Profiles
- Focus on employment
- The Foundation's new directors
- Geoff Gibbs, deputy chair
- Jillian Mills nee Dalby
- Linda Beck
- Braille sculpture "steels" itself in Wellington wind
- Frank Claridge retires
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Focus on employment
V.I.P. Lawn Mowing Services is a close clip with a difference. RNZFB member Shane Stratton set up the business earlier this year with support from his wife Vicki and funding from Workbridge under the Self-Start programme. He offers Palmerston North residents weed eating and lawn mowing. Vicki assists with the driving and before Shane gets started she gives the lawns a visual check for stones. Shane's main technique is to start off on a straight line and then he can see the ground a little ahead of the mower.
He works about six hours a day and maintains his equipment on wet days, sharpening blades and changing oil. Rainy days are also good for advertising his services.
"I enjoy the challenge of being my own boss and working outdoors," he says. "Time organisation and commitment are also important."
Shane has two children and has been a member of the Foundation since he was eight.
Vocational employment advisors are:
Auckland - Eleanor Wicks ph 09 355 6879; Hamilton - Bob Wicks ph 07 838
7516; Wellington - Shirley Hampton ph 04 380 2149;
Christchurch-Stephanie Lange ph 03 375 4319; Dunedin - Paula Waby ph 03
466 4250.
The Foundation's new directors
In this issue we profile four of our nine talented and experienced board directors. Profiles of the remaining five will be in the December issue of Outlook.
Don McKenzie, chair
Don was elected as Jonathan Mosen's deputy and took over the chairperson's role when Jonathan resigned in June. Don has over 50 years of active involvement in the Foundation, almost half of those as a board member. From 1980 to 1992 he was chair of the board.
Don's ability to commit to his passions is also highlighted by his 40-year career as a self-employed physiotherapist, with a particular interest in rehabilitation and disability issues. Now retired, he lives on Waiheke Island with his wife Rosemary. They have two children and four grandchildren.
Geoff Gibbs, deputy chair
Geoff was CEO of the Foundation for 20 years-from 1977 to 1997.
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Before being appointed he obtained a specialist degree in education and rehabilitation of the blind in the US and has recently gained a DLitt from the University of Northern Colorado.
Geoff has been involved in international blindness-related activities since the early 80s, as regional president and treasurer of the World Blind Union and as a project and audit consultant in a number of countries.
Born in Nelson, Geoff now lives in Auckland. He is a JP and Officer of the NZ Order of Merit.
Jillian Mills nee Dalby
Jillian is a lifelong member of the Foundation who is vision impaired. She has a BA from Canterbury University, trained as a teacher and was one of the first blind or vision impaired teachers in this country.
In 1995, having raised three daughters, Jillian was appointed as an English for Speakers of Other Languages teacher at Feilding High School. She is now in charge of the department. In past years Jillian has been an active volunteer in her local community and a founding member of the Feilding Community Committee of the Foundation.
Linda Beck
Linda was born blind and now has partial vision in one eye. A qualified lawyer with a Masters degree in employment and human rights law, Linda is currently completing a PhD researching personal grievances and the Employment Tribunal. She is a past chair of the Association of Blind Citizens Christchurch branch and is involved in a number of disability groups and review boards including Workbridge and the Assembly of People with Disabilities. Linda also volunteers her time at the Christchurch Community Law Centre.
Braille sculpture "steels" itself in Wellington wind
The last place you might expect to experience reading Braille is in the Wellington wind on the surface of a steel sculpture.
Invisible City is exactly that: a 2.4 metre high Braille sculpture installed in May this year. It's on the corner of Grey Street and Lambton Quay.
The inspiration of sculptor Anton Parsons and blind writer/lecturer Peter Beatson, Invisible City is their third collaboration. The second, Gone Fishing, has a permanent home in Auckland's PricewaterhouseCoopers Tower
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and the first, Guide, is in a private collection. Guide explored the intimate connection Peter had with his first guide dog "great guardian, guide and garbage guts" Ina. His much-loved second guide dog Paisley died at the time Anton asked him to write the text for Invisible City. The word made flesh can bleed. Am I bound or freed? ...
Betrayed by the wind
My sonic charts destroyed
Tethered sign to skin
I am both bound and freed.
"My wife has stood watching people run their hands over it." Peter says. "Apparently it looks impressive too. It's a shame there's no print version alongside it though." Peter learned Braille in the 1960s, from Foundation tutor Ray Brown, when he lost his sight at age 17. Today his ancient Perkins Brailler machine still sits beside him on his desk.
Frank Claridge retires
The Foundation sadly farewelled Treasurer Frank Claridge in July who, during his tenure has influenced, implemented and witnessed numerous positive changes that have enhanced the lives of our members.
After becoming general manager in 1984, Frank established the Bledisloe Estate Trust and initiated and implemented the Foundation's first computerisation project in 1985. This established the nationwide regional network to link the organisation, effectively streamlining the Foundation's services to its members. Perhaps the legacy Frank is most delighted to be associated with is the new member-driven governance model that is now guiding the Foundation.
And while he has played an active role at the Foundation, Frank has also maintained an equally active interest in the Methodist Church, as a Justice of the Peace and a marriage celebrant. In recognition of his work, in 2002 Frank was named Trustee of the Year by the New Zealand Trustee Association.
Frank's position as Treasurer is being ably filled by corporate services divisional manager Geoff Warne who was appointed to the role at the end of July.
Frank's qualifications are: JP, BCom (Victoria University), CA, ACIS, MFINZ, NZIM, Institute of Legacy Management, NZTA.