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Volume 2, Issue 4 Polio Oz News December 2012 — Summer Edition Polio Plus . by Jill Mather by ambulance and sat in a make saddle close by. My boots, my www.jillmatherbooks.com.au - shift chair - c u m - b e d , riding bowler and other overlooking the paddocks. Then paraphernalia. One never after an hour it was back to knows. I did ride again but an hospital for another long two unfortunate spill put pay to years. Both legs affected and that. one was never to regain its use and the other only 50%. It By 1958, calliper, crutches and could have been worse. all, I married. I was pretty spry at getting around and really I was just 15 years old and my never considered how much my whole life stretched before me. disability hampered me because What was I to do? In the 1950’s it really didn’t. there were no answers and not much help once one was By 1960 I gave birth to a son. A discharged. After assistance delightful child who gave me from the Ambulance boys who much joy even though it took me under their wing and changed my life and location carted me around to various when my husband was critically social outings, I gained work on injured at football. the local Emergency Switch Board. I have hated the violence of the game ever since. Faced with Eighteen months later, a career single parenthood I had little 1952 was not a good year change to the Arbitration Court option, and money to do for polio sufferers. And as and much help from the Court otherwise than move back with agreed, we are still here. Solicitor who encouraged me to my parents. They lived in a study Law and arranged this small seaside town where my A horse lover from an early age with the University who was not father was the Fisheries Patrol one of my very lasting at all anxious to have a Officer. The local Council impressions was of being disabled, part-time student urgently needed an Acting Town wheeled to an ambulance and when such things were unheard Clerk. Because of my legal my two beloved horses hanging of. Fellow students felt I had background, I was appointed their heads over the gate, certain privileges. I was also and finally re-married. Pan watching, and wondering. I female. A double cross to bear. American Airlines gave me a didn’t know it then, but it would The local national newspaper part time writing assignment be more than three years before published articles I wrote. and travel was on the agenda. I would see them again and under very different The horses had to be sold. It Another son later and a move to circumstances. was such a wrench. So sad. So Australia from New Zealand dreadfully final. made in 1970. My writing skills, Hospitalised for so long, it was a honed in hospital by my English special treat to be taken home I slept with my bridle and Teacher, stood me in good Cont’d P 3 National Patron: Dr John Tierney, PhD, OAM Page 2 Polio Oz News Polio Australia Inc From the Outgoing President Representing polio survivors served the maximum allowable two consecutive terms throughout Australia without a break. It has been an honour and a privilege to see my dream of a national voice for polio survivors come Suite 119C, 89 High Street to fruition and then to serve for 4 years as Polio Kew Victoria 3101 Australia’s inaugural President. Polio Australia is growing PO Box 500 into a strong and well-regarded organisation with a lot of Kew East Victoria 3102 goodwill behind it from our nation’s polio survivors and Phone: +61 3 9016 7678 their families. I leave the Presidency in the capable E-mail: [email protected] hands of our National Patron, Dr John Tierney, while I will Website: www.polioaustralia.org.au still be around to help guide the organisation’s development in my new role as Vice-President. Contacts Gillian Thomas Vice-President I am hoping that the reduced calls on my time will enable me to spend more time supporting Mary-ann, as well as President - John Tierney A t P o l i o working on further development of the Polio Australia [email protected] Australia’s 4th website. Please be sure to visit our new Hot News ! blog Annual General page to catch up with polio news as it happens. Vice President - Gillian Thomas Meeting on 6th [email protected] December I stood In closing, the Management Committee, Mary-ann and d o w n a s our volunteers wish each and every reader a joyous festive season and a peaceful and healthy New Year. Secretary - Brett Howard President, having [email protected] From the Editor Treasurer - Michael Judson It’s been such a busy year, and productive year! [email protected] I don’t quite know where However, 2013 just to start! March gave us the happens to be the final year National Program Manager House of Reps Round Table of The Balnaves Foundation Mary-ann Liethof Inquiry into the LEoP, as grant which pays my salary, [email protected] well as an action packed so we are busy seeking visit from Canada’s alternative ways to fund my Ramesh Ferris; we had our position, considering we are 3rd Retreat in April in yet to receive any Inside this issue: Queensland; in June, the government funding . Round Table Report was Polio Plus 1 Mary-ann Liethof released; the next few On a lighter note, this edition is focussed on Breath Easy 3 Editor months were building up to people’s stories, which Unless otherwise the “We’re Still Here!” Polio in Canberra 4 campaign at Parliament seems appropriate at this stated, the articles in time of year. After all, it’s Thanks to GSK Team 4 Polio Oz News may be House, Canberra, in these stories that link reprinted provided October; October was also Polio Australia’s AGM 5 that they are the month GSK finished people together and make Co-Q10 Clinical Trial 6 reproduced in full the “Late Effects of Polio: us all part of the post-polio (including any Introduction to Clinical community. You will be Polio: It’s not over 6 references) and the Practice” Module which was interested to read about author, the source and Touched by Polio Art 7 launched at Parliament Kimbalee Apps (P 11) who Polio Australia Inc are is one of Australia’s Australia All Over 8 acknowledged in full. House; we had an unprecedented number of younger polio survivors, The Calliper Kids on-line 8 Articles may not be having contracted the virus edited or summarised new registrations on the in 1972. So, we really are Remembering Miss Lamond 9 without the prior Australian Polio Register written approval of following an article which still here for quite a few Give Easy 10 Polio Australia. The appeared in the nationally years to come! views expressed in this distributed “The Senior” Kimbalee Apps Story 11 Here’s wishing all our publication are not newspaper; then another necessarily those of readers the very best for Sister Kenny Testimonials 13 flurry of registrations Polio Australia, and the season. Looking resulted following a brief Sister Kenny 60 years on 14 any products, services forward to next year so I or treatments interview with Lyn Glover can do it all again! The Story of Ros 15 described are not (Gold Coast Polio Network necessarily endorsed Convener) on “Australia All All about Immunisation 18 or recommended by Over” radio in December. Expectancy is the 2013 Polio Retreat EOI 21 Polio Australia. All in all, a very satisfying atmosphere for miracles. ~ Edwin Louis Cole Page 3 Volume 2, Issue 4 Polio Plus . stead. I wrote for magazines as lively as I was. history, shared with my two and newspapers, and radio, sons who support and obtaining work as a stringer for My love of horses never encourage me . the ABC. What an amazing diminished and in 2003 a new experience that was and for two door opened. A documentary “Oh Mum . not another years my cameraman and I film scripted on the demise of book!” trekked the countryside filming some Waler horse descendants stories for ‘Focus’. A special enabled me to re-kindle this interest in drama led to an Arts love. A wonderful adjunct to Council Grant and a historical s e m i - retirement. Since drama, attended by the then publishing my book on the Governor of Qld, resulted. history of the famous Australian Drama and the Arts were strong military horse, the Waler, in my early family life. “Forgotten Heroes” was followed Playwriting has always been a by “The old Campaigners” and feature of mine with many “War Horses” as well as a public performances in my children’s educational book repertoire. “Twelve Terrible Tales”. Circumstances led to a Tertiary I am currently working on education career and in 1981 I another book about – what else joined TAFE where I did both – exceptional wartime animals. administration and teaching for The people I have met and some 23 years, after obtaining a stories provided are so B.Ed. and other add-ons. The inspiring. I feel so honoured to ravages of time are upon me record this often forgotten or and at 75 years of age, I’m not overlooked part of Australian Breathe Easy Below are comments received following the Support Group.