User:Noel Spurr

Noel Spurr was a long term local resident in what is now the CITY OF WHITEHORSE. He has lived in the suburbs of Forest Hill, East Burwood,Vermont South and Box Hill South.

He was at Forest Hill Primary School when he was so severely affected in the 1956 polio epidemic he was placed in the famous Ward 12 at Fairfield Hospital in an "iron lung" tank respirator for the first couple of years.

In 1958 he was enrolled at Yooralla Hospital School still unable to sit or stand. By 1960 he was walking with the use of calipers and crutches.

By 1961 he was able to attend Nunawading High School. Following extensive experimental spinal surgery in 1964, Noel returned to Yooralla to continue his schooling.

In 1967 he obtained his drivers licence through "Coonac" Commonwealth Rehabilitation Centre, and obtained his first job at Nottinghill Joinery & Shopfitters, in 1969 he joined the Public Works Department.

In 1972 Noel had respiratory failure from pneumonia and spent 6 months in the intensive care unit at Fairfield Hospital. He was to then become dependent on mechanical ventilation for life, at first in an iron lung from 1972-1989, then with the introduction of new technology, Noel was given a portable ventilator which he still uses every day.

His two now adult children were born whilst he was living in East Burwood, but mainly grew up in Vermont South. Noel has 4 young grandchildren.

He has been appointed by both Liberal & ALP Governments to Ministerial Advisory Committee's for over 25 years at both State & Federal levels.

Noel served 9 years as a local Councillor at Nunawading and Whitehorse City Councils, including terms as Deputy Mayor and Mayor, and was elected for 3 terms to the Board of the Municipal Association of Victoriawhere he also completed the Company Directors Course.

He has been an active committee member in local & statewide community groups for over 30 years. As well as awards from local groups for his service to the community, Noel has been honoured with the "Advance Australia Award" and the "Order of Australia Medal" for his leadership in the Disabled Rights Movement.

In 2009 Noel moved into an accessable unit in Thornbury at the Ventilator Accommodation Support Service