50 years of support for Queenslanders with a spinal cord injury

Fifty years ago Robert Menzies was Prime Minister, trams were still a public transport option in Brisbane and for people with a spinal cord injury, life was extremely challenging.

Today (Tuesday, 9 March) marks the 50th anniversary of the first meeting of the Spinal Injuries Association, which was then called the Paraplegics Welfare Association.

To mark this milestone occasion, patron of the Association, Her Excellency, Ms Penelope Wensley AO, Governor of Queensland was guest of honour at a commemorative morning tea at the organisation’s office in Woolloongabba.

Past and present board members, staff and Association life members celebrated the golden anniversary with the Governor, who spoke about the Association’s journey over the past five decades.

Association member Zita Mullins was at the organisation’s first meeting 50 years ago and today she shared her sentiments with guests at the morning tea.

“There was plenty of excitement and energy in the air that warm March evening. There’d been plenty of talk for so long about establishing an organisation that supported people with spinal cord injuries and it was great to see the first meeting finally take place,” Zita said.

Such was the lack of education and awareness in the community at the time about people with spinal cord injuries that Zita herself was unaware she had paraplegia until just before the Association’s first meeting.

“Even as a wheelchair user, I didn’t realise 50 years ago that I had paraplegia,” Zita said.

“I’d had polio as a child, which led to me having to use a wheelchair. It wasn’t until I met a doctor leading up to the first official meeting, that I was told I in fact had paraplegia.

“I said to this doctor, ‘should I become involved in the Paraplegics Welfare Association when I only have polio?’ He told me that spinal cord injuries don’t just happen in car accidents, they can also be caused by diseases such as polio and transverse myelitis.

“At 36 years of age, I finally had a proper diagnosis for my condition. You could never imagine that happening these days.”

Spinal Injuries Association CEO Mark Henley, who has been with the organisation for 21 years, said today was a celebration of all that had been achieved.

“Since the first meeting of our organisation on 9 March 1960, the overarching aim and values base of our Association has been to enhance the lives of people with a spinal cord injury,” Mr Henley said.

“We have always advocated for people to have the appropriate supports to be as independent as possible.”

“Every member of our Association has the right to live as independently as possible in their own home and participate in their community. That’s our objective for everything that we do here.”

Mr Henley also sees today’s half-century milestone as an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the Association and to plan an even stronger foundation for assisting people with a spinal cord injury into the future.

While the consequences of a spinal cord injury are devastating, Mr Henley said the Association always strived to support and encourage members to focus on their abilities, and what is achievable.

“We want our members to be able to access every aspect of life and contribute to their community and region,” he said.

“We don’t make decisions for people, we make sure they have right information so they can make their own choices.”

“Our focus continues on developing inclusive communities.”

Issued 9 March.