In a tiny little country town in Queensland is a small memorial to a woman who gave the world so much

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Elizabeth Kenny (20 September 1880 – 30 November 1952) was a self trained Australian Bush nurse who developed a controversial new approach for treating victims of poliomyelitis. Her method differed from the then conventional medical practice which called for placing affected limbs in plaster casts. Instead Kenny applied hot compresses to affected parts of patients' bodies followed by passive movement of those areas to reduce what she called "Spasm".[1] Kenny's principles of muscle rehabilitation became the foundation of physical therapy, or physiotherapy.[2]
Her life story was told in the 1946 film Sister Kenny, portrayed by Rosalind Russell, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance.

Alan Alda credits the Sister Kenny treatments he received from his mother as a young boy for his complete recovery from polio, stating in his autobiography Never Have Your Dog Stuffed that he has no question about their efficacy. In an interview with the Actors Studio, the actor Martin Sheen recounted that he contracted polio as a child and it was only due to his doctor using Sister Kenny's method that he regained use of his legs.[36]

Former patients[edit]
Alan Alda, actor;
Peg Kehret (née Schulze), American author.
Marjorie Lawrence, Australian opera singer;
Joy McKean, singer
Rosalind Russell's nephew;
Martin Sheen, actor;
Dinah Shore, singer
Robert Anton Wilson, writer

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