapore, India, New Zealand, Rhodesia, Wales, Northern Ireland, England and the host country Australia. Hugh Leslie, the games chairman, in his speech said "This event, apart from helping the participants, is designed to prove to the public that the person who is badly handicapped is not a cripple. I hope that this horrible word will eventually be wiped out of use." Senator Shane Paltridge, who was representing the Federal Government, said "This is one fine example of leadership taken by this State in the work to lift the paraplegic from a life of resignation to one of self respect and purpose in the community." The second half of the opening ceremony and the start of the competitive program was a basketball match between Australia and England. The game was played on a special court, constructed of timber flooring laid on a sand base, at the Agricultural Showgrounds in full view of the crowd in the grandstand. In front of a couple of thousand spectators, with the game being called on the public address system by a television sports commentator,