The Network had its beginnings in July 1988 when a Seminar was held in Sydney on Post-Polio Syndrome. The keynote speaker was Professor Irving Zola, a member of the International Polio Network, and himself a polio survivor. The Seminar provided the first opportunity in many years for people with polio to get together.
The major recommendation from those present at the Seminar was to form a Post-Polio Network to provide information and support to polio survivors. Attendees were invited to put their names down to join a Working Party to progress that recommendation. The Working Party was tasked with investigating setting up an organisation of and for polio survivors who may be experiencing the late effects of polio.
Working Party Members appointed following 2 July 1988 Seminar:
Laurie Alsop
Terry Fletcher
Anne O’Halloran
Angelo Psomadelis
Patricia Rich
Shirley Roach
Gillian Thomas
Gwenyth Tubb
Interim Management Committee Office Bearers:
Laurie Alsop – President
Patricia Rich – Vice-President
Terry Fletcher – Secretary
Gwenyth Tubb – Treasurer
Following on from the work of the Working Party, the Network was officially established in 1989, with its first Annual General Meeting being held in March that year.
Management Committee elected 18 March 1989:
Laurie Alsop – President
Patricia Rich – Vice President
Angelo Psomadelis – Secretary
Gwenyth Tubb – Treasurer
Terry Fletcher
Joan Mobey
Anne O’Halloran
Shirley Roach
Gillian Thomas
Management Committees elected 1990 to 1999
Management Committees elected 2000 to 2009
Management Committees elected 2010 to 2011