As an introduction to the guest speaker, chairman Geoff Stewart spoke about polio.
Polio is an infectious disease causing permanent muscle weakness, paralysis, and in sever cases, can be life-threatening..
In 1979, RI launched a 5 year polio immunization project.
Polio Plus has reduced the number of cases from 350,000 annually to fewer than 400 in 2014, and 22 in 2017.
Sue the daughter of Audrey Hendy, shared her mother's polio story.
At the age of 30 with a 3 year old child and pregnant, stricken down with polio. Spent 9 months in an isolation ward at Mooroopna Hospital, discharged with calipers to both hips. Told she would not walk again.
Moved to Melbourne and lived with her sister for 18 months.
Audrey lived an amazing life, but 20 years ago suffered Post Polio Syndrome, which is a recurrence of symptoms usually 30-40 years after an initial episode pf polio. The symptoms include general tiredness, as well as weakness and pain affecting the muscles, and often coupled with depression.
Long journey - but lived life to fullest.