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Waikato Branch Report

Waikato Disability EXPO 15 - 16 Sept at the Garden Pavilion

This was the second EXPO to be held in Hamilton and again it was a huge success.

* about 1,500 members of the public viewed the Expo
* there were 40 stalls informing the public, people with disabilities, and families about the services offered by organisations and providers in the disability sector
* 14 workshop lectures related to disability were given during the Expo

We, the Waikato Post Polio Support Group, had a bright yellow and blue stall with old photos of polio survivors, photos of our support meetings, and a world map showing places where polio is still occurring. We thank Rotary again for funding our stall.

Polio's profile was obvious during the whole Expo with Greg Cochrane giving the opening speech after the Mayor, and with Edith Morris being on the Expo organising committee again. A big thank you to those who sat at the stall and who helped assemble the display.

Just prior to the Expo Edith spoke on community radio about the 50th anniversary of the polio vaccine being developed, and had articles printed in the CCS Waikato newsletter and the local "Hamilton Press". There was overwhelming response from Edith's interview. Many polio people rang up to tell their stories, the youngest being 50 and the oldest being 85. What an open door we have to remind the public of our polio history.

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