Vice President’s Report – In advocacy terms. We are busy speaking to politicians endlessly and trying to get our message across at a particularly important time given the election in a few weeks. If you have any contacts or any ability to speak to your politicians, please do so as this is especially important. This is another big chance to get a message across to our politicians of the plight of the disabled aged. You will find some contact details to send your feedback to in this newsletter.
70th Anniversary of the First Polio Vaccine – 12 April 2025 marked the 70th Anniversary of the announcement and licensing of the first Polio vaccine as researched by Jonas Salk.
Polio Network Victoria – Polio Perspectives – Autumn 2025
A note from our President, Good day members of Polio SA,
Well winter is almost over they tell me, but I for one am still feeling the cold, the most I can remember, as I mentioned in my last letter, even wore socks to bed a couple of times …gee !!!
Please consider filling out following survey from Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts by 02 August 2024 – 5pm AES
The Department has identified there’s low public awareness of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (Transport Standards) among people with disability.
Awareness of the Transport Standards is important so people with disability are aware of their rights and what to expect when accessing public transport in Australia.
Post Polio Annual General Meeting Report 2022 / 2023
The PPV AGM is a meeting to look over our achievements and elect a new committee for the coming year. Our annual report is also hot off the press in time for the meeting. There’s been plenty of discussions, updates and where to from here.
Our own, Dr Peter Freckleton, an Australian with a severe and permanent disability, is alleging the Australian Government is discriminating against him by denying him access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) because of his age.
In a complaint to the UN, Dr Freckleton says this breaches his fundamental right to protection from discrimination under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Recognition at Last Inclusive Communities and Services for People Ageing with Post-Polio Syndrome
On 22nd November 2022, The Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) partnered with Post Polio Victoria and Celebrate Ageing Ltd to facilitate a workshop on the experiences and needs of people ageing with
Post Polio Syndrome (PPS). The workshop at the AAG annual conference in Adelaide explored:
• The experiences of polio survivors
• The perspectives of researchers and clinicians
• The views of aged care service providers.
The workshop included a paper on the unique experiences and needs of people ageing with PPS and suggestions for inclusive services and communities. The development of the paper, which will be led by AAG, is expected to influence change – Recognition at Last.
The voices of people ageing with PPS have not been heard. Planning for communities and services has not taken the needs of people ageing with PPS into account. This is the first national workshop calling for that to change – and we would value your support.
Please find below our shared stories:
PPV President: Shirley Glance OAM
PPV Vice President: Peter Freckleton
PPV Secretary: Robyn Abrahams
The Hon Kim Beazley AC
For more information
• Shirley Glance OAM President Post Polio Victoria: 0411 660 860
• Dr Catherine Barrett, Director Celebrate Ageing Ltd: 0429 582 237
We are pleased to confirm the 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Post Polio Victoria (PPV) will be held on Monday 5th December 2022. The meeting will commence at 11am (AEDT)
Documents sent via email:
2022 AGM Agenda
2022 AGM DRAFT Minutes Nov 21
2022 Nomination Form
2022 Proxy Form
Register to attend the AGM – Bookings start Monday 21st Nov 2022 at 9am
Due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic, the AGM will be conducted via Zoom (virtual room).
Members who register to attend will receive a Zoom link via email following their registration.
A link to a digital copy of the 2021/22 PPV Annual Report will be sent to all members a week before the AGM.
If you do not receive either email, then please check your junk folder or contact us.
Members must register to attend by Friday 2nd December at 6pm.
Following the formalities, we welcome questions from our members.
The PPV AGM is a special annual meeting to look over our achievements and elect a new committee for the coming year. Our annual report is also hot off the press in time for the meeting. There’s been plenty of discussions going on and exciting new projects to take us into 2023.
We look forward to seeing you there, and to another successful year for PPV!
PPV has been told that a class action is being considered to end the NDIS ban against people with disabilities over 65 yo. An information webpage is at https://www.mitry.com.au/ndis where you can download an expression of interest if you wish to participate.
For further information there will be a virtual “Town Meeting” at 11 AM, Wednesday 21/09.
Open letter to all parties and candidates contesting the Federal Election in 2022 Leave no Australian behind in disasters and emergencies 31 March 2022
Australians with disability experienced first-hand significant impacts and disproportionate risks to their safety and wellbeing during the recent 2022 floods in South East Queensland and New South Wales. This is alongside the multiple disaster events of bushfires, droughts, cyclones, and the COVID-19 pandemic. We cannot continue to underestimate the significant and long-term effects
of these events for people with disability and carers.
It is time to take action and invest in a national approach for the future. We need to ensure that Australians with disability are included and represented across all levels of policy, practice and research
Open letter to all parties and candidates contesting the Federal Election in 2022. Leave no Australian behind in disasters and emergencies 31 March 2022 Australians with disability experienced first-hand significant impacts and disproportionate risks to their safety and wellbeing during the recent 2022 floods in South East Queensland and New South Wales. This is alongside the multiple disaster events of bushfires, droughts, cyclones, and the COVID-19 pandemic. We cannot continue to underestimate the significant and long-term effects
of these events for people with disability and carers.
It is time to take action and invest in a national approach for the future. We need to ensure that Australians with disability are included and represented across all levels of policy, practice and research
Please see below audio from Shirley Glance’s interview with Gaytana from Southern FM – Sounds of Bayside. This was recorded on Tuesday 29th June at 10am on Gaytana’s show, Best Medicine.
Please see below link about phase 1b of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. To check your eligibility and find your local service, use the eligibility checker or consult your GP or Specialist:
The role of the treasurer is to be responsible for the financial oversight of Post Polio Victoria Inc, ensuring good governance for the continuation of Post Polio Victoria’s work advocating for the needs of people with polio. The role involves approximately 1 hour per fortnight as well as attending committee meetings, and is supported by other committee members as well as by the Administration Assistant.
Desirable attributes:
Good organisational skills
Some financial expertise
Ability to maintain or interpret accurate records
Honest and trustworthy
Good communication skills
Computer skills
Specific duties include:
Administer the financial affairs of the organisation, including
· Accurate receipting and banking of money
· Payment of accounts
· Maintain accurate records of income and expenditure
· Ensuring that all receipts and payments concur with bank deposits and withdrawals
· Present financial reports at committee meetings and Annual General Meetings
Report on the organisations financial status to both the Committee and the members
Prepare budgets, business plans, financial policies and procedures as required.
Post Polio Victoria committee member and long-time disability rights activist Margaret Cooper passed away on the 27th of October 2018.
Margaret Cooper OAM
Margaret was both an activist and a scholar. We have compiled some works by Margaret on the Disability Rights Movement, polio and ageing along with articles about Margaret’s life and work. Plans are also being made to include Margaret’s archives and documentation of the disability rights movement in the University of Melbourne’s Geoff Bell archive.
Below we share tributes for Margaret from her friends and colleagues in the disability rights and feminist movements.
Geoff Dean, spoken at PPV’s AGM
Geoff Dean
I accompanied Margaret on one of her “pollie stirring” raids. As we left MP Russell Broadbent’s office I enquired if there was a cafe handy to get a coffee and sandwich.
At the doorway to the cafe was 150mm step, this was a barrier to Margaret’s wheel chair. We asked if we could have a table outside, but no, their food handling license didn’t allow anything so sensible. We had to make do with balancing our coffee cups on our laps. This was very difficult for Margaret who needed a longer straw. The waitress obligingly joined two small straws together to make one long straw but the creamer failed to flow up the now long straw. All this while we sat out on the footpath like lepers.
The politicians secretary who had directed us to the cafe happened to walk past. I pointed out the situation. He was very embarrassed and apologised. He had not given it a thought. People just don’t think. Architects, shop owners, local government, politicians just don’t think.
These embarrassing, frustrating situations would have happened to Margaret on an hourly basis and yet she just pressed on. Despite these regular frustrations she achieved an amazing amount of work for people with disabilities and in particular with polio. Her research and advocacy has benefited us all and will remain a wonderful legacy.
I think of Margaret on a regular basis, without her knowing, and will continue to. When ever I am particularly tired or I trip and fall heavily over some small thing or I am confronted with a flight of stairs, I think of how much Margaret achieved with her limited mobility and how she would have liked to be as able as me.
By coincidence I read this horoscope for the star sign Scorpio by Kelly Fox.
Forgive those who judge you because of your image, your appearance, your social status or anything else. They will learn. Be proud of your identity this week. Remember you are someone’s role model.
Peter Willcocks, Bayside Polio Group
Peter Willcocks, Bayside Polio Group
The Bayside Polio Group, a wide range of other groups and the thousands she has cheered though life have much to thank Margaret for. It is likely that Margaret will be mostly remembered for her systemic advocacy for a more inclusive and caring world.
We first chatted after a ParaQuad meeting. I was dwelling upon the meaning of the meeting just past.
‘What’s your story?’ I felt Margaret’s zest for life and change. That was the way most of us met Margaret. In as few words a possible I bio’ed the good bits of my history and encapsulated my path of the late effects of polio. Her warmth and smile exuded a welcoming that is still with me to this day.
‘I feel for you. You thought your polio was all over, all done and now you are going to face it all again. I was so lucky, polio has been with me all my life.’
Yet, when we think of Margaret, we do not think of polio or of disability; we think of those one on one quips that left us wiser and feeling good.
Years ago, Margaret was organising a cruise with her father. I asked her why she needed three carers.
She smiled knowingly.
‘One is going to fall in love and become heart broken.
Another is going to go out in sympathy and get drunk.
I am hoping that at least one will be sober enough to help get me to bed.’
Farewell Margaret and thank you.
Women with Disabilities Australia
Margaret was a founding member and first elected president of Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA). WWDA’s obituary for Margaret can be read here, they will also be organising a public memorial for Margaret early in 2019, we will update our events page with details as they are available.
Tricia Malowney OAM, DLI, MAICD
Tricia is the immediate past President of the Victorian Disability Services Board, is Deputy Chair of the Victorian Disability Advisory Council and chair of Women With Disabilities Victoria.
As a disability activist/advocate, I have benefitted greatly from the work of Dr Margaret Cooper. Margaret understood so well the compounding nature of disadvantage and was able to articulate how the intersectionality of gender and disability can affect the lives and opportunities of a significant segment of the community. Her insistence that the voices of women with disabilities are heard and that the gender specific issues, such as our right to live free from violence and maintain our ownership of our reproductive rights are on the agenda, has changed the power dynamics. I wish to acknowledge that her work informs my work, and I thank her for paving the way, so that I can continue to work effectively.
Professor Keith McVilly
Professor Keith R. McVilly PhD is a Registered Clinical Psychologist and the Foundation Professorial Fellow for Disability & Inclusion at the University of Melbourne
I was greatly saddened to hear the news of Margaret Cooper’s death, which came at at time when Margaret was working with us to develop a research collaboration to address the needs of those who have had polio. Margaret was a much respected advocate in our disability community, and was a great repository of history and wisdom. Her death will impact many.
Professor Rhonda Galbally AO
Professor Rhonda Galbally is a member of the Independent Advisory Council to the NDIS
Margaret Cooper was one of the great pioneers of disability rights. She worked tirelessly for access and inclusion. Margaret was an inspiration to me and to many others and she will be greatly missed.
