The Network conferred Life Membership on Nola Buck and Mary Westbrook, two of its most valued and longest-serving members, at a Special General Meeting held on 15 June 2005 at the Burwood RSL Club.

Nola Buck joined the Network at its inception in April 1989. She stood for the Committee in 1990 and took on the position of Publicity Officer with a great deal of enthusiasm and initiative. In this role she advertised and promoted the Network and its Seminars far and wide and assisted potential members to learn about the late effects of polio and the services provided by the Network. In 1992, Nola was elected as the Network's third President and remained in this position until she stood down in 1997 to pursue other interests. As President, Nola led the Network through its early growth and was a tower of strength as we took on the daunting task of hosting an International Conference in 1996. For the past twelve months Nola has been volunteering at our office at least one day a week and her knowledge and experience with Network operations have been invaluable as we strive to establish an effective resource for members. Click here for a photograph of Nola Buck receiving her Certificate of Life Membership from the Network's Secretary Neil von Schill. After viewing this photograph, click Back on your browser to return to this page.

 

Joining the Network in April 1989 Dr Mary Westbrook AM was a foundation member. Mary's involvement goes back even further than that, though, as she was a member of the Working Party set up in 1988 to look at the feasibility of establishing an information and support Network for polio survivors. Mary, a psychologist, published the first Australian research investigating the late effects of polio and how polio survivors were coping with these new problems; she has presented these findings at Australian and International Conferences. Mary has served on the Committee for many of the past 16 years and the Network has grown strong under her guidance. As Seminar Co-ordinator for several years Mary arranged a wide range of interesting and informative Seminars. Her Polio Particles series in Network News is the regular feature many turn to first. Early in 2001 the AskMary service was started whereby Mary responds to email enquiries from around the world about polio and post-polio. Mary is an outstanding resource for the polio community. Click here for a photograph of Mary Westbrook receiving her Certificate of Life Membership from the Network's Secretary Neil von Schill. After viewing this photograph, click Back on your browser to return to this page.

 

Page updated 23 September 2005