RBS client and worker, Michael Simpson, uses his white cane to navigate the balcony at the RBS offices in Enfield.B/W photographMichael Simpsonwhite cane day, royal blind society of new south wales, michael simpson

A man is learning to use a Hoover long cane with the assistance of a woman wearing a white coat.B/W photographMobility training - the long cane or Hoover cane Newly blind man aged 45 (light perception) learning to use correct grasp of Hoover long canewhite cane day, royal blind society of new south wales

An older gentleman is assisted with using a white cane, by a younger female, in the gardens outside the Alexis Albert Hostel in Sydney.5 B/W photographs of older man using a white caneMobility - historical Alexis Albert hostelwhite cane day, royal blind society of new south wales, alexis albert hostel

A man uses a white cane crossing a street at night in Newcastle. His cane reflects the photographer's flash and is illuminated against the dark night.Black and white photograph of a man using a white cane at nightOrientation and mobility at night - Newcastle Please return to RBSwhite cane day, royal blind society of new south wales

To reach clients who can not come into the RBS offices in Enfield, a field service was provided. Cars were sometimes donated by charitable organisations, such as the Lions Club. Julie Lazarus, an RBS Field Officer, is shown entering a Gemini which has the Lions logo and "Presented by, Lions Blind Appeal, Royal Blind Society, Field Welfare Service, 747-6622" on the driver side door.2 photographs (1 B/W & 1 col.) of woman about to step inside car parked in Enfield drivewayJulie Lazarus, Field Welfare Officer, File: Field Services Julie Lazarus, RBS Field Officer, with car presented by Lions.royal blind society of new south wales, julie lazarus, lions club

A female with a white cane is standing with another female at the head of stairs, possibly at RBS Enfield.1 B/W photograph of two woman in stairway, one using a white caneFile: Field Servicesroyal blind society of new south wales, white cane day, orientation and mobility

A man uses a long fixed cane to ascend steps to a church.1 B/W photograph of man ascending church stepsMobility - historical Negative number: 8/70103royal blind society of new south wales, white cane day, orientation and mobility

A bearded man walks on a grassy area next to the RBS building in Enfield, having just walked past a couple holding hands.2 B/W photographs of man using white caneFile: Skills Training - O&M 88-7 A white cane provides blind people with early warning of obstacles. S-129, bottom picture of page 3 Gordon Tibbles, PR Officer RBSroyal blind society of new south wales, white cane day, orientation and mobility

A group of ladies sit around a table, rubbing make up products into their face. One lady, in the foreground, is receiving a facial massage.1 B/W photograph of woman sitting and rubbing lotion on their faces12 A recreation - William Streetroyal blind society of new south wales, recreation

A mid-twenties male uses a white cane to navigate a footpath on a busy road.1 x B/W photograph of man using white caneFile: Skills Training - O&M A white cane provides blind people with early warning of obstacles. Using a white cane for mobility.royal blind society of new south wales, white cane day, orientation and mobility

Andrew walks along an external building verandah using a sonic guide and white cane.1 x B/W photograph of man walking with assistive devicesFile: Skills Training - O&M A white cane provides blind people with early warning of obstacles. (Andrew is also wearing a sonic guide in glasses.) Walking with the aid of sonic guide glasses. Technology for blind people at the Royal Blind Society. Credit: Rankin/1987royal blind society of new south wales, white cane day

An ultrasonic torch sends out a high frequency beam that bounces off items in it's path and sends back signals to an ear piece worn by the user. A change in sound indicates the nearness of an object, and it was (at the time) thought to be a possible replacement for white canes in the future. In this image, a man descends steps at the William Street building of RBS, using the torch to guide him.B/W photograph of man using torch6/68049 Ultrasonic torch being used at the Royal Blind Society.royal blind society of new south wales, orientation and mobility

Articles in the annual report include: the opening of the new building at Burwood (Enfield) and the facilities it provides, including a bowling green, swimming pool and rooms for specialist areas such as orientation and mobility and music braille; the need for the new building, publication of a booklet 'The Pre-School Child who is blind', the development of rehabilitation services for those who are unable to visit the new site and the introduction of Mark IV talking book machines.1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

Articles in the annual report include: the expenses incurred due to increased client numbers and wages rises, the need and inability to sell the Woollahra (Helen Keller hostel) site, the success of the fledging Reference Library seen as a model for other organisations, Matron Scott (Victor Maxwell nursery) received an M.B.E., plans to develop 3 more day centres to add to the five already operating, operations undertaken in the workshop, continued demand for places at Alexis Albert and Lighthouse hostels, recognition through the renaming of 2UW Blind Appeal to the 2UW Lions Blind Appeal which has been run since 1952, blind bowlers looking forward to being on the green at Enfield, Cricket club looking forward to when tip in Mitchell St is filled in so that it can be made into a home ground, and the collaborative relationship had with other blindness related organisations.1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

Articles in the annual report include: death of General Manager Ian Burnet, expenditure exceeding income, need to sell Woolahra (Helen Keller hostel) property, goal of opening 20 new Day centres by the end of 1975, plans to establish Occupational Therapy Training unit, review of aging hostels and restructure workshop, growth of Mitchell Street Theatre, increase of children with more than sight loss at nursery, decision to establish reading competition in memorial to Barbara Rutherford and awarding of Churchill Fellowship to Joan Ledermann for a review of Braille production units overseas.1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

Articles in the annual report include: rising costs, reduced subsidies, first ever statewide 'Door Knock' appeal conducted, 15 Day Centres now running, Occupational Therapy student unit established, play group and toy library established at Enfield, decision to conduct regular Art Unions, belief that some income should be forthcoming from disposal of Woolahra (Helen Keller hostel), winners of the first nation wide Braille reading competition and decision to make this a bi-annual event and success of three athletes (Szelko Mikulic, James Whitney and Michael Simpson) at the FESPIC games.1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

Articles in the annual report include: the reduced subsidies provided by government and the increased need for public support, success of family counselling and support programs have reduced numbers at nursery and kindergarten, plans for Low Vision Clinic, reconditioning and assembly of bicycles in workshop, retirement of Matron Scott and Mrs McCallum (heads of Victor Maxwell nursery and Sandy Robertson kindergarten respectively), continued success of Mitchell Street Theatre, and all the NSW blind participants who attended the Toronto Olympiad won medals.1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

Articles in the annual report include: increased funding from state government, possibility of sustained funding in providing a public library service, success of low vision clinic and need to increase opening times to accommodate demand, decision to move to standard cassette, change in direction by providing support for children to stay in family unit and community kindergartens rather than placement in a separate kindergarten program or residential care, introduction of Closed Circuit TVs into the workshop, winning a 2 year contract with Australia Post to provide bicycles and an order from Dubbo Zoo for family cycles and tandems, formation of RPH with a trial broadcast and radio license application made, and the Society held it's first Open Day.1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

Articles in the annual report include: establishment of the Charter for the Eighties committee to develop on the role and direction for the organisation, decision to close Alexis Albert Hostel and move residents to Lighthouse Hostel Roselands or cottage style accommodation due to increasing repair costs, increased demand for field service (but not funding) and standard cassettes from the library, new Braille production unit shared with RIDBC, further bicycle order for Dubbo Zoo, large order for PVC sleeves justified new PVC welding equipment, Talking Book of the Year award and "Art in Touch" exhibition (both created to celebrate 100th birthday in 1980) will continue, and departure of Graeme Bradshaw, Jack Chamberlain and Mavis Threlfo.1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

Articles in the annual report include: opening two field offices in Riverina and North Coast, C.L.D. Mears awarded in awarded Companion of Order of Australia, Technical Aids for the Disabled provided switchboard simulators for vocational training programs, review of Lighthouse and Community Cottages is required, Roselands Nursing Home cared for 104 residents, installation of computerised book and circulation system, the workshop area began trading as Mitchell Manufacturing, and the creation of a biennial Royal Blind Society National Sculpture award sponsored by James Hardie and the Visual Arts Board. Please note: page 21 is not scanned. Titled 'Extra curricular involvement of staff' the Braille on the reverse side impacted upon the visibility of the text.1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

Articles in the annual report include: retirement of Graham Lawrence and appointment of Jon Isaacs, death of Dr Sandy Robertson, pilot Traineeship Access Course for school leavers was developed, library involved in organising IFLA Specialist section meeting, introduction of face to face proofreading for talking books, Dr Max Lang donated his personal collection of optometry books, Maths Braille Code revised with input from Betty Smith and RBS staffers, increase of braille produced through microbraille program, Paul Cullen Centre opened on October 28, 1987 with two levels of care via Burgess Hostel and Roselands Nursing Home, closure of Lighthouse Hostel in Burwood and small cottage style hostels in Enfield and Strathfield, introduction of new lines in manufacturing (skirthanger, Miyata bicycle), Variety Club of Australia continue their support for a national children book collection, 3M Australia sponsored upgrade of studios and Talking Book of the Year award, Jillian Hallam won Sports Girl - for all Women in Sport award and Inge King's 'Awakening' won the Bicentennial RBS Sculpture award.1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

Articles in the annual report include: the building of a new library section at Enfield, transfer of Mitchell Manufacturing to Australian Foundation for Disabled, establishment of Orana regional office in Dubbo, talking local newspaper project launched with Talking Daily Liberal (Dubbo) and Talking Wentworth Courier (Sydney) piloted, four graduates of Rehabilitation Teachers course were funded by the Florence Cecily Singer Trust, one studio equipped with second generation voice indexer in conjunction with Canadian inventor, from 1990 all Braille production will be done in-house, tactile Christmas cards produced for the first time in 1989, financial decision made to consolidate accommodation services (Roselands Nursing Home and Burgess House) on the one site, two new donors clubs established (Cassette Club and Talking Book Club), and formation of Junior Black & White Committee.1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

Articles in the annual report include: official opening of a new library building at Enfield, over 1 million items circulated in the library, passing of Sir Robert Drew and Nola Dekyvere, first production of Il Globo and launched by Prime Minister Bob Hawke, launch of Bookline - a telephone ordering service for talking books and winning the first Australian Audio Book Award for Children's Books for The Clinker narrated by Bill Conn. 1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

Articles in the annual report include: launch of Vision Assist service to help people use their remaining sight, providing advice on Olympic and Paralympic accessibility and providing an audio description service to the associated arts festivals, establishment of VocalEyes Productions, became an RTO (Recognised Training Organisation), joining with RVIB library service, launch of JobPhone, and piloting of Braille Week.1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

Dame Mary Gilmour was an Australian writer who became a patron of the Blind Book Society in New South Wales.Digital image of metal plaque"These studios were opened on August 15th 1958 A date especially chosen to coincide With the celebration of the 93rd anniversary of the birth of Dame Mary Gilmour Patron of The Blind Book Society."royal blind society of new south wales, dame mary gilmour

Male sits at a desk, wearing a headset, with his hands on a telephone switchboard and another device to his right. A small black radio sits to his right, as does a pen attached to the desk itself and a piece of paper. Switchboard training was provided to many blind and vision impaired people, who could adeptly operate the switch to connect callers through to employees.Digital image of man operating a telephone exchangeemployment, royal blind society of new south wales

Female holds a cassette tape whilst looking at a sheet of paper in her other hand. The tape has been pulled from a cardboard box which has a reference number (eg: C90), a title and the sequential number (Side 5) listed on the front side of the box. Multiple boxes are nestled on wooden shelves, each with a black band that is attached below the box to assist in pulling them on and off the shelves. Books on cassettes were physically bulky and were stored separately for easy retrieval and return when borrowers were done. When a tape was dispatched, the requisite number of cassettes were removed and placed into mailing pouches for dispatch. Upon return, the cassettes were placed in individual boxes, that allowed staff to retrieve selected parts of a book if needed or incomplete books were returned. Underneath the image is written "Up to date talking book cassette library". Digital image of woman holding a cassette taperoyal blind society of new south wales, talking books

1. Male sits at a desk with a Wang computer terminal in front of him and Optacon device to his left. The Optacon was a device that allowed printed material to be turned into Braille through the use of a small camera connected to a vibrating array that produced the Braille. To his right is a cassette recorder, another computer and recorder, whilst a long cane rests against a wall. The man is possibly wearing a sonic guide and listening to the cassette whilst he types on to the screen. 2. Male sits in an office with an Opticon to his left, which he is using, and a manual typewriter in front of him. The typewriter has the camera of the Opticon clamped into position over the typewriter. Behind the man is a reception desk, with a bell and small switchboard visible on upper counter of the desk, and a coffee mug, portable cassette recorder, telephone books and piles of paper stacked neatly under the upper counter.Digital image taken from pictures on chipboard15 - Group with 13, 14 please - no caption available 12 - Group with 13, Optacon captionemployment, royal blind society of new south wales

An older female and male sit either side of a desk. The lady holds a pen and a sheet of large print music in front of her, with a small pile of similar sheets to her right. The man holds a pen and looks at sheets of paper (presumably music) whilst sitting next to a box with the title 'Family Fun Box Organ course' to his left. In the background are filing racks, The Australian Hymn book and Braille volumes in various bindings. Over time, the RBS built up a considerable music collection thanks to the work of its dedicated supporters such as Dulcie Magnus.Digital image of two people working together to produce braille music Second century 24royal blind society of new south wales, braille music

Framed certificate. "This diploma is awarded to Tonkin Zulaikha Harford, client: Royal Blind Society of NSW for new Library services building, Royal Blind Society of NSW, Enfield in recognition of an architectural work of outstanding merit by the jury appointed to select buildings which most deserve this recognition among those nominated for an award in the year 1990 in the area of the New South Wales chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects." Embossed with the seal of the chapter and signed by the Chairman of the Jury and the President of the NSW chapter.Digital image of framed award for architectureroyal blind society of new south wales, award