The Post Polio Network of Western Australia (Inc)

History

The Post-Polio Network of Western Australia was established in 1989 as the needs of those experiencing the long term after effects of poliomyelitis were beginning to be recognised. A meeting organised by registered nurse Tessa Jupp attracted over 200 people. The inaugural committee consisted of Dr John Niblett who was elected president, physiotherapist Brenda Lake and six members. Of the group of nine, eight were polio survivors.

At that time the largest group experiencing symptoms were in their forties and over 70% of sufferers were under the age of 60 so there was some urgency to provide assistance and support before their health deteriorated further and became complicated by old age. In January 1990 the first clinic was set up at the Sir David Brand Centre in Coolbinia. Country clinics followed and all were free of charge and staffed by volunteers. A physiotherapist and a nurse assessed the patients, recommended treatments and offered non-prescription medications. By then Post- Polio Networks had also been set up in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia and shortly thereafter groups were established in Queensland and Tasmania. In 2007 the state bodies cooperated to develop and adopt a constitution and the national organisation Polio Australia Incorporated was established the following year.

Tessa Jupp retired from the Post-Polio Network of Western Australia in 2020 and no longer has any affiliation with the organisation. The Network has continued but in a new direction and its role is now as a support and advisory body for polio survivors and their families.

The Board and the Committee

President: Ross O’Neil

In January 1952 nine year old Ross was enjoying the summer holidays in his home town of Augusta when he began to experience aches and pains. Days later when he was unable to get out of bed without help, his parents took him to a local GP who made the provisional diagnosis of poliomyelitis and told Mr and Mrs O’Neil to take their son to the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Perth. After some weeks Ross was transferred to the Princess Margaret Hospital annexe the Golden Age for his rehabilitation. Recognising that their son would need ongoing treatment and support the O’Neil’s sold their business in Augusta and settled in South Perth.

Ross spent most of 1952 at the Golden Age. After his discharge he returned to his family and attended Kensington primary school and later Wesley College. He worked for the WA Railways and then went into real estate. He and his wife Anne have two sons and a granddaughter.

Although Ross has had to deal with some serious heart issues, he has maintained his commitment to serving his local community. He is a member of the Como Rotary Club, a Justice of the Peace and a Board member of the South Perth Senior Citizens Centre. In 2019 City of South Perth presented Ross with the Auspire Senior Community Citizen of the Year award. He has been involved with the Post-Polio Network since its inception in 1989.

Vice President: Jenny Jones

Jenny was diagnosed with polio after Christmas in 1960. Four years after the last epidemic in WA, she was one of only four cases in Western Australia that year.  Instead of commencing school the following February she spent many weeks in hospital gravely ill. Eventually she was discharged and was lovingly and capably cared for at home by her mother Leah. Jenny started school many months after her peers and worked hard to overcome her physical disability.

After leaving school Jenny continued her education at Curtin University and Secondary Teachers’ College. She taught Home Economics at a number of high schools and has coached swimming, qualified as a counsellor and learnt Spanish. She and Keith have been married for forty five years and have three children and six grandchildren.

In 2005 Jenny began to notice some unexplained weakness in her legs and was diagnosed with the late effects of polio. Her medical team advised her to give up her sporting activities. Golf, yoga and the gym circuit were replaced with an individual exercise program recommended by the senior physiotherapist at the Late Effects Clinic.

Jenny has been an active member of the Post- Polio Network of Western Australia for fifteen years and a member of the Board of Polio Australia for ten years.

Treasurer: Ian Holding

Ian contracted polio at the age of two and has gone on to lead an active life and to pursue a successful career. He is a Chartered Accountant with over fifty years of experience in public practice and commerce in Perth, Sydney and London. He has worked in the finance, manufacturing, mining, transport and service industries for local, interstate and overseas organisations.

Ian’s last full time appointment was with a Perth based Chinese government organisation with an interest in an iron ore joint venture and an annual turnover of $0.5 Billion. He not only managed the company’s financial affairs but was also responsible for its contract negotiations, financial reporting, long term planning and corporate governance.

Ian retired in 2020 and is currently active in a number of not-for-profit organisations. He is also enjoying playing golf and travelling with his wife, Joan.

Secretary and Newsletter: Jan Lord

Jan contracted polio as an 11 year old during the 1956 epidemic and spent most of that year in rehabilitation at the Golden Age. She went on to graduate from the University of Western Australia with a Science degree in 1967 and subsequently completed a Diploma in Education. Jan has been employed as a laboratory technologist and as a teacher of young children and those with special needs and more recently has become interested in exploring and publishing her family history. Jan is a co-author of Poliomyelitis in Western Australia: a history which was published by the Network in 2013 and currently enjoys researching, writing and editing the Newsletter. Jan and her husband David have three children and four granddaughters.

Committee Member: Sonya Horman

Sonya has been an occupational therapist for 40 years and has worked with people with a wide range of disabilities. She began working with polio survivors in 2011 when working in a soft tissue clinic. She has also worked in government, community disability services and private practice.

She brings to the Board her clinical experience, knowledge of government policy and funding, and her interest in improving services to people who have had polio.

Mission

To contribute to the health and wellbeing of polio survivors and their carers by offering support, general information about polio and its long term effects as well as advice about access to appropriate services.

Vision

To be recognised as the trusted and preferred advisory group for polio survivors in Western Australia.

Values

PPNWA (Inc) is committed to:

• Functioning as a non-profit organisation and tax deductable charity

• Endorsing the principles of evidence based health care

• Being a trustworthy source of support, assistance and information

• Acting as an advocate for polio survivors

• Encouraging respect, kindness and empathy for people with disabilities

Meetings

The Board and Committee meets at Rocky Bay on the second Tuesday of each month. The Annual General Meeting is held in September. Members are notified of the date in the August Newsletter and are welcome to attend.

Annual Reports

The Network issues the President’s annual report following the Annual General Meeting. Previous reports are available to members.

Newsletter

The Newsletter is distributed to members three times a year by email or by post. The editor Jan Lord welcomes suggestions and comments about any of the news items or articles published.

Contact: janlord4@bigpond.com