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POST POLIO SUPPORT SOCIETY  NZ   Incorporated

ANNUAL MEETING & MINI CONFERENCE

Wednesday and Thursday  September  8^th  & 9th  2010       

Hamilton Airport Motor Inn

 

 

 

A successful and informative conference was held in Hamilton for the 21st AGM of the Post Polio Support Society. Most regional support groups were represented and people come from all corners of New Zealand, even  delegates from shaking Christchurch.

The theme of “coming of age” was reflected in the age of those attending and in the presentation from Jeni Hawker from Age Concern Hamilton who spoke on “Determination, Friend and Foe”. Self determination could be seen as a “foe” when it prevents us from making life changing decisions as our mobility and situations change. Changes in location and health happen easier if we are determined to take a friendlier attitude towards the process of ageing.

 

     

Pain management, the lecture given by Wayne Hewlett from Queen Elizabeth Health, Rotorua, contained a wealth of information and theories which are relevant to people with polio. Going through the information on DVD again will reveal missed concepts and ideas.

On the AGM side of the conference, Edith Morris was elected president unopposed and begins her third year in this role. A new vice-president Anne Mace was elected and JB Munro remains unopposed as secretary/treasurer. The board was re-elected with Shirley Hazelwood, John Forbes, Diane Mathews and a new member Ruth Hall. David Whyte remains as the editor of the Polio News and Noel Morris as web manager.

 

   

Laura Ladkin was given Honorary Membership for her tireless efforts for 20 years of work in the Waikato Post Polio Support Group. Des and Ethne Crabb were also given Honorary Memberships for the work Des has done as vice-president and both of them for their service to the Western Bay of Plenty group.

A report was given by Susan Kerr, former board member, on the work she and Anne Mace had done to compile the national questionnaire survey. An impressive document was given to each person and the society looks for ways to utilise this important data.

    

Anne Mace, the new vice-president, gave a report on orthotics information which had been collected over the last year by Edith. An impassioned appeal was made to further investigate and advocate for better provision for polios needing orthotic services.

The conference rounded off with a heartfelt reminder to keep alive the mandate for a centre of excellence. This ongoing goal seems ever distant but not forgotten, and it is more urgent now than it ever was.

The conference dinner was well attended and there were lively conversations over a very fine meal. The dinner speaker, Doug Woolerton, spoke about his former life as an MP for NZ First and about his life now as a lobbyist. It was an informal and friendly time of getting to know Doug and how our society may avail ourselves of his advocacy services.

    

The dinner MC was JB Munro who also gave an outline of the history of polio, the numbers effected, the years of the epidemics and how our Post Polio Support Society was established. It was very enlightening to many of us.

Each year the conference attendance gets smaller and smaller as our membership declines, but once again we are boldly saying “We are still here and we are still making a difference”. While there are still survivors of polio we will still have a Post Polio Support Society.

Thank you to all who attended and contributed to the smooth running and successful AGM and one day conference.

Edith Morris

 

 

A set of DVDs has been sent to each Support Group so that you can borrow them freely.

If you would like your own copy, DVDs and CDs of the Conference are available for purchase here 

You can watch an online video clip of JB Munro's talk here