The three polio survivors Jan McDonald, Jennifer Merritt and Gary Newton, who are heading to India on a mission to make the world polio free Source: Supplied
"There was a lot of fear in people during the 1950's, when summer months came around," recalls Gary. "Cinemas and picture theatres were closed, people wouldn't go to churches on the weekend and swimming pools were shut down, because they feared getting polio at public gatherings."
Currently, 80 to 90 per cent of Gary's legs and 30 per cent of his arms are paralysed, because of which he uses crutches to go about his daily routine. But he passionately believes in a lofty dream.
"I want polio eradicated from the world," he says.
To make a personal contribution to this cause, he is leading a team of two more polio survivors from Geelong and heading to India, in a bid to spread more aware about the disease.
Why India?
Although polio is officially said to be 'eradicated' in India, Gary says, "India has the highest number of unvaccinated children in the world."
"Until six years ago, half of the world's polio cases were reported in India, " he adds.
"More than one in five deaths of children under five in the world happen in India. More than half these deaths are due to vaccine-preventable and treatable infections. 8.9 million Indian children don’t receive all vaccines, 1.7 million none at all."
"With 26 million children born in India each year and the fact that is shares a border with Pakistan, which is one of only three countries left in the world where Polio is endemic, it is absolutely vital that high immunisation levels are maintained across the whole of India, not only to protect India but to protect the rest of the world."
So in April 2017, Jan, Jennifer and Gary will head to India, on a deeply personal journey to help eradicate polio, because each of them has "endured a lifetime of living with the after-effects of this horrible disease."
Using crutches and wheelchairs, and accompanied by their carers, the three Australian polio survivors will visit New Delhi and Vishakhapatnam, where they will administer polio drops to children, will speak to parents who may reject the idea of vaccination and will inspire / encourage polio survivors with their own stories, emphasising that "life doesn't have to end if you happen to have polio."
Partnering with Rotary India, Jan, Jennifer and Gary will visit slums, areas of last refusal, St Stephens Hosptial in New Delhi and many other places.
Gary Newton, who has lived with polio for 63 years who wants to inspire polio survivors in India that life doesn't end with the disease. Source: Supplied
Jennifer, Jan and Gary from the Geelong Polio Support Group, heading to India on a personal crusade to rid the world of polio Source: Supplied
Gary says, "we are expecting this trip to be life- changing, inspiring, moving and every emotional."
He adds, "it won't be easy because we're all suffering from new symptoms of fatigue, having lived with polio for over six decades, but we all know this is worth doing."
The project is being crowd funded, with some support from the Geelong Polio Support group, but Gary adds, "it would be great for us to hear from the Indian community in Australia and elsewhere in the world - their words of encouragement and support will mean the world to us. It would be wonderful if they can comment about Gary's Polio project to India on our Facebook page," says Gary Newton.
Gary Newton pictured as a child, who contracted polio two years before the polio vaccine was made available in Australia Source: Supplied
Gary's Polio project to India with a bold mission to eradicate polio forever Source: Supplied
