News
- September 11 survivor a success
- Braille tea parties
- Braille menus
- Obituaries
- Outward Bound course
- Zonta fashion show
- The Gabriel Trust brings us Christmas joy
- Lion's share
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September 11 survivor a success
The Michael Hingson event series was an immense success with Michael Hingson and guide dog Roselle raising over $200,000 and generating a high level of media coverage for Guide Dog Services.
Braille tea parties
Following on from the success of the very first "Braille Tea Party" held in Dunedin in May this year, two more tea parties have taken place in Hamilton and Rotorua.
The tea parties celebrate the achievements of braille learners and are a chance for those who are learning or using braille on a regular basis to share experiences.
"It's also a time to socialise and enjoy each other's company," says Julie Woods-Dalloway, braille literacy co-ordinator.
Braille menus
Eight New Zealand secondary school students beat contestants from 14 other countries to win the gold medal in the Young Enterprise Olympics held in June this year.
Each team had 24 hours to come up with an innovative product that would improve the quality of life for disabled people. The concept that won our students first place was a restaurant menu with braille for blind and vision impaired people.
Their presentation was delivered with 30 seconds to spare.
Obituaries
Leslie Richard Hunt
Eighty-year-old Foundation member Les Hunt died in July.
Les served as a signalman during World War II, where his sight began to deteriorate while in Egypt through sun and sand. But his vision impairment didn't hinder him from playing bowls. Les represented New Zealand as part of the Blind Bowling team that went to Australia in 1988 and won a silver medal at the World Blind Lawn Bowls in Zimbabwe in 1989.
He was at least five times champion of the New Zealand Blind Indoor Bowls Federation and won many championship bars at club level, in Rangitikei, and in Manawatu bowls (against sighted bowlers).
Les was also a keen gardener. He delighted in growing vegetables to give away to friends and neighbours.
Phyllis Cooper
The dynamic Phyllis Cooper passed away in July at the age of 88. Her achievements include co-founding News Tape in the Waikato, a weekly audiotape news service. Phyllis, who retired as chairperson of News Tape in 2001, revelled in technology-at 86 she was a wizard of spreadsheet, database and computer graphics and was renowned for her superb organisational skills. Mrs Cooper left the RNZFB a small legacy.
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Outward Bound course
A course for blind and vision impaired people is being held from 2-9 March 2004. To register your interest please contact Marina Hanger, RNZFB Dunedin recreation advisor on 03 466 4237 or email mhanger
Zonta fashion show
The RNZFB is thrilled to be the recipient charity of Extraordinary Fashion 2003, the ZONTA Club of metropolitan Dunedin's fourth annual fashion show.
Held on 10 September, the show features many of New Zealand's top designers, and will showcase the 2003 spring and summer collections of Tanya Carlson, Nom D., Dot Com and Toni Darling.
Proceeds from the evening will fund a pilot programme for blind and vision impaired women in Otago called Inner Strength, Outer Beauty. These workshops will cover personal presentation, self-esteem and women's health issues. Tickets cost $55 each and are available from Ange Benoit, regional fundraising manager on 03 466 4239. (See also the beauty hints and tips on page 14 of this issue.)
The Gabriel Trust brings us Christmas joy
Providing talented vision impaired singers with an opportunity to shine, the Gabriel Trust's Festival of Christmas concert will be held on 7 December. Two talented young sopranos, Melodie Breuer and Korean-born Ju Hyeon Han will be performing again. Other performers include the North Shore Youth Orchestra, the South Auckland Choral Society, the Auckland Youth Choir and the North Shore Children's Choir. The event will be held at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $2 for children, if purchased before 31 October. For bookings phone 09 627 8551, or purchase tickets from RNZFB's Avril Baxter, phone 09 355 6896. Proceeds will go to the RNZFB.
Lion's share
In April the Lion Foundation gave $240,000 to the RNZFB to support Guide Dog Services, rehabilitation services, the Adaptive Technology Unit in Auckland and Peer Support programmes for blind and vision impaired children and teenagers. Mark Forshaw, General Manager and Trustee of the Lion Foundation said, "In our view there are few more worthy causes than the Foundation of the Blind and we are very pleased to be able to substantially increase our support for the Foundation this year." With such a generous donation the Foundation will be putting the money to good use.