Silence, stigma and survival: polio in postwar Australia

This episode of Late Night Live explores the hidden history of polio in postwar Australia, focusing on the silence, stigma, and resilience surrounding the disease. Historian Professor Catherine Colborne, whose mother survived polio in 1950 but never spoke about it, leads a deep dive into the social and emotional aftermath of the illness. She examines how polio was stigmatized—linked to poverty, poor hygiene, and personal failure—leading families to hide their experiences. Despite public health campaigns and the introduction of the Salk and Sabin vaccines, survivors often endured long-term physical and psychological effects, including post-polio syndrome, mobility issues, and social withdrawal. Colborne highlights the overlooked stories of ordinary Australians, the role of Australian innovation like the Both Iron Lung, and the enduring legacy of the disease in collective memory. She also reflects on parallels with modern pandemics like COVID-19 and the ongoing relevance of vaccination advocacy. Her new project, 'My Mother's Polio,' aims to preserve and share these personal narratives through digital humanities.