In 1998 I was forced to take medical retirement from the NSW Department of Education because of the onset of the late effects of polio. I joined the Post-Polio Network (NSW) Inc (now known as Polio NSW Inc) in 1992 and became Convenor of the Albury/Wodonga Support Group. In 1999 I was elected to the Network’s Management Committee and accepted the role of Support Group Coordinator for the State. For the past four years I have also been the Secretary of the Network. Between 2003 and 2011 I conducted Country Conferences in different locations around NSW and assisted with the organisation of Metropolitan Seminars. I organised the Polio Australasia Conference in Sydney in May 2007 and was instrumental in the agreement at that forum to form Polio Australia. I have served on the Polio Australia Management Committee since its establishment in 2008, most recently in the role of Treasurer.

Neil von Schill stood down from the Polio Australia Management Committee at the 2012 Annual General Meeting due to his continuing ill health.