Sister Kenny was a pioneer of the rehabilitation of polio victims through mobilisaiton and muscle re-education. Her methods contrasted strongly with the medical treatment at the time of splinting and immobilisation of the joints. The time she spent in the Townsville area was pivotal to her career. Some sources suggest that it was media attention in the Townsville papers that brought her methods for treating polio victims into the national spotlight, as the papers reported she had a “cure” for polio at a time when Australia was in the midst of a polio epidemic.
Links:
Listen: to short segments from Sister Kenny's autobiographical book, "And They Shall Walk" Early childhood
History Quest:
The transcript from the ABC show ‘Rewind” has some comments by Betty Newel. Who was Betty Newel and how might her view be influenced by her personal connection with Sister Kenny’s story?
Research:
Townsville library and JCU library both material on Sister Kenny but most of it is not available for loan.
The life of Sister Kenny is documented in a wide variety of sources including newspapers, books and a Hollywood movie. How has these media influenced our knowledge and opinions about Sister Kenny? What primary and secondary sources can you find? What are some key characteristics of each?
Other Questions and issues
How have elements from the Hollywood movie “Sister Kenny” influenced subsequent portrayals of her life?
How might her childhood experiences have influenced her professional life?
How did WWI influence Sister Kenny and the course of her life?
Many people regard Sister Kenny as a pioneer. What modern field of study did she most influence?
In what respects was she working outside ‘the paradigm’ of the time. How is Sister Kenny’s involvement with Polio an example of competing and complementary perspectives and interpretations.
Time line Source: Jessie Street National Women's Library
Born 1880 Warialda, NSW
Moved with her family to Nobby, Darling Downs
1907 Guyra
1911 – returned to Nobby and opened a cottage hospital in Clifton.
WW1 joined up as an army nurse, wording on the dark ships that ran between England and Australia
1917 given the army rank of Sister
1920’s Helped with the care of cerebral palsy affected child who was the daughter of a childhood friend in NSW
Living in Nobby – the Sylvia stretcher
1929 Comes to north Queensland to care for Maude, daughter of Jim Franklin. Maude recovers and Townsville papers claim she has a ‘cure’ for polio.
1930 Polio epidemic in Australia
1932(3) opened her first clinic in Townsville,
May 1935 the state govt took over her clinic in the queens hotel .
1936 – 1938 Queensland Royal Commission "Report of The Queensland Royal Commission on Modern Methods for the Treatment of Infantile Paralysis."
1946 Movie about her life Sister Kenny
1949 Granted freedom of US in 1949
1951 At age 71 returned to Townsville, Oct30, 1951.
1952 returned to the US – polio vaccine
