One such victim of disease was Sheila Kearney, who is buried in Benalla Cemetery. At just 18 years of age, she died in 1951 of polio.
Poliomyelitis, or polio, was once dreaded, especially by parents of young children. What made the disease terrifying was that it was highly contagious and could be transmitted by an infected person who had no symptoms.
It was passed through contamination by faeces or saliva from an infected person. As a consequence, it was often associated with crowded housing and contaminated water sources.
Polio’s first outbreak in Australia was in the 1880s. Subsequently, it occurred regularly.
By 1922, all Australian states had legislated to compel any outbreak to be reported urgently to the Department of Health.
About a quarter affected by polio suffered high fevers. Up to five per cent affected suffered meningitis.
Less than one per cent of those with the virus suffered paralysis. Their muscles became weak, floppy and finally completely paralysed.
Paralysis of one leg was most common in children under five. Paralysis tended to be more extreme and wide-ranging in adults, often affecting chest and abdominal muscles needed for breathing.
A respirator was needed if they were to breathe. Sometimes, muscle function returned after rehabilitation but, even if function returned, up to 50 per cent of patients suffered post-polio syndrome, involving muscle weakness and fatigue.
Of children paralysed, about five per cent died. With paralysed adults, the death rate was much higher: up to 30 per cent.
In the 10 years beginning in 1944 a serious outbreak occurred in Australia. More than 1000 people died.
In the immediate postwar period, pressure from returning soldiers eager to get on with their lives and from immigrants who flocked to Australia often meant crowded housing conditions.
In Melbourne, those diagnosed with the disease were quarantined in Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital.
Those affected in Benalla were initially quarantined in Mooroopna Hospital.
Wangaratta also had some respirators or ‘iron lungs’.
By 1949, deaths from polio had begun in Benalla. In September, 12-year-old Victor Crouch died at his parents’ home in Wedge St.
By July 1951 there had been two more deaths, this time of toddlers. By September, polio cases had risen to 37 with more deaths.
Sheila Kearney was one of those who died in the 1951 outbreak, as did a nurse infected by those suffering the disease.
Two members of the Devenish Football Club were hospitalised with polio. They died too.
Six other deaths followed. Council wanted schools closed. In October, the ‘Belle of Belles’ Ball was postponed.
Then, Mooroopna Hospital had announced it could take no more polio cases from Benalla. Those from Benalla began to be transferred to Fairfield.
Every now and then, there would be a period of no fresh polio cases. Benalla would believe that the outbreak was over.
However, fresh polio cases continued through 1952 and 1953. So did deaths.
Infant welfare attendances fell off because mothers feared for their children. Social events were cancelled or postponed.
Then, just as quickly as it had arrived, polio disappeared from Benalla.
In 1956, the Salk vaccine was introduced in Australia. Now, thanks to this vaccine and later the Sabin vaccine, Australia is now free of the disease.
– John Barry
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