BEYOND
BLINDNESS
Summer 2023/2024
Newsletter & Activity Calendar
5 1 6 Lower North East Road
Campbelltown S A
5 0 7 4
Postal Address:
PO Box 2 1 6
Campbelltown S A
5 0 7 4
Telephone: 8 3 6 7 6 0 8 8
Email: info@beyondblindness.org.au
Website: http://www.beyondblindness.org.au/
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover – Page 1
Table of Contents - Page 2
Office Locations/ Who are we? - Page 3
Beyond Blindness activities/Editor’s Message - Page 4
From the CEO - Page 4 & 5
2023 AGM - Page 6 & 7
Around the Office: Bethany Cody - Page 7
Around the Office: Golf Clubs Giveaway - Page 7 & 8
Christmas Party 2023 - Page 8
Beyond Blindness on Focal Point Radio - Page 9 & 10
History (ABC Radio Race Transcription) - Page 10 &
11
Activities Flashback & Highlights - Page 11 - 15
Vincent Tarzia Visit/Oaks Liberty Apartment - Page 15
SASSVI Presentation Concert - Page 15 & 16
Spotlight on Member: Maureen Montes - Page 16 - 21
Ticketek Booking - Page 21 & 22
Volunteer Spotlight/Interested in Volunteering? - Page
23
Adelaide Zoo Welcomes Assistance Dogs - Page 24 - 27
Special Purpose Funding
(SPF) – Spotlight on Adaptive Equipment Subsidy (Techfest 2023) - Page 27 -
30
Sports: Paul Cormack - Page
31 & 32
Being Blind by Tony
Doyle (book excerpt) - Page 32 & 33
Leonore’s Cooking
Corner - Page 34
Covid Notice/Donations
- Page 35
Sign up to our
newsletter - Page 35 & 36
Feedback - Page 36
Activities Calendar:
Term 1 2024 - Page 37 - 44
Important Information -
Page 45
Extreme Weather Policy
- Page 46
Office
Locations: Central/East Office & Social Centre
5 1 6 Lower
North East Road
Campbelltown S A, 5
0 7 4
8 3 6 7 6 0
8 8
Northern Office:
Unit 1, 12 Adelaide Road, Gawler South
S A, 5 1 1 8, Phone 8 1 6 6 3 3 3 0
Southern
Office: Unit 2, 4 Clement Tce, Christies Beach
S A, 5 1 6 5, Phone: 8 5 5 6 6 2 2 8
Who are we? For the past 85 years, Beyond Blindness has provided a
range of services to South Australians who are blind or vision-impaired.
Offering a variety of recreational activities, our mission is to promote
independence, dignity and quality of life.
Beyond
Blindness also provides financial assistance in cases of need, as well as
grants and subsidies. Our services are available to anyone aged over 18 years
old who is legally blind and resides in South Australia. The cost for a
Lifetime Membership is $25.
Associate
Membership is available for: people with low vision (not legally blind), spouse,
partner or immediate family of a full Beyond Blindness member, registered carer
or support person. The cost of an Associate Membership is $25 annually.
For all
membership enquiries, contact the Campbelltown office: 8 3 6 7 6 0 8 8 or email
info@beyondblindness.org.au
Beyond
Blindness Activities: Beyond Blindness offers social
activities across all of Adelaide: North, South, East, West, Adelaide Hills,
Gawler & Victor Harbor.
Activities
offered: arts and crafts, bus excursions & day trips, sports: golf,
bowling, croquet, sailing.
information sessions, walking/hiking, dancing, digital training programs, cooking,
Country Music Club, pub lunches, trivia, Gawler Low Vision Group, young persons
social group, movies, live music, Victor Harbor groups, overnight trips to
regional S A, Conversation Corner, libraries, men’s group, book club
All members
are welcome to attend any activity, in any location in Adelaide, depending on
transport and resources availability. An activity schedule can be found at the
end of this newsletter.
Editor’s
message: Welcome to 2024!! We hope you have had
a great time over the Festive Season and enjoyed the food of which no doubt
many over indulged, and why not, it is only Christmas once a year, isn’t it?
The weather at the beginning of Summer was a little bit out of character with
so much rain along with the lightning and the thunder storms which has been
good for the gardens. I do enjoy a good storm, not sure that my cat and others
do, or dogs for that matter, along with a few
people. We have to thank Rachel for collating the content of the magazine as
she is very resourceful and manages to put lots of interesting articles
together.
Enjoy this edition and no doubt you will
find something to pique (thanks spell checker) your interest. - Leonore Scott, Editor
From the CEO: Happy New Year, and I hope everyone had a lovely
Christmas. The opening of our new Campbelltown Centre and the purchase of four
new buses last year, has set the scene to further expand our social and peer
support activities this year. This year’s upcoming programs should see a good
mixture of Beyond Blindness and member run activities.
I recently met with members to discuss
the use of buses for member-run outings and we have developed new guidelines
for their use. New this year will also see the trial of Tandem cycling with
bikes initially on loan from Blind Sports SA. We envisage regular activities
initially at Victoria Park before venturing further afield.
From member feedback we are conscious of
the isolation of many country members and will be working to facilitate coffee
and chat groups for members living in some of our larger regional centres in
2024. Our Engagement Officer Frank Cirillo will be building on the success of
his Mount Barker group to contact and develop other groups in other regional
towns. If you are living in a regional centre and aware of other members in
your area who would enjoy catching up, please contact Frank to see what we can
do.
In addition to our regular Board
Meetings the Board and I will meet in February to work on longer term planning
and the next stage of our strategic plan.
Recruitment will start soon to fill the
vacancy left by the retirement of Deidre Gavros from our Northern office.
Deidre was with Beyond Blindness for 27 years and I thank her for her many
years of service and support to our Board and the Organisation. At her farewell
presentation Deidre spoke of her plans to undertake a cruise to New Zealand and
a trip to Bali. We wish Deidre every success in her future endeavours.
Once again, I wish to thank my team and
our many wonderful volunteers that work to make our Organisation and its
activities a success. I look forward to another year of growth in services and
support to the legally blind community of SA.
Jim Colligan, CEO, Beyond Blindness
2023 AGM: The Beyond Blindness Annual General Meeting was held on
Saturday 21st October 2023. It was a well-attended meeting with all Board Members,
Campbelltown staff, volunteers and members who came in to hear a review and
news of how the Organisation has performed in the past financial year as well
as pick up themselves a copy of the latest 2022-2023 report, and hear an
overview of how things are running.
Business Support Officer Sandra Gesuato
hosted the morning. First up CEO Jim Colligan read out the audited financial
statement for year ending 30th June 2023. The Board President, Tony Starkey,
indicated he would comment on the healthy position of the organisation as well
as the finances.
Further comments were made on the
Infoodle App and the work conducted over time to implement it, and thanked the
team input including special acknowledgement to volunteer Chris Moyle who
assisted the team with IT issues. The Organisation is in a good financial
position and we now cover both ends of the metropolitan area so we’re looking
forward to continuing services with the team putting together a good list of
social activities next year.
Tony then announced the departure of
Board member, Sarah Savage giving sincere thanks and congratulations, with her
having seen through quite a bit of change and improvements during her time as a
Board member. All thanked Sarah for her contribution. The Board and room then
welcomed member Elisabeth Eastham as the newest Board member, a well-known and
active member who is keen to bring her ideas and contribute to an Organisation
she knows well. Elisabeth thanked Leonore for the questions and informed all
that she would like to contribute to how the members view how the Organisation
is run and what activities are on and to essentially act as a spokesman for the
members. Elisabeth acknowledged lack of
experience with business decisions but was looking forward and appreciative of
the prospect of fellow Board members teaching her.
The floor was then opened up for
questions or discussion by any attendees who were able to put forth their
concerns directly to the Board and CEO. It was also a great opportunity for new
members to attend and get a feel for how the Organisation is run and give
feedback about activities, and suggestions from their perspective of what might
help new members feel more involved.
Maureen Montes, Vice President,
presented Visa with birthday wishes and expressed her gratitude for her contribution
to the Organisation. Tony closed the meeting advising that the next AGM is to
be held at the South office at Christies Beach. Everyone stayed at the Everyone
stayed at the Centre for a lunch prepared by the Staff followed by some fresh
fruit.
Around the office:
Bethany Cody: Beyond Blindness member and Disability Advocate Bethany
Cody has collaborated with ABC News to produce a report about e-scooters on
footpaths and the hazard they create for blind and vision-impaired South
Australians when navigating the city. Beyond Blindness Board President Tony
Starkey was interviewed by Bethany at Beyond Blindness Campbelltown for the
report.
Well done Bethany for highlighting and
giving some insight into this issue! Read her article by clicking this link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-20/escooters-trip-hazard-for-vision-impaired/103059782
Golf Clubs Giveaway: We have some golf clubs to give away at the Campbelltown
Social Centre. They are quite old and in varying condition, but they are free.
There are two golf bags as well, mustard and orange in colour. Neither have buggies,
so they are not trolleys. They are heavy. The first set of golf clubs are
Slazenger brand: labelled the following way: 3, 6, pitching wedge, sand wedge,
7, 4, 3, putt, 5, 3, 4, 8.
The second set is: Legacy Black 3, Paradox 1, Razor X 5, Ovation 3. 3, 5, P,
and 3 putters.
You are welcome to inspect them in
person, if you like.
If you are interested, please contact the Campbelltown office,
8 3 6 7 6 0 8 8 and ask to speak to Marian.
Christmas Party 2023: Beyond Blindness Members and Volunteers were treated to a
fantastic and festive Christmas Party, held at the Marche Club, Paradise on
Thursday December 14th, 2023. An occasion that brought together
members and volunteers from all regions, it was a great way to celebrate such
an eventful year that 2023 has been. Enjoying a main course and a dessert,
attendees listened to Beyond Blindness CEO Jim Colligan give a speech about the
progress Beyond Blindness has made this year, and Board President Tony Starkey
gave his thoughts as well.
In between speeches, and while eating
their meals, one-man band Fred Labrosciano entertained the audience with his
jaunty tunes that even got some members and volunteers on the dance floor. The Beyond
Blindness’ Trevor Frost Award 2023 winner and recipient Adeline Roe was
presented with the award for her outstanding achievements and potential in the
field of music, with Board Member Elisabeth D’Sylva-Clark doing the honours of
selecting and presenting her award. Operations Manager Visa Neelam gave out
certificates to thank our band of reliable volunteers for their hard work last
year, and also gave a talk about the Infoodle app. On the way out, attendees
were given a Christmas gift to thank them for coming. Thank you for everyone
who attended and we hope you had a great time!
Beyond Blindness on Focal Point: A weekly program presented by Peter Greco, Focal Point
covers services from Blindness Organisations and other providers, technology,
current affairs, breakthroughs in advocacy campaigns about all manner of
challenges and promoting activities and events for people who are blind or
vision impaired. Once a month someone from Beyond Blindness usually features in
a segment, interviewed by Peter.
Focal Point is broadcasted live on
Vision Australia Radio every week on 1197 AM, on Wednesdays at 7pm, or you can
catch up on past episodes by visiting their podcast page on: onmy.fm:
https://omny.fm/shows/focal-point
October 2023 Interview: Frank Cirillo, Member Engagement Officer (West &
Adelaide Hills)
• 2023 Annual General Meeting
• West and Adelaide Hills activities
• The growth of the Adelaide Hills/Mount
Barker Coffee & Chat Group
• How the Hills and Western Suburbs
Young Adults Group might try new activities in the future, with suggestions put
forth by the members themselves
• Information about the upcoming CBD
tour, "How the Adelaide City Came to Be" as well as the cooking class
held at Campbelltown, and the Tuesday Dance Class
Interview starts 17:25 and the segment
goes for about 15 minutes. Listen here: https://omny.fm/shows/focal-point/focal-point-podcast-25-oct-2023
November 2023 Interview: Rachel, Marketing & Administration, Beyond Blindness
·
How Rachel started
volunteering at Beyond Blindness as an Administration Assistant.
·
How Rachel markets the
Beyond Blindness Organisation and getting the word out.
·
Beyond Blindness activities
for November and December, including: Mannum Trip, Cherry Picking, Phone and
Tablet Technology Session, and Adelaide Hills Group.
Interview starts at: 15 minutes 50
seconds, and it goes for about 15 minutes. Listen here: https://omny.fm/shows/focal-point/15-nov-2023
December 2023 Interview: Visa Neelam, Beyond Blindness Operations Manager & Rachel,
Marketing & Administration, Beyond Blindness
Visa updates listeners about the
Infoodle App, making it easy to access Beyond Blindness news, activity
calendars and documents. Rachel also has a chat to Peter about the Christmas
closures and the new trial tandem bike activity offered to members in 2024. Listen
here: https://omny.fm/shows/focal-point/20-dec-2023
Interview starts around 16 minutes, 30
seconds.
History: Here is an interesting part of history, where a photo was taken
on Noemfoor Island in Dutch New Guinea on 11th November 1944. Personnel of
Number 78 (Kittyhawk) Squadron RAAF at an operational base were presented with
a vivid audio description of the Melbourne Cup horse race. A shorthand note is
taken of the shortwave broadcast on ABC radio and the transcription is
realistically presented over amplifiers, engaging the troops with a retelling
of the race that stops the nation back at home. This piece of history really
shows the importance of audio description when telling stories and
communication, and the vital connection it provides, boosting moral for those
posted overseas.
Image description: Black and white photo
of about 50 males aged about from late teens to late 30s, most shirtless,
wearing beige pants. They are sitting next to tents and there are tall tropical
trees in the background of the photos. In the middle of the group is a speaker:
a pole with a cone on each side. The men are sitting down listening to the
broadcast.
Flashback of Central/East
Activities for Term 4, 2023:
Day Tours: Members enjoyed several day tours in Term 4, 2023. They
visited the Adelaide Botanic Gardens and enjoyed a sensory tour where they felt
the textures of leaves and tree barks. They were also taught about the uses and
history of the many trees in the Gardens.
In November, members participated in a
historic tour of North Adelaide, where our experienced tour guide, Graeme
showed members and volunteers the buildings, talked about the history of the
settlers and described the buildings and surroundings.
And to round off the year, members and
volunteers went to the Beerenberg Farm in Hahndorf to pick strawberries and
enjoy tea, scones and more at the cosy but modern Farm Cafe & Dairy.
Tell us of any special tours you would
like us to organise by participating in our year end survey or dropping us an
email: info@beyondblindness.org.au
Digital Assistance @ Local
Libraries. Beyond Blindness has embarked on a
program to identify Community Libraries which offer digital assistance programs
to help members use voice-over, SIRI, google-assist and other assistive
technology on their mobile devices, tablets and laptops.
This year, we started working with Hamra
and Ngutungka West Lakes Library to assist members in the West to familiarise
themselves with assistive technology. We will continue to identify more Libraries
around Adelaide which offer such programs to improve and reach members across
different regions. Look out for information as we add to the list of Libraries
which offer these services. Or contact Marian at 8367 6088 to request for more
information about a library near you.
Central East Area
Highlights:
Highlight of Activities for Term 1, 2024
The Central/East group has activities
from Mondays to Wednesdays and some Thursdays.
Mondays – Gentle Walks @ Semaphore, Mawson Lakes, Oakden Park, Thorndon Park,
River Torrens
Tuesdays – Golf @ Valley View
Wednesdays – Activity 1: Craft & Chat, alternate weeks Bingo /// Alternate
Activity - 7km Wednesday Walk
Historic/Day Tours: Various day and/or
historic tours have been planned for February, March and April 2024. We are
looking to plan day trips to Nairne, Garden Grove and Himeji Garden over a
Thursday and/or Friday in February, March and April.
Look out for more details in our monthly
Activity Highlights email. Day/Date: Thursday 8th February, Thursday 14th
March, Friday 12th April 2024, Time: 10.30am to 1pm
Seniors Coffee & Chat (70 years and
above): Join our senior members once a month to enjoy coffee, tea,
refreshments, and a game of guess that song or trivia. Meet new friends, share
your stories, and learn more about the support for vision impaired seniors in
our community.
Day/Date : Thursday, 15th February, 21st March, 11th April 2024 Time: 10.30am
to 1pm (light refreshments will be served)
Venue: 516 Lower North East Road, Campbelltown
SA 5074
Cost: $10
Beyond Blindness AFL Gather Round: Beyond
Blindness is hosting an exciting evening of AFL Gather Round at their Social
Centre, The event is specially planned for members to enjoy the festival of
footy with fellow members! Come and join
us for a night of fun, food, and footy! Day/Date: Thursday, 4th April 2024
Time: Evening (light refreshments will
be served)
Venue: 516 Lower North East Road, Campbelltown Social Centre SA 5074,
Cost: $10. More information will be sent via email in March 2024.
Tandem Bike & Café Lunch: Beyond
Blindness is excited to announce a new activity for members. We are starting a
tandem bike riding event and recommend that participants are comfortable with
cycling for at least 30 minutes at a moderate pace before participating. For
members who prefer to come enjoy the day out, we have a café lunch planned for
everyone.
Day/Date: Thursday, 22nd February 2024
Time: 10.30am to 2pm, Venue: To be Confirmed, Cost: $10
More information will be sent via email in late January 2024
Desserts with Leonore & Deb: Come
learn how to make yummy, healthy and different desserts with Leonore and Deb.
Day/Date: Friday, 8 March 2024
Time: 10.30am to 12.30pm
Venue: 516 Lower North East Road, Campbelltown Social Centre SA 5074, Cost: $10
Book Club Formation in collaboration
with Campbelltown Library. We are looking to form a book club in collaboration
with Campbelltown Library. We invite expressions of interest from all book
enthusiasts who are eager to embark on this literary journey. As we are
finalising the details, we’re looking to organise sessions on:
Day/Date: First Friday of the month
beginning on Friday, 2nd February 2024, Time: Morning, Venue: Campbelltown
Library.
Please email or call Marian: 8367 6088 should you have any queries.
Tips on how to use Voice Over, Google
Assist and SIRI on your device. Join us for a session on how to use voice
assistants like Google Assistant and Siri to help vision-impaired members use their
mobiles or laptops to find information and communicate efficiently.
Day/Date : Thursday, 29 February 2024, 10.30am
to 12pm
Venue: 516 Lower North East Road, Campbelltown Social Centre SA 5074. Please email or call Marian @ 8367
6088 should you have any queries.
Apple Picking @ Lenswood: Apple picking
at Lenswood is a fun and unique experience that our members will love. You can
pick your own apples fresh from the orchard, enjoy locally produced food at the
onsite cafe, and participate in farm games and activities for kids. The orchard
is surrounded by beautiful Lenswood views and wildlife, making it a perfect day
spent in country air. @lenswood Pick Your Own is open for business from March
6th throughout the season till the end of May
Day/Date: Thursday, 28 March 2024
Time: 10.30am to 12pm
Venue: 122 Harris Rd, Lenswood, SA, 5240
Entry Fee: $6 per adult (excluding costs of apples)
More information will be sent via email in late February 2024.
Northern Area Highlights: Do you live in the Northern suburbs of Adelaide? The
Beyond Blindness Northern Outreach group has lots of exciting activities coming
up that might just pique your interest.
Lunch get-togethers: Join a group of
friendly members for a good meal and chat on Mondays at the pubs listed below:
Venues – Birkenhead Tavern, Exchange Hotel, Glenelg Surf Club,
McQueens Tavern.
See activity calendar for dates and details.
Bingo: Legs 11, rise and shine 29, queen
bee 73: will your lucky numbers be called? Come along for a few rounds at the
Gawler Northern Outreach office and you might just be the one to shout “Bingo!”
Date: Monday 18th March 2024, Location: Gawler Office, Time: 10am - 12pm
Music Sing-along: Bring your singing
voices with you for an afternoon with familiar tunes you can sing your heart
out to. Date: Monday 29th April 2024, Location: Gawler Office, Time: 12pm
Contact the Campbelltown Office to book
in for any of these activities by calling 8367 6088.
Vincent Tarzia visit: Thank you to Honourable Vincent Tarzia - Member for Hartley
who popped by the Beyond Blindness Campbelltown office on a morning in December
to check out our new Toyota buses. His instrumental role in facilitating the
waiver of stamp duty for our buses was a significant help for us financially
and very much appreciated. These buses transport members to and from social
activities, events and excursions, which is important for members socially, and
helps increase their participation in the community, as well as trips all over
South Australia. Beyond Blindness is grateful for his support.
Oaks Liberty Apartment: Do you feel like you want to take a break? Why not take
advantage of the few nights stay in the relaxing Oaks Liberty Apartment? Beyond
Blindness can offer its members a stay at a reduced rate. Cost to stay is still
extremely affordable - $120 for 3 nights with another 4 nights at $80 per night
per year. What a bargain! For booking queries or further information call 8367
6088.
SASSVI Presentation Concert:
Tuesday 12th December 2023 was the night of SASSVI’s (South
Australian School & Services for Vision Impaired) annual presentation
concert, attended by Marketing Assistant Rachel and Board Member Elisabeth. As
part of the night, Beyond Blindness sponsored an award to the value of $200 to
support the student in their educational endeavours. The “SASSVI Spirit Award”
was awarded to Luke for his “demonstration of school values of compassion for
others, being honest and fair, and having a strong sense of responsibility.”
Congratulations and well done Luke!
Before the concert there was an
exhibition set up with the theme of “outer space” - displaying students’
creative creations, such as spacemen, rockets and planets, all made from
recyclable material that would have otherwise been discarded. These tactile sculptures
were made from materials such as ice cream buckets, cardboard, plastic bottle
tops, alfoil, string and many other bits and bobs. Other art pieces were cats
and Picasso-inspired Cubism-style sculptures. They were very interesting and
clever, with stories about the artwork written in text and braille beside them.
The theme of the concert was a radio
show: SASSVI Radio 20.23, which brought a lot of laughs as the students hosted
a radio show with jokes, weather reports, awards, 2 plays: Kitty the Space
Donkey & The Weird Flower, music performances, traffic report, with the
grand finale being a rock band and “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.” Thank you
to SASSVI for giving Beyond Blindness a chance to attend your wonderful
concert!
Spotlight on Member: Maureen
Montes: Maureen Montes is someone I’m sure you
all know as a long-time fixture and contributing Board member of Beyond
Blindness for the past 11 years. Bringing her business-sense and determination
that has been invaluable to grow the reach and Beyond Blindness brand.
Maureen was born in South India, at home
in her grandparents house called Ivy Villa in 1949. Her parents were Royalists
so they gave her the classic regal middle name, Elizabeth. Her father worked as
an Officer for the ASC (Army Sustainment Command) in the Indian Army Service
Corps, specialising in the distribution service, managing trucks and supplies.
As a consequence of being posted away to a highly secure non-family station,
Maureen’s father only saw her when she already was 8 months old, when he returned.
Her father’s letters had to be screened by the Army before being delivered to
her mother. Her father came across Aussies in the army who would sing songs
such as “Waltzing Matilda,” which her father liked so much he gave Maureen the
nickname, “Tilda.”
Maureen and her sister, who is 7 years
younger, moved around the country often because of her father’s work. Maureen
had to adapt to new schools and making friends in each location, causing her to
become adaptable to most situations. Maureen finished her primary school in
Bangalore and then went on to complete her schooling at Baldwin Girls High
School, a school founded by an American missionary, also located in Bangalore.
Maureen was active in dramas and plays, and loved to “strut her stuff” on stage
– at one performance, even playing the part of 3 different roles – having to
quickly run backstage for her next character’s costume. A model student, she
was selected to be the Service Squad Captain, making sure that fellow students
were following rules, such as putting rubbish in the bins. Maureen was always
talkative, and joined the debating team in Grade 10.
She graduated high school comparatively
early, at 14 and a ½ years old. She applied to Mount Carmel Catholic College,
but because of her young age, she had to seek permission from the Bangalore
Catholic Church Bishop to start her studies. Studying Economics, English, Hindi
and Logic, she found university to be more fun than school because it offered
more freedom.
At the age of 18 Maureen graduated
university after 3 years of study, and got married fairly shortly after in
1967. She met her husband Russell through a mutual friend at a Mess, which is a
designated area where military personnel socialize, eat and drink. Russell was
an Indian Airforce fighter pilot, so Maureen had that in common with him,
coming from a military family herself. Moving straight from her parents’ house
to an Airforce base, Maureen had to suddenly learn how to cook basic food,
using a pressure cooker, as there was no on-site domestic help, and she would
pack her husband’s lunch in a tiffin box.
Welcoming 2 children while in India, a
girl and a boy in the 1960s and ‘70s, Maureen focused on being a mother during
that time. As her husband’s work hours were irregular, being a Mum kept
Maureen’s hands full. In 1984 Russell was offered to move their family to
Australia under the skilled migrant program, as Parafield airport was seeking
pilots to act as flying instructors in their Flying Academy. They first moved
to Salisbury East, into a completely unfurnished house, meaning they had to
make do with sleeping on the floor until they were able to buy second-hand beds
and loaned a small fridge until the rest of their furniture was shipped from
India.
Maureen’s vision impairment first became
noticeable when she started school, as her teachers said that she couldn’t see.
She had consultations with optometrists who simply said she had “limited
vision” and no glasses could help. Maureen had to sit at the front of the
classroom so she was able to see the blackboard, which meant that she was kept
closely monitored by teachers, so had to be on her best behaviour.
Later, aged 15, when she just started
university, Maureen went to eye specialists and was diagnosed with Stargardt
Disease, a condition which affects the nerves going from the retina to the
brain. Stargardt disease is a rare genetic eye disease that happens when fatty
material builds up on the macula — the small part of the retina needed for
sharp, central vision. Vision loss usually starts in childhood — but some
people with Stargardt disease don't start to lose their vision until they're
adults. There is no treatment at this time and Maureen has around 5% vision,
however her central vision is almost gone.
In 1985, a year after moving to
Adelaide, Maureen set up a business that imported wholesale silk fabric,
working from her home in Prospect at the time, filling a niche, to be the first
person in Adelaide to import silk for the bridal industry. Maureen would catch
buses to and fro all over Adelaide, lugging a bag of silk samples to display to
potential buyers, which required persistence. Expanding to opening a physical
shop along Chapel Street in Melbourne for a year, selling silk and bridal
fabric. After her silk business closed, Maureen spent her days looking after
her grand-daughter from when she was a baby, which kept her on her toes for 2
days a week.
Maureen was introduced to the Blind
Welfare Association of SA, as Beyond Blindness was known at the time, by the
way of Trevor Frost, who gave her an eye monocle to check her silk fabrics
closely, and Peter Heatherington, who recommended a talking books tape
recorder.
In around 2010 Maureen took up a
volunteering role in retirement villages, offering social support to blind and
vision-impaired residents: a chat, friendly voice and touch, and occasionally
taking them out shopping.
Always looking to make a difference in
the community, Maureen ran for the local council elections in the 1990s in the
district of Nailsworth Ward, as it was divided at the time. She narrowly missed
out on a win by only 200 votes. In 2002, after moving to her now home in
Parkside, Maureen found there was a long walk to the next set of lights to
safely cross the road to the bus stop. She proposed to the Department of
Transport to install a traffic light crossing, and 10 months later it was
installed, saving 15 minutes of walking and making the area safer for
pedestrians needing to cross the road.
Maureen’s go-getter and productive
nature did not go unnoticed by the BWA. She was personally invited to join the
Board in 2012 as a member of expertise because of her business background. At
first Maureen took the opportunity to listen to the Board and observe how they
ran, but it wasn’t too long before Maureen chimed in with some suggestions to
improve the BWA, as she is always the type to think ahead for the future. She
has been instrumental in suggesting many of the ideas adopted by the Board.
These have been: the Trevor Frost Award, an annual award to assist a young
South Australian with a vision-impairment to further develop their skills in
music or the performing arts, the purchase of the Glenelg apartment, giving
members a chance to rest and relax at a discounted rate, and the name change to
“Beyond Blindness” and new logo to keep up with the times and best represent
the organisation’s perspective, and a strong supporter of the move to the new
Campbelltown site.
Outside of her Board duties, Maureen
enjoys going to the orchestra, theatre, the arts, socialising with friends,
walking on the beach, and spending quality time with her family: she is very
proud of her two children and grandchildren. One of her favourite recipes is
fruitcake, usually cooked around Christmas time. 6 months after arriving in
Adelaide in 1984, Maureen entered a contest for the best turkey stuffing,
winning the contest with her entry: “Curried Turkey Stuffing from the Days of
the Raj”, made with ingredients such as fresh coriander, all spice, walnuts and
almonds, with no chilli, and only a mild spice flavour, as to match the
Australian palette. Her exotic recipe had her attending a special ceremony
where the radio station 5AA, presented her with a prize of a raw turkey, hamper
of smallgoods and wine. Callers rang the station to ask for her recipe, with
over 100 copies being sent out by post, by request. Maureen still makes this
recipe every Christmas to this day, and is working on passing on the correct
technique to her son so the recipe can be enjoyed in years to come.
Maureen is very happy and proud that
Beyond Blindness is doing so well. Joining Beyond Blindness has channelled her
wish to always help people, especially those that are in the same boat,
vision-wise. “It gives me a great deal of satisfaction to see the progress of
Beyond Blindness and I hope the Organisation can continue to do great things.
We might be blind but we still motor on.”
TEG’s Ticketek Empowers
Inclusion: Launches Enhanced Ticket Booking Platform
Sets New Standards for Accessibility
AUSTRALIA, 22 November 2023 –TEG
today announced that Ticketek, a global leader in live event ticketing, data
and analytics, is rolling out an online accessible ticket booking platform,
creating a simpler way for people with disability, and their companions, family
and friends to purchase tickets online.
Ticketek has listened to customer
feedback and consulted with government bodies, industry partners, and advocacy
groups […] to improve the booking experience of people with disability.
There are several types of accessible
seating available through the new digital platform, including for customers who
use wheelchairs, require easy access, have a vision impairment or use a hearing
loop. Companion tickets can also be purchased – allowing fans with disabilities
to redeem a complimentary companion ticket for any seat within a venue.
Importantly, the new enhanced digital platform is an ‘always on’ experience for
participating venues and events, which means fans can buy accessible seating tickets
online and in real-time, including for high-demand events.
“At Ticketek we believe that all
Australians should have equal opportunities to attend their favourite events.
Offering an ideal purchasing experience for accessible seating is a project we
hold close to our hearts. We are aware that the process has not been as easy as
it should be to date, so we are delighted to be delivering this improved
experience for fans and their companions. […] “Attending concerts, festivals
and sporting events is a favourite pastime for many Australians, including
those who need more support in accessing venues. It’s so important that
accessibility does not become a barrier for people living their life to the
fullest. We are proud to have worked with Ticketek to introduce true equity to
ticketing. The same customer experience whether people have a disability or not
is a new benchmark in accessibility for all Australian companies to aspire to.
The most up to date information on
accessible bookings is available at https://help.ticketek.com.au/hc/en-us/articles/360001880427-How-do-I-book-an-Accessible-Ticket-
Customers who have questions, can contact Ticketek’s Accessible Seating Hotline
on 1300 665 915 where a trained Ticketek staff member can discuss their
accessible seating needs.
Ticketek’s new Accessible booking
platform is available on selected events at the following South Australian
venues (A full list of venues can be found by visiting the press release page.)
Dunstan Playhouse (AFC) (SA)
Festival Theatre (AFC) (SA)
Her Majesty’s Theatre (AFC) (SA)
This press release has been amended and
the full release may be accessed here: https://www.teg.com.au/tegs-ticketek-empowers-inclusion-launches-enhanced-ticket-booking-platform-sets-new-standards-for-accessibility/
Volunteer spotlight: Small
jobs group: The Beyond Blindness
volunteer small jobs group helps out by visiting member homes and doing odd
jobs: little things around the house that they may be unable to complete
themselves but that will help their quality of life once done. Such as
installing light globes, hanging picture frames or installing curtain rods,
etc. The group also helps onsite at the Campbelltown office by assembling the
new shed, hanging pictures and installing shelving, especially during the move:
clearing out from the Gilles Plains centre and settling in of the new office
space in Campbelltown.
Interested in volunteering?: Have some extra time on your hands? Want to
be involved in your local community? Looking to share your skills or learn
something new? Beyond Blindness is seeking volunteers in all areas of Adelaide:
From Gawler
& The Barossa, North, East, South, West, Adelaide Hills and Victor Harbor,
no matter where you live, Beyond Blindness would love if you could assist
people with vision impairment to experience social activities. Volunteering is
also a great way to help others, keep yourself busy and make new friends.
There are vacancies in gardening, bus drivers & transport, handypersons,
sight-guides, computer and technology assistants, administration &
reception, activity groups at our social centre (crafts, cooking), excursions,
overnight trips, and photographers. Or take a look at our activity schedule in
this newsletter to see what we get up to.
Get in touch with the Beyond Blindness Campbelltown Office on 8367 6088 for
more information or submit the online form on our website: https://beyondblindness.org.au/volunteering/
Adelaide
Zoo Welcomes Assistance Dogs:
by Amy Vogelsang
Amy
Vogelsang is Zoos SA's Senior Communications Coordinator
It’s the
start of a new era as Assistance Dogs are welcomed through the gates of
Adelaide Zoo for the first time, opening up a world of wild experiences to
visitors from near and far who are supported by accredited Assistance Dogs.
Partnering with See Differently (formerly Royal Society for the Blind), Zoos
SA’s assistance animal program initially allows See Differently accredited
Assistance Dogs to visit the zoo between 10.30am and 3.00pm.
An
Assistance Animal zone map guides people and their Assistance Dogs through the
zoo, making sure Labradors, lemurs and humans alike all have a rewarding and
safe experience. The creation of this map is where the science comes in. Zoos
SA’s Animal Behaviour and Creative Programs Manager, Nic Bishop, said the
program is a result of strategic animal behaviour research between Zoos SA
vets, keepers and See Differently specialist dog trainers.
See
Differently assistance dogs took part in four testing days to meet zoo animals.
Testing involved walking dogs past animal habitats across the zoo while Nic
recorded the zoo animal reactions and the handlers noted the responses from the
dogs.
“We wanted
to know what might happen when a lion meets a Labrador. Using over 100 pieces
of behavioural footage I assessed how dogs and different zoo animals responded
to each other to assess where assistance animals can go in the zoo. Many
animals are naturally interested in new things, sometimes this can be positive
and enriching and other times this can have negative outcomes,” said Nic.
For the
vast majority of species, the testing process found that seeing an Assistance
Dog was a positive enrichment experience. “It was fascinating seeing the
Meerkats reaction, they were so curious and all ran over to the glass fence to
check out their furry visitor.”
These
findings formed the traffic light system for the Assistance Animal zone map.
Green zones mean assistance animals can safely move about, orange is where
people should exercise caution and be aware of how their assistance dog may
react, and red zones are restricted where Assistance Animals are not permitted.
“We want people and their Assistance Dogs to feel as at home with us as the 250
different species that live at Adelaide Zoo, and the zone map is one way we
will facilitate a positive welfare outcome for Assistance Dogs and the furry,
scaly and feathered friends at the zoo,” finished Nic.
With See
Differently providing Assistance Dogs to more than 130 South Australians, Zoos
SA Chief Executive, Elaine Bensted, said this program marks an important
milestone in providing a welcoming and accessible space for all.
“This is an
exciting step on our accessibility journey and we’re thrilled to be supporting
more people to visit, learn about incredible species and have a wild experience
at the zoo. Assistance Animals help give people with an accessibility
requirement greater independence and we’re proud to support this at Adelaide
Zoo.
“We’ve had
great feedback from the community on our Relaxed Zoos Hours initiative, where
we reduce human noises in select sessions to create a more sensory friendly
environment for guests, and we look forward to building on this work and
opening up the zoo to more people with the Assistance Dogs program,” said
Elaine.
See
Differently Executive Director, Damian Papps, said, “The research phase of this
program, in introducing guide and assistance dogs in training to different
animals, was fascinating and a unique learning opportunity for the See
Differently and Zoos SA teams.”
“We are
here to provide people with the capability to see differently, and this
initiative with Zoos SA is enabling South Australians with a guide or
assistance dog to experience the Adelaide Zoo in a whole new, accessible way.
We’re really pleased that people with a guide or assistance dog can now enjoy a
visit to the Adelaide Zoo – a quintessential leisure experience, with their
children, grandchildren and families and friends. With The Zoo founded in 1883 and See
Differently founded in 1884 it is a wonderful opportunity for us to work
together enriching the lives of South Australians.”
Human
Services Minister Nat Cook said, “I’m delighted that Adelaide Zoo is opening
its gates to visitors and their Assistance Dogs, ensuring even more South
Australians have access to the great experiences on offer. “Earlier this year
the State Government announced $10,000 for Zoos SA to expand and deliver its
series of relaxed experiences for the state’s autistic and autism communities.
These initiatives are all part of the work taking place to make South Australia
more accessible and inclusive for all.”
People
visiting with an accredited See Differently Assistance Dog can head to the
Accessibility page on the Adelaide Zoo website and access the Assistance
Animals Guide and complete an application or call Adelaide Zoo on (08) 8267
3255. There are a number of support measures in place to ensure the safety of
guests, their Assistance Dog and our animals and by following the guide
Adelaide Zoo can support everyone to have a rewarding and safe experience.
At this
early stage of the program Adelaide Zoo is open to accredited See Differently
Assistance Dogs and not other species of assistance animals. If you are the
handler of an assistance dog accredited by a different institution, we are
seeking additional feedback and people to work with so we can support everyone
(and every animal) to have the most rewarding and safest interactions. As we
continue to learn and grow, we welcome feedback to guide this program to be the
most useful for the most people, and look forward to working with additional
organisations.
Apply via
the Adelaide Zoo website by visiting this link: https://www.adelaidezoo.com.au/assistanceanimalapplication/
This
article has been reproduced with permission from Zoos SA.
Special
Purpose Funding (SPF) – Spotlight on Adaptive Equipment Subsidy (Techfest
2023):
The See
Differently Techfest 2023 was held at U City in the Adelaide CBD on Thursday
2nd November 2023.
A few
Beyond Blindness staff as well as members were able to check it out and
discover the latest and greatest available in Adaptive Technology Equipment.
Techfest
was held in an exhibition space with displays from all over Australia and the
world, presenting the latest technology to assist blind and vision-impaired
South Australians. There were many different tables set out with options of
technology, such as magnifiers, screen-readers, braille machines, phone apps,
and gadgets, to make things easier around the home, as well as out in the
community. New models of hardware were updated with WiFi, which opened up the
option to connect to the internet, to keep the hardware up-to-date, as well as,
for example, download and print documents by connecting online. The event was
hands-on, with attendees able to try many products for themselves to see if
they might benefit.
Techfest
also had 3 seminars with guest speakers giving talks about different products
inside the home, in the community and the latest in technology. Coming all the
way from the USA, Assistive Technology Expert, Content Creator & the TechFest ambassador Samuel Seavey, talked about exciting advances in technology. Sam, the founder and creator of The
Blind Life YouTube Channel, who developed an early onset form of macular
degeneration, and was legally blind by his mid-teens, gave a presentation on
the future of Assistive Technology.
Sam spoke about some mind-blowing opportunities and we were presented
with the Envision Glasses. We were shown how the glasses use a wide-angle
camera to scan the area in front of you with scene detection. There is further
advancement with the use of ChatGPT (AI) where you can interact with the
glasses to ask questions. You are even able to interact with the glasses by
asking questions about the scene, plus you are able to contact up to 10 allies
via the glasses, where your ally can view the scene that you are in! What a
great way to get out of a sticky situation when you may be disoriented or
require further assistance to give you a live description of what’s in your
environment!
I encourage you to check out a
great review Sam has produced on his Youtube channel The Blind Life – Link
here: Envision Glasses Just Got Better!!
Plus
check out Sam’s website: The Blind Life (Sam Seavey):
https://theblindlife.net/
You can also seek more information on the Envision Glasses via Pacific
Visions website:
smart glasses for the blind and vision impaired
(1lowvision.com)
With so many displays at TechFest from many suppliers around Australia
and the world, the list is long on the technology, applications and equipment
available. It is clear that technology is advancing at a rapid pace, and
despite the concerns those may have with the use of A.I., the opportunities to
gain and maintain your independence is endless, and going in such a hopeful and
positive direction.
Some other highlights that Sam touched on for the future in adaptive
technology equipment & software were:
• Wayfinding technology: Improving indoor navigation such as virtual
corridors giving you an aid to navigate your surroundings;
• Haptic technology: Haptic clothing will use haptic technology which
essentially is the use of touch sensations a.k.a. vibrations via a wearable
small device that is installed on your clothing to send a signal to the spot of
impact which reaffirms direction and to avoid an obstacle in your way;
• Robot guide dogs: Enabling both a mobility and guide aid given that some are
designed almost the size of a suitcase or small walker with multiple wheels,
about the size of a baby’s pram – check out the link: Seamless Vision - Buddy - A new
kind of Guide for the Blind and Visually Impaired - YouTube, however it must be reiterated
that these robots cannot replace the companionship, intelligent disobedience
that a dog can provide a person who is blind.
Check out these suppliers and their products, who were present at the
TechFest:
See Differently with Royal Society for the Blind - https://www.seedifferently.org.au/
Pentronics - https://www.pentronics.com.au/
NV Access - https://www.nvaccess.org/
BindiMaps - https://bindimaps.com/
Sage Automation - https://www.sageautomation.com/
Eschenbach - https://eschenbach.com/
Magnifiers Australia - https://magnifiersaustralia.com.au/
Ecept - https://ecept.com.au/
Humanware - https://www.humanware.com/en-australia/home
HIMS International - https://himsintl.com/en/index.php
Pacific Vision - https://au.1lowvision.com/
Quantum - https://www.quantumrlv.com.au/
Visitech Magnifiers - https://visitechmagnifiers.com.au/
Members, if you are
looking to explore any devices or software that are exclusively for people with low
vision, please do reach out to Business Support Officer Sandra
Gesuato by phoning 8367 6088. Once you
have obtained a quote from your supplier you may choose to apply directly via
our new online form here: SPF Adaptive Technology Subsidy Application Form where you can upload your supplier quote during the
application process.
The Beyond Blindness
Adaptive Equipment /Technology subsidy is intended to assist full members gain
and maintain independence in daily living, study or employment. A subsidy may be paid to assist
with the cost of purchase of equipment or aids made or software that come
standard with adaptions for the blind. This does not include hardware such as
computers/screens or laptops. A subsidy of fifty (50) percent of the cost price
may be paid on items costing $100.00 or more up to a maximum subsidy of
$4000.00 over a 3-year period. These funds are
provided through Beyond Blindness fundraising activities including bequests and
donations.
We do our best to accommodate all
requests, but please note funds are limited and budgeted for, so it is
anticipated members will exhaust other specific government schemes where
available (Employment schemes, NDIS) before applying for funding through Beyond
Blindness.
As per our guidelines, all SPF payments are subject to member assessment and
funding availability and Remember: Please do
not proceed with purchasing items or engaging services before approval
is given by Beyond Blindness. Members
will not be reimbursed if these guidelines are not followed.
Sports:
Paul Cormack: Beyond Blindness Member Paul
Cormack has returned from the 2023 XIX (19th) Australian Masters Games hosted
in Adelaide from 7th 14th October 2023. Created by the Confederation
of Australian Sport in 1987, the Australian Masters Games is a week-long
festival of sport that brings together weekend warriors from around Australia,
and the world, to enjoy an extensive sport and social program.
Participating
in many tenpin bowling events, such as doubles, trios, and individual, Paul
came away with his hands full, winning a total of 9 medals: 6 gold and 3
bronze, competing in varied events, individually and in a team, depending on
the category. Paul has been bowling since 2014, quickly making a name for
himself in the Adelaide bowling scene, and participating in his first Masters
Games in 2016. He keeps his skills sharp by playing in a bowling league every
Monday night at Zone Bowling, competing against 10 other teams. Growing up,
Paul found ball sports hard to access, as he was blind, but he still had some
vision. Tenpin bowling was difficult but still the most accessible out of all
of the sports. Though he was happy to find the sport as it was a way to keep
fit and also be social, which Paul feels is vital way to stay healthy, both
mentally and physically.
Paul
demonstratively has the skill and talent to bowl ‘em over, and combined with
the Recreation and Personal Development Subsidy funded by Beyond Blindness, the
subsidy has made it easier for Paul to participate in these types of
competitive events. “The Recreation and Personal Development Subsidy helps ease
the financial pressure of participating in recreational and competitive sport,
because it covers the registration and game fee. I’m thankful for it, and I’m
also grateful to Beyond Blindness for supporting me,“ Paul says. He also
encourages more members to try bowling: “I’ve been able to make friends, both
blind and with vision, locally and interstate. But I’d definitely love to see
more vision-impaired people bowl in the Masters Games.” Well done Paul and
congratulations on your achievements!
If you
think you might benefit from the Beyond Blindness Recreation and Personal
Development Subsidy, or for more information, please contact Sandra Gesuato at
the Campbelltown office on 8367 6088.
To apply
online, go to: beyondblindness.org.au/financial-assistance and scroll down to “Recreation and Personal Development
Funding” and follow the information and link.
Alternatively, use this link to upload your application online: https://b1937.infoodle.com/form_process?g=78e769c1-50ef-4e85-aeed-02103f810995
Please
note: you must have your supplier/provider quote available to upload when
applying online, to attach with your application.
Being Blind
by Tony Doyle (book excerpt):
I’ve never had normal sight and for many years I’ve been
totally blind.
It’s not an uncommon plight, it effects .5 per cent of human kind.
We’re more capable than people think, some barriers are real, others in the
mind.
But, I function well at the kitchen sink and can cook whenever I feel inclined.
We’re frequently misunderstood and empathy can be hard to find.
There’s more I would do if I could but I don’t object to a bit of hard grind.
Blind people need more time than others especially when tasks are entwined.
But we often make better lovers so we don’t accept being unjustly maligned.
I don’t like being patronised but I like people who are genuinely kind.
We won’t be unfairly criticised, discarded or simply left behind.
So think again when you refer to blind folk, we don’t want false images
assigned.
If wrong impressions are what you evoke you can expect a poke in the eye from
the blind
THAT’S ME
A signed
copy of Tony’s book can be purchased from him at the reduced price of $30 by
emailing: tdoyle.visions@bigpond.com or calling on: 0 4 1 7 7 9 8 8 5 7
Below is
information about his book, ‘Vistas and Visions of a Blind Man’: This
collection of poems and sketches will take you on an intricate, winding journey
focussing on society, environment, science, politics, religion and many other,
often poignant, aspects of life. These poems contain critique, commentary, lots
of humour, pathos, absurdity and a degree of red alert.
Tony
Doyle’s poetic styles vary and references to blindness are sprinkled throughout
the book.
These poems
will entertain, challenge, amuse and perhaps even shock you. Some of them take
a critical look at modern life, recent cultural changes and possible future
scenarios. The widening gap between rich and poor is referred to in several
poems. The author considers it to be a dangerous and undealt with phenomenon of
the modern era. Other poems will cheer you up with a bit of irreverent and
quirky humour.
Leonore’s Cooking Corner:
Magic Peanut Butter Cookies
Prep time: 5 minutes, Cook: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
1 cup (270g) Peanut butter
½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
1 large egg
Method: Preheat the oven to 350 Fahrenheit (180 Celsius)
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Drop by level tablespoons
onto a baking paper lined baking sheet for 10 minutes. Cool briefly on the
baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
ANZAC Biscuits
With ANZAC Day upon us shortly, thought these might be nice to make to
share around. Prep: 20 minutes. Cook: 10 minutes
1 cup (90g) rolled oats
1 ¼ cups (175g) plain flour
1 cup (120g) unsweetened shredded coconut
¼ teaspoon salt
2/3 cup (150g) butter, softened
¼ (60ml) golden syrup
1 teaspoon baking soda
Method: Preheat the oven to 350 Fahrenheit (180 Celsius)
In a large bowl, combine the oats, flour, coconut, sugar and salt. Set aside. In
a saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter and golden syrup until the
butter has melted. Remove from heat and add the baking soda, stirring
briefly. The mixture should begin to
fizz. Immediately add the saucepan ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix
quickly until barely combined. Drop by tablespoon or small cookie scop onto a
baking paper lined or greased baking sheet and bake for 9 to 11 minutes. Cool
briefly on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool
completely.
Covid
Notice: IMPORTANT: We would like to remind
everyone that there is still the risk of catching Covid and bringing it to
Beyond Blindness activities and centres. For this reason we kindly ask that you
do not attend activities, volunteer, or come into the centres if you are sick,
feel unwell, or have any cold, flu or respiratory symptoms.
Donations: Did you know that Beyond Blindness is entirely self-funded?
We rely on the generous donations of our members and associates to fund support
services for blind and vision-impaired South Australians. If you would like to make
a donation, or information about leaving a bequest, please get in touch. Beyond
Blindness can also provide envelopes if you would like family and friends to
make a charity donation in your loved one’s honour.
We value any amount, big or small. Contact the office on 8 3 6 7 6 0 8 8 or
visit beyondblindness.org.au/donations/ for more information, or to donate online via PayPal. Your
contributions are greatly appreciated and will help change the lives of our
members.
Thank you to the following people who have recently donated to Beyond
Blindness: Estate of J. Holbrook, K. Whittington, M. Rahman, A. Ambegaonkar, S.
Pearson, N. Wajid, D. Jeffery, CJ & P Prior
Sign up to
our newsletter: Have you been enjoying
reading this newsletter? The Beyond Blindness newsletter is released 4 times
per year and is available in the following formats:
· Paper copy via post (standard or text only large
print)
· Email (standard or text only large print)
· CD (MP3 or WAV)
· MP3 email (listen on your phone, tablet or computer)
It’s the
best way to keep up to date with Beyond Blindness activities, news and what we
get up to. You can sign up with simply your name and best contact method, no
membership required. If you would like copies for your waiting room, or if you
need to reorder, please contact us also. Call us:
8 3 6 7 6 0 8 8 or email: marketing@beyondblindness.org.au
Feedback: We hope that you have been enjoying the latest Beyond
Blindness newsletter.
Do you have a short story (500 words or less), a short poem (25 lines or less),
gardening tips, joke, or even a yummy recipe etc you would like to share?
Would you
like to be interviewed as a member or volunteer to share your story? Have you
heard any news about anything that affects the South Australian blind and
vision-impaired community that you think should be published?
Please get
in touch - we would love to hear from you!
Your
contributions may be featured in a future edition of Beyond Blindness Magazine.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this edition. Call us: 8 3 6 7 6 0 8 8
Email:
marketing@beyondblindness.org.au
Or have a
chat next time you are at the Campbelltown office.
Thoughts on
improving services?
The Board
and Staff would welcome your input.
Feel free
to provide your feedback and ideas to:
info@beyondblindness.org.au
Speak to
your region’s Member Engagement Officer
Or phone the Campbelltown office on: 8 3 6 7 6 0 8 8
Follow us
on Facebook! For the latest news, photos, information about future events and
everything else about Beyond Blindness, follow us on Facebook.
facebook.com/beyondblindnessSA Or search for “Beyond Blindness”
Beyond
Blindness Activities Calendar
TERM 1:
JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH/APRIL 2024
Note:
During school holidays some activities may be paused.
Please take note of this activity schedule and contact your region’s Member
Engagement Officer for any queries or call the office: 8367 6088
School
holidays are: Thursday 21st December 2023 until Sunday 28th
January 2024 &
Saturday
13th April until Sunday 28th April 2024
Please
note: Easter long weekend may affect regular activities: Good Friday 29th
March until Easter Monday 1st April 2024
Extreme weather may affect activities and the policy can be
found at the end of this newsletter.
WEST
ACTIVITIES: TERM 1 2024
CONTACT
FRANK: MEMBER ENGAGEMENT OFFICER (WEST), PHONE: 0488 114 626
Tuesdays:
West/Central activity: VIP Dance. 1pm - 2pm
Tuesday
13th February, Tuesday 27th February
Tuesday
12th March, Tuesday 26th March
Thursdays:
West/Central activity: Sailing at the Royal Yacht Squadron: Thursday 21st March
2024 (To Be Confirmed)
West/Central/East/South
activity: Tandem Bike & Café Lunch: Thursday 22nd February 2024
Fridays: Western Social Group
Friday 16th February 2024: Lunch at the Rex Hotel.
Friday 15th March 2024:
Walk around West Lakes & lunch Lakes Resort
Friday 19th
April 2024: School holidays
Saturdays: Western Social Group
Saturday 3rd February 2024: Lunch at Challa Gardens Hotel
Saturday 2nd March 2024: Walk & lunch at the Bartley Tavern
Saturday 6th April 2024: Walk then lunch at the Bay
Sundays: Young Adults Group
Sunday 11th February 2024: Walk around the Bay then lunch
Sunday 10th March 2024: Day trip to McLaren Vale
Sunday 14th April 2024: School Holidays
CENTRAL/EAST
ACTIVITIES: TERM 1 2024
CONTACT:
MARIAN: MEMBER ENGAGEMENT OFFICER:
(CENTRAL/EAST):
8367 6088
Mondays:
Gentle Walk & Lunch, 10am - 2:30pm
Monday 29th January & Monday 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th February & Monday
4th, 11th, 18th, 25th March & Monday 8th, 29th April 2024. Venues:
Semaphore, Mawson Lakes, Oakden Park, Thorndon Park, River Torrens
Tuesdays:
Activity 1: Golf & Lunch, 10am - 2pm
Tuesday 30th January & Tuesday 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th February & Tuesday
5th, 12th, 19th, 26th March
& Tuesday 2nd, 9th April 2024
Venue: Valley View Golf Course
Activity 2:
West/Central activity: VIP Dance: 1pm - 2pm
Tuesday 13th February, Tuesday 27th February,
Tuesday 12th March, Tuesday 26th March 2024
To sign up to the dancing, contact Frank:
0488 114 626 or 8367 6088
Wednesdays:
Activity 1: Craft & Chat, 10am - 1pm
Wednesday 31st January
& Wednesday 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th February
& Wednesday 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th March
& Wednesday 3rd, 10th April 2024
Venue: Campbelltown Social Centre
Activity 2: Bingo, 1pm - 2pm
Wednesday 31st January & Wednesday 14th, 28th February
& Wednesday 13th, 27th March & Wednesday 10th April 2024
Venue: Campbelltown Social Centre
Activity 3: Wednesday Walks (7km walk)
10am - 4pm: Various Locations
*Please note Wednesday Walks will be cancelled when it coincides with week of
Trips
Dates: Wednesday 31st January
& Wednesday 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th February
& Wednesday 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th March
& Wednesday 3rd, 10th April 2024
Thursdays:
10 pin bowling at Woodville & Lunch at Tavern 540,
10:30am - 2:30pm: Thursday 1st February
& Thursday 7th March 2024
Nairne Day
Tour (To Be Confirmed):
Thursday 8th February 2024
Seniors
Group Gathering at Campbelltown Social Centre:
Coffee and Chat for 70 years and above
10:30am - 12:30pm: Thursday 15th February 2024
Central/East/West/South
Activity: Tandem Bike & Café Lunch:
Thursday 22nd February 2024
Tech Talk: Assistive
technology for communications on both Android and Apple devices.
To Be Confirmed: Thursday 29th February 2024
Garden
Grove Gardening Centre & Lunch at Cafe de Grove: 10.30am to 2.30pm:
Thursday 14th March 2024
Seniors
Group Gathering at Campbelltown Social Centre
Coffee and Chat for 70 years and above
10:30am - 12:30pm: Thursday 21st March 2024
Apple
Picking at Lenswood: Thursday 28th March 2024
AFL Gather
Round at Campbelltown:
Thursday 4th April 2024
Adelaide Crows vs Melbourne Demons: Evening
Seniors
Group Gathering at Campbelltown Social Centre
Coffee and Chat for 70 years and above
10:30am - 12:30pm: Thursday 11th April 2024
Fridays:
Book
Club with Campbelltown Library
10am – 12pm
Friday 2nd February 2024
Desserts
with Leonore & Deb: Cooking Demo
10.30am – 12.30pm
Friday 8th March 2024
Himeji
Japanese Gardens
Central South Terrace & Glen Osmond Rd
Friday 12th April 2024
NORTH
ACTIVITIES: TERM 1 2024
NORTHERN
OUTREACH
CONTACT: CAMPBELLTOWN OFFICE 8 3 6 7 6 0 8 8
Monday 5th
February: Bakery Lunch
Meet at Gawler Office, 11am
Monday 19th
February: Exchange Hotel, Gawler, 12pm
Monday 4th
March: Birkenhead Tavern, Port Adelaide, 12pm
Monday 18th
March: Bingo, Gawler Office, 10am
Monday 1st
April: Glenelg Surf Club, Glenelg, 12pm
Monday 15th
April: McQueens Tavern, Angle Park, 12pm
Monday 29th
April: Music Sing-a-long, Gawler Office, 12pm
COUNTRY
MUSIC
CONTACT: JOAN SNOWBALL: 0 4 2 0 7 9 4 1 0 2
Sundays:
February 18th, March 17th, April 21st 2024
Country Music: 9am onwards
Playford Country Music Club: Elizabeth Downs
Open to all members, depending on pick-up location and transport resources
available.
BEYOND
BLINDNESS GAWLER LOW VISION GROUP
CONTACT:
JOAN SNOWBALL: 0 4 2 0 7 9 4 1 0 2
Please
note: This group is at capacity with transport so anyone wanting to join in
needs to arrange their own transport. Spaces may be limited. Contact Joan
Snowball for further information.
Friday 2nd
February: Gawler meeting, Meet at Elderly Centre, 10am
Friday 16th
February: Disability Showroom, Meet at Elderly Centre, 10am
Friday 1st
March: Gawler meeting, Meet at Elderly Centre, 10am
Friday 15th
March: Grenville Hub, Meet at Elderly Centre, 10am
Friday 29th
March: Good Friday (no meeting)
Friday 12th
April: Belair Hotel, Meet at Elderly Centre, 10am
SOUTH
ACTIVITIES: TERM 1 2024
CONTACT: JEREMY:
PHONE: 8 5 5 6 6 2 2 8
MEMBER
ENGAGEMENT OFFICER (SOUTH)
These dates
and details are subject to change. Please contact Jeremy or Christine at the
Southern Office to confirm activities and venues.
JANUARY 2024: No
activities for Southern Group
FEBRUARY 2024:
Tuesday 6th February: Social Group: Music and the year ahead
Tuesday 13th February: Craft Group: Office
Wednesday 14th February: Blackwood Coffee Group
Tuesday 20th February: Bus Trip:
Semaphore and Palais for lunch
Thursday 22nd February: West/Central/East/South activity: Tandem
Bike & Café Lunch
Monday 26th February: Conversation Corner:
Finnis Street Café, Marion
MARCH 2024:
Tuesday 5th March: Social Group: Port Noarlunga Arts
Tuesday 12th March: Craft Group
Wednesday 13th March: Blackwood Coffee Group
Tuesday 19th March: Bus Trip Inman Valley:
Belicious for Lunch
Monday 25th March: Conversation Corner:
Finnis Street Café, Marion
APRIL 2024:
Tuesday 2nd April: Social group: Guest speaker
Tuesday 9th April: Craft Group
Wednesday 10th April: Blackwood Coffee Group
Tuesday 16th April: Bus Trip: Wittunga National Park,
lunch at Flagstaff Hill Hotel
Monday 29th April: Conversation Corner:
Finnis Street Café, Marion
VICTOR HARBOR GROUPS: TERM 1 2024
CONTACT: JEREMY (SOUTHERN MEO):
PHONE: 8 5 5 6 6 2 2 8
Talking
Books at Victor Harbor Library:
Monday 19th February,
Monday 18th March
Monday 15th April 2024
Every
Tuesday: Goolwa Men’s Coffee and Chat:
10am - 11.30am, Café Goolwa Shopping Centre
ADELAIDE
HILLS ACTIVITIES
TERM 1 2024
CONTACT: FRANK MEMBER ENGAGEMENT OFFICER (ADELAIDE HILLS): 8367 6088 or 0488
114 626
Thursday
29th February 2024:
Lunch at Bridge Port Hotel, Murray Bridge
Thursday
28th March 2024:
Lunch at Old Mill Hotel, Mt Barker
TRAVEL CLUB
TERM 1 2024
CONTACT: WENDY CARTER 0408 082 524
or BEYOND BLINDNESS: 8367 6088
Saturday
10th February 2024:
Movie at Wallis Cinema Mt Barker,
Movie name: The Boys in the Boat, Lunch at Lobethal Hotel
Saturday
9th March 2024:
Victor Harbor Horse Drawn Tramway and Granite Island
Lunch locally
Saturday
13th April 2024: Adelaide Zoo
BYO lunch or buy at the Zoo
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please note:
· All members are welcome to attend any activity, in
any location in Adelaide, depending on transport and resources availability.
·
All activities are subject
to change and a minimum number of sign up
·
Some activities may have
fees involved
·
Transport may be provided
for members living within predetermined radius. For members who are living
outside of the radius, alternative central pick-up locations can be arranged,
subject to availability
· Regular activities may take a break during the
school holiday period – please refer to the activity calendar for details
· Contact the appropriate regional Member Engagement
Officer for any clarification about activities during the holidays or any
general questions.
• Refer to ‘Extreme Weather
Policy’ on next page regarding the weather and how it may affect activities
EXTREME
WEATHER POLICY
UPDATED: 29th June 2023
32 degrees
and over:
•
No working guide dogs
outside
38 degrees
and over:
• Small
jobs and members home visits to be cancelled and rescheduled
• All
outdoor activities, Travel Clubs and regional trips will be cancelled except
for metropolitan activities. E.g. craft & bingo using air conditioned
vehicles to and from
40 degrees
and over:
• All
Beyond Blindness member services cancelled
• Staff
will still be in office on these days
Please
Note:
•
Activities are subject to change depending on extreme weather conditions (e.g.
heat, severe storm warning, or flood alert, etc)
• The
health and safety of staff, volunteers and members is essential at all times,
but particularly during extreme weather