A Story by Shirley Barnett

My name is Shirley Barnett, nee Broadway. I was born in Melbourne in January 1931. My father, Alf Broadway, ran a circuit of vaudeville theatre in Melbourne, and my mother was his ballet mistress and star performer. Noted for her beautiful legs, she played Principal Boy in the Christmas pantomimes he put on each year.
After I was born, the Depression hit, and there was no more patronage for the Vaudeville theatres. My father bought a truck, and organised a country tour to offer employment for his artists. There's a whole novel in that story- but this is my polio story, so I'll move on.
I was appearing regularly on stage from the time I was three, billed as "Baby Shirley Broadway, the cutest child on the stage". When I was six I won a nation wide Shirley Temple contest, run by Hoytc Cinemas, and appeared in large cinemas in Melbourne, singing and dancing. I also had an acrobatic act.
A week before my seventh birthday, I woke up with a stiff neck. I was an early reader, and had read in the newspapers that this was a sign of polio, so I insisted that my Aunt ring my parents, who took me to the Fairfield infectious diseases hospital, where it was confirmed that I did indeed have polio.
After two weeks in isolation, I was measured for a full body splint. My parents refused to give permission for me to be put into the splint. They asked the specialist,(I remember his name- Dr. Price) if there was any alternative, and were told that Sister Kenny had a small hospital in Hampton, but that it was not an acceptable alternative; if I did not follow the accepted treatment, I would never walk again. After much thought, they decided to go with Sister Kenny; and I have always felt that I owe my relatively disability-free life to that decision.
My mother took me to see Doctor Price again after I became able to work, and I walked easily across the room; but his only comment was that it was a "miracle"! The medical profession's refusal to accept the work done by Sister Kenny was reprehensible; and I still have a residual mistrust of doctors.

A digression- I feel that we do not hear enough of Sister Kenny. Her work seems to have been swept under the table, in Australia at any rate. Yet some of the techniques she began- passive exercise and massage, for example- have become standard treatment for those who can afford it. (e.g. Christopher Reeve) I wonder if the many hours involved in this treatment contributed to its neglect? I hope my letter will put on record some of the benefits I received from her treatment.

At Hampton, we lived on a verandah, with only a canvas screen between us and the elements. (in Victoria, right on the beach!) We were only allowed to see our parents at specified visiting hours, and my parents were almost always away on tour- they had to earn a living! They were so warm and loving when they were able to come to see me. You mention the isolation- I had it worse than most. Yet it was compensated for by the warmth and loving care of the "Blue Sisters"- specially trained by Sister Kenny. I believe, too, that the physical contact involved in the bathing, massage, and passive exercise also fulfilled a child's needs for human contact. Funny how things have moved on- the hugs I received from those wonderful women would probably not be allowed now, with our horror of paedophilia. What a loss for isolated young people that is! I don't know whether the Kenny system has been proven to work medically- I only know I was happier than I would have been in a ward, and that my recovery was medically amazing. I don't seem to have any emotional hangups, either.
My other great advantage was being able to read. We did have some schooling, but had I not been able to read, I don't know how I would have filled the long hours on my back. This also meant that when I finally went to "real" school, I was able to catch up academically very quickly, even excel.
The effort to walk- I can remember the effort, and the fear-and the joy of taking a few steps into the arms of a Blue Sister- and being able to walk further when next my mother visited.

Then after 18 months at Hampton, my father took a position in Sydney, and I was flown to Sydney to rejoin my family. Sister Kenny herself was my escort. I had met her before, of course, on her regular visits to Hampton. I was very comfortable with her- she was such a warm, grandmotherly sort of person! Photos of our flight were in the papers, and I felt very important. In Sydney, I stayed with my parents at night, and went to the hospital for treatment each day.

When war broke out, my father moved us all to Bayswater, then a country town but now a suburb of Melbourne, so that we would be safe. I was unable to have any further treatment. I went to the loval school, and participated in all activities, except for sport. I walked to school, and later, when I travelled to MLC, walked to the railway station and back again. My mother ran a small dancing class, and I helped her, teaching the very young ones, and performing in her concerts. At MLC, I took part in choir, drama, debating, music, and had a very full academic life.

During school holidays I would tour with my father, who was running a fund-raising show for the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind. I sang, danced, and performed comedy routines- and loved every minute of it. I'm a natural performer, and love to be on stage.

This is getting too long! Suffice it to say that I became a professional performer, in T.V. and on stage, playing leading roles for J.C.Williamson among other things. I did limp when I was tired, but most people didn't notice it. I was often asked on occasions when I was tired, "Have you hurt your leg?" So although my slight disability did hold me back, particularly as a dancer, it didn't stop me from having the career I wanted.

In later years, I became a drama teacher, teaching for over twenty years at Queenwood School. Widowed now, and retired to Coffs Harbour, I participate in community activities via the Hospital Auxiliary, the Arts Council, and a local Theatre Festival. I am President of CHATS, the Coffs Harbour Amateur Theatrical Society. I direct and teach for CHATTERS Teen Theatre, direct plays regularly, sometimes appear in them (recently winning a Best Actress Award) and have been granted a Premier's Award for Citizenship. (I hesitated about putting those brag bits in, but then perhaps it's part of what you need to know)

About Post Polio- for about twelve years now my muscles have been deteriorating, beginning with a numbness in my left leg (the good one!) and muscle pain in the same leg. It was impossible to get proper diagnosis in Coffs Harbour- both specialists I saw insisted that there was no such thing as post polio syndrome. They were unable to suggest any other cause for my symptoms, though!
Membership of the Post Polio group in Coffs gave me access to much information, and now I do not try to exercise too often (I used to do aquarobics three times a week) which seems to control the pain in my leg, which only surfaces if I do too much. I have just taken up Pilates, which I feel will help my balance.
Of course, the lack of exercise leads to other problems. I have been diagnosed with glucose intolerance, and advised to exercise- but I don't see how I can exercise enough to make any difference. I control it through diet and natural supplements.

I feel that my experience with Polio has been lucky compared to other sufferers. A therapist once asked me, "Are you sorry that you had polio?" It seemed a silly question- but looking back, it changed my life in good ways as well as bad, turning me toward books and learning, and the joys of drama as opposed to vaudeville. Where would I have ended if I had followed my previous path? Maybe as a star, maybe in the gutter- it's an insecure profession. I've had great joy from teaching, and the interaction with young people. My disability, although increasing, still allows me to drive and perform on stage. (Next step may be a scooter!) I am emotionally pretty balanced.
In other words, I am a Polio Surviver!
Shirley Barnett.