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Look how far we've come!
Thanks to you, 2021 was a year of inspirational stories and accomplishments.
I think we’d all agree it’s been a rough couple of years for everyone. We’ve made huge adjustments to our lives, seen our loved ones less, and even lost some of life’s pleasures that we used to take for granted.
But 2021 was also a year of wonderful stories that we wanted to recognise. So, we chose to celebrate the goals our remarkable clients had accomplished through the year at our 2021 Graduation ceremony, with a theme of “How far we’ve come.”
Thank you for being the reason these stories happened for our 2021 graduates, and with your ongoing support, thank you for the countless stories yet to come.
Arthur & Honnie
“Honnie has been good for my health. I had a big operation last year and I think it’s because of her that I recovered so quickly. My daughter and I are going to get back out on the surfboards next. I’m only 82, I still have a few years of surfing left in me. I owe a lot to Honnie, she’s given me a new lease on life.”
– Arthur
Peter Clifford
“I started getting involved with activities run by Guide Dogs such as cooking and the Better Living Program which allowed me to meet other people. This opened my world when thinking about my future by seeing just how amazing and dynamic people can be. There is an old saying that ‘life is not about the destination but about the journey’ and the people that you meet along the way is what makes the journey so rich.”
– Peter Clifford
Get ready… the gates are opening back up at Guide Dogs!
Excitement is in the air – the beloved Open Day is coming back to Guide Dogs in 2022.
We’ve heard your requests, we’ve put the plans in place, and Open Day will be back – bigger and better than ever – in 2022!
This exciting day is one that celebrates you, our incredible community, and the difference your support makes to the lives of Queenslanders living with low vision and blindness.
We would love for you to join us for a full day of activities at our Bald Hills campus, including great food, demonstrations, kids’ entertainment and of course our main attraction, Guide Dog puppies!
The official date will be released soon. Join our VIP list to keep up-to-date on Open Day AND receive early bird access tickets!
To sign up to our VIP list and be notified when tickets
are available, visit guidedogsqld.com.au/openday2022
or scan the QR code!
Bring your family and friends along to experience a behind-the-scenes look at Guide Dogs!
Little Room
How little rooms can change the lives of the littlest children
Each baby who enters this world is unique in their own wonderful way. For a child born with low vision or blindness, this start to life comes with challenges that you won’t find answers to in classic baby books.
The new Little Room has been designed by a team of specialists specifically for babies and
young children with low vision.
The Little Room creates opportunities for mini
adventures, providing a safe space for babies to explore new shapes, textures, sounds and objects in their own time with their hands, arms and feet.
While small in size, this box is the start of a new, life-changing program for babies and young children.
Initiatives like this can only happen with your support. Thank you for being there for these little kids who have big, wonderful lives ahead of them.
Encouraging good mental health
Awakening the other senses
We often hear that people living with vision loss experience higher levels of anxiety, so finding positive ways to encourage good mental health can be a big part of each person’s journey.
In one of our recent creative classes, participants were busy carving ‘anxiety’ birds from wood, designed to give their hands something to hold on to and to focus on when experiencing anxiety. These classes help participants explore their more active senses and are a great opportunity to connect with peers and others in the low-vision community.
Confident and capable, Nurse Rowena is planning a ride of a lifetime.
Getting back in the saddle
“Growing up with horses, I’ve always wanted to ride the Bicentennial National Trail, and now seems like the right time.” – Rowena.
This 5,330km journey goes from Cooktown in North Queensland all the way to Healesville in Victoria. Rowena hopes to use the expedition as the opportunity to raise awareness of the organisations that have helped her on her journey, including Guide Dogs.
Born blind in one eye, Rowena worked for many years as a registered nurse in a busy Brisbane hospital.
“I was on a nursing shift and I noticed my vision getting worse during the day. By the end of the shift, I couldn’t see to write my notes or drive home,” she said.
Rowena received the diagnosis that would change her life – she was blind.
“I remember waking up from surgery and thinking ‘I don’t want to be blind. How can I live as a blind person’.”
Fast forward a few years, and Rowena has gone from strength to strength, truly embracing life.
She was recently matched with Guide Dog Lucy, who helps Rowena to get out and about around the Sunshine Coast, visiting her local coffee shop and walking around the lakes. Lucy even goes with Rowena when she attends her weekly horse-riding lessons in preparation for the long journey ahead.
“It’s going to be a huge challenge for me, but I’m excited to do it! I’m looking forward to starting the journey and to that final day and that final step.”
All going to plan, Rowena will begin the Bicentennial National Trail in May.
Your support helps people like Rowena at every stage of their journey – from training to navigate safely in their community, to occupational therapy to make daily home tasks easier, through to white cane training or being matched with a new Guide Dog and best friend to build confidence and independence.
Matching a Guide Dog and their handler takes so much more than just luck or timing.
It's a perfect match!
The start of a perfect partnership comes from pairing lifestyles, walking pace and personality traits. Ideal matches are made when a Handler and Guide Dog meet, work together and establish an incredible bond. From there, a perfect partnership is formed.
In 2021, 24 perfect paw partnerships were made, thanks to the generous support of people like you. We’d love to share just a few…
Santiago and Trey
After his former Guide Dog Lockie retired, Santiago needed a dog that could keep up with the busy bustle of Brisbane city life. When Santiago met Guide Dog Trey, he knew he had met his new match. Together, these two take on the city, traveling on both bus and ferry every day. Trey is also well known as a frequent flyer by Brisbane airport crew, as he joins Santiago on business trips all across the country!
For Santiago and Trey, their bond is based on mutual respect. Santiago needed a dog who could cope with intense environments and travel. Trey needed someone with confidence who could keep him challenged. From city living, airplanes to Uluru, it seems there’s nothing these two can’t do!
Dean and Viking
“Getting my Guide Dog Viking is the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m more active now than I’ve ever been.”
Dean’s not kidding when he says active. As an avid triathlete and tandem bike rider, he’s spent the past 10 years on the back of a bike, racing competitively across Australia. While Viking doesn’t get on the bike with Dean, he helps him get to and from training and provides great moral support. In December, Dean completed the Moreton Bay 100, raising over $8,000 for Guide Dogs in the name of his great mate, Viking.
“He’s changed my life.”
Paul and Sean
Paul has been a client and much-loved member of the Guide Dogs family for nearly 30 years, and it’s hard not to be inspired by Paul’s incredible accomplishments helping to inspire change.
As an international disability rights legal academic and Professor, Academic Fellow of Harvard, former Paralympian, TEDx Speaker, and dad – just to name a few of his accomplishments – Paul is a leader in promoting disability inclusion, with Guide Dog Sean by his side every step of the way.
“Sean is a cute dog; friend to one and all,” Paul said.
“To me, he is my eyes and companion.”
An emotional call
Sue and Vegas
“I had tears streaming down my face and I raced through the house screaming, I have a Guide Dog, I have a Guide Dog!”
Sue lost her eyesight just five years ago after having lived most of her life with full and complete vision.
When Sue was matched with her first Guide Dog Vegas, she was excited to take part in PAWGUST as a team, walking 45 minutes a day while fundraising together. “I’m proof it changes your life.”
The 'H' Litter: Where are they now?
From miracle pups to life-changing Guide Dogs
Nearly three years ago, we met the ‘H’ litter puppies born prematurely and given little chance of survival. Thanks to your support, these pups from the “miracle litter” have gone on to change people’s lives.
Halle, Harvey, and Hector are now qualified Guide Dogs working all over Queensland.
As both a client and supporter of Guide Dogs, Dave had followed the progress of the H Litter pups on their journey through training. He never imagined one of those pups would become his new best mate.
“Harvey gives me the confidence to get out of the house and be independent. Without him, I’d be sitting inside and not going anywhere. That’s a true miracle. A Guide Dog is something truly special.”
Thanks to your support, these miracle pups have truly delivered a miracle to three Queenslanders with low vision or blindness.
Occupational Therapists Chantel, Nat and Nardu love their job!
A day in the life of a Guide Dogs OT
When you support Guide Dogs, you also help provide state-wide access to our Occupational Therapists (OTs), who provide a highly personalised form of therapy to people of all ages and abilities to get the most out of life.
Occupational Therapists provide a fabulous contribution to the lives of many, using activities, adaptive equipment and therapies to help with
everyday life.
To get a better understanding, we joined our Guide Dogs OTs Chantel, Nardu and Nat to find out more about their unique (and interesting) job.
8am: Chantel is on the road to Toowoomba for an appointment to help a client, Donna get back to her love of chalk illustration artwork. Chantel shows Donna an incredible device called a GoVision Pro that allows her to see the details of her art pad.
9am: Nat has landed in Townsville to meet with a client who was unable to read due to her vision. Nat is helping her to use a hand-held device called a Victor Reader so that she can find the joy in reading again.
10am: Nardu is in Rockhampton today where she meets client Susan and applies tactile markers to her washing machine to help her “see” the different settings. The tactile dots give Susan the ability to select the settings she wants for the perfect wash.
1pm: Chantel hits the road to Dalby, where she meets with two children with low vision. Chantel uses shaving foam and bright placemats to build letter formation and letter recognition skills. This is a multi-sensory approach, which encourages learning and exploration of different senses.
2pm: Nat has her second appointment in Townsville, helping a client learn the accessibility tools featured on their iPad, such as speak selection, Siri and magnification.
3.30pm: Nat and Nardu write up their case notes and recommendations for the clients they visited.
4pm: Chantel heads to her hotel and prepares for day two of her regional trip.
Your donations help OTs Chantel, Nat and Nardu to visit people who need support in their own homes to assist their daily living, no matter where they live in Queensland.
Thank you.
Finding the right fit for our canine companions can mean a career choice outside of being a Guide Dog.
A paw to hold and shoulder to lean on.
Guide Dogs has partnered with Protect All Children Today Inc (PACT) to trial a new Child Witness Support Dog program in Queensland.
The goal of the trial program is to ensure every child in Queensland can be supported through the stressful process of giving evidence.
Guide Dogs General Manager Jock Beveridge explained that some dogs were not suitable for life as a Guide Dog but had the perfect nature to act in this support dog role.
“We are already hearing some incredible stories of children being instantly calmer with a
dog by their side,” Jock said.
A volunteer from PACT shared a story of a young girl giving a witness statement. “When I met her she wouldn’t communicate at all with the legal team,” he said. “From the moment the dog walked into the room you could see her stress levels drop and she spoke clearly and confidently. She said she couldn’t have done it without the dog.”
“While our priority will always be to train Guide Dogs, this trial program allows us, through generous community support, to provide dogs that help even more people.”
Workplace Giving
Dogs in the office? Yes Please!
Is your workplace in need of some puppy love?
We have the perfect solution!
Arrange some ‘Pat Therapy’ as part of our Workplace Giving program.
Contact Rebecca at workplacegiving@guidedogsqld.com.au
to learn more today.
Gold Coast man Ken doesn’t back down from a challenge.
A run from the heart
Ken was due to run 10km at the Gold Coast Marathon in 2021, however the event was cancelled due to COVID concerns. But the cancelled event didn’t stop Ken, who, despite being blind, completed the 10km event, in the rain, with the support of his guide
runner, Chris.
What a fabulous achievement!
Ken also raised more than $2,000 for Guide Dogs in the lead up to the event.
Thankfully, this year the marathon is back! If you’d
like to join the Guide Dogs team, sign up at goldcoastmarathon.com.au
If you’d like to take on a different challenge and raise funds for Guide Dogs, contact Rebecca at fundraising@guidedogsqld.com.au
A new car is on the road thanks to Eastern Star Foundation.
Beep, beep Queensland! Guide Dogs is hitting the road
A new car is helping Guide Dogs visit more Queenslanders in regional and rural areas.
Funded by a grant from Eastern Star Foundation, the vehicle is being used to better support clients aged 55 and above – aligning with Eastern Star Foundation’s mission to improve outcomes for the aging community.
The car was delivered late last year and has already helped the Guide Dogs team visit Queenslanders from the southern-most parts of the Gold Coast, through to regional and rural parts of Queensland.
Clients have been able to have healthcare practitioners visit them to work on a range of support services and begin the process of being matched with a Guide Dog, without the need to travel to Brisbane.
This happens because of you. Thank you.
Your support has changed the lives of countless people, including the following Queenslanders who graduated with a Guide Dog or Mobility Aids last year.
Gerry Barton and GD Kensi
Sahar Bilney and GD Wally
Susan Bolton-Wood and GD Vegas
Dave Byars and GD Harvey
Christine Casey and GD Halle
Anne-Marie Caulton and GD Lucky
David Chittenden and GD Katie
Julianne Dickinson and GD Gray
Mike Kingham and GD Archie
Jefferson Mac and GD Victor
Carol Maltby and GD Quincy
Tom Moshage and GD Vesna
Ken Moulang and GD Kacie
Julie Neumann and GD Kelsea
James Norquay and GD Jonah
Timothy Ray and GD Granger
Boyd Thompson and GD Zoe
Yvonne Vesely and GD Pauly
Arthur Whitney and GD Honnie
Janice Whittle and GD Keegan
Peter Young and GD Baxter
Layla Clarkson-Eather
Hugh James
Samson James
Ria Parsons
James Turner
Michelle Johnson
Andrew Hine
Linda Ovenden
Debbie Venables
Catherine Wright
Peter Clifford
Peter Hicks
Kathy House
Denny Taylor
Reginald Allen
Linley Brown
Jamie Hain
Annette James
Dorothy Sparks
Jennifer Wych