Minutes of the fifth White Cane Day organising committee, chaired by Bryan Sitlington.26 pages of typed meeting minutes on white paperwhite cane day, bryan sitlington, kathleen buchannan, graeme rule, jan kerr, val whitehead, harold gration, national federation of blind citizens, royal guide dogs for the blind association, royal victorian eye & ear hospital, ross johnstone, villa maria society, mark jones, national guide dogs mobility training centre, camille wilkins, royal victorian institute for the blind, braille and talking book library, association for the blind

Minutes of the sixth White Cane Day organising committee, chaired by Bryan Sitlington.25 pages of typed meeting minutes on white paperwhite cane day, bryan sitlington, val whitehead, harold gration, royal guide dogs for the blind association, royal victorian eye & ear hospital, ross johnstone, villa maria society, mark jones, camille wilkins, sue fraser, bob gregory, sue hardy, chris anderson, royal victorian institute for the blind, braille and talking book library, association for the blind

Minutes of the seventh White Cane Day organising committee, chaired by Bryan Sitlington.33 pages of typed meeting minutes on white paperwhite cane day, bryan sitlington, val whitehead, harold gration, national federation of blind citizens, royal guide dogs for the blind association, ross johnstone, villa maria society, camille wilkins, sue fraser, iris whittaker, royal victorian institute for the blind, braille and talking book library, association for the blind

Minutes of the eighth White Cane Day organising committee, chaired by Bryan Sitlington. This file also includes minutes from a meeting of the Australian National Council of and for the Blind, which Mr Sitlington attended in his role as chair.39 pages of typed meeting minutes on white paperwhite cane day, bryan sitlington, australian national council of and for the blind, harold gration, national federation of blind citizens, royal guide dogs for the blind association, royal victorian eye & ear hospital, ross johnstone, villa maria society, camille wilkins, iris whittaker, dr t davidson, john cook, royal victorian institute for the blind, braille and talking book library, association for the blind, e.e. (ted) petersen

In 1894 the Victorian Braille Writers Association was established in order to create a braille lending library. Such an endeavor also meant a need of space for storage. At first the library was accommodated in the home of Mrs May Harrison before moving to the home of Mrs Dickinson two years later. Eventually, with the help of donors, a space was rented in the Block Arcade to house the 1300+ volumes it held and the yearly increase produced by its braille transcribers. Fortunately in 1918 the Trustees of the Edward Wilson Estate provided 4000 pounds to pay for a new building in Commercial Road. Despite some misgivings from the RVIB at the time, this building was home to both braille volumes and talking books (albums and cassettes) for many years.1 b/w photograph of people on a stageFree Lending Library for the Blind. Senator G. Fairbairn, on behalf of the Edward Wilson Trust, presenting the key of the building to Miss Aston, a Braille reader, representing the Braille Writer’s Association. 26th April 1919. (Label on mount board)tilly aston, braille and talking book library

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 include the production of Christmas cards for purchase, a visit by the Chief Secretary Hon. A. Rylah who advised that the Free Library Scheme was for municipal councils and that instead a State Library Council (which was being formed) would be a better source of relief, offers of help to contact potential overseas suppliers for electronic and braille equipment, the organisation of the Reservoir auxiliary, establishment of a Machines Committee to look at mechanized forms of Braille production and the possibility of entering into talking book production, improvements to heating, cooking and lighting, needing to use discretion when hiring hall due to an unfortunate incident, donations of Perkins Braillers, brailling of Decimal conversion charts, agreement in prinicipal to a National Braille Reference Library in Canberra, and purchase of Perkins and Stainsby Braillers to improve output of Braille books.32 pages of text with drawingsbraille library of victoria, corporation records

Articles include the production of Christmas cards using a drawing by Lady Casey, death of Captain Semmens who was a member of many sub-committees, relocation of library, cupboard to be built in kitchen and Mr Skaftouros continues to be an excellent hirer, Bird and Bottle restaurant raised money with a special dinner and entertainment night, some difficulties with Stainsby and Perkins Braillers have been overcome, thermoform machine is on order, tape recorder/talking book project still under consideration, Tellatouch machine has been received and will be evaluated, loss of Mrs Simpson who was the leader in the Honour Roll this year, St Paul's School are assisting with binding books for students, resignation of Mrs Weir and appointment of Mrs Hearn as Librarian, revision of policy to only teach Braille to adults and first junior student taken on in Geelong, potential of more auxiliaries being established and need to increase income from Hall requires suggestions from the public.32 pages of text with drawingsbraille library of victoria, corporation records

Articles include adapting the porch side so that there was space for the electronic Braille typewriter, loss of regular hirers due to restriction on night hours however more enquiries received after ad in Pink Pages, publicity was a new focus with a display was held at Southland Shopping Centre, an Open Day promoted on 3AW by Norman Banks (who also attended), and a demonstration of Portrait Painting by Sir William Dargie. Surplus Christmas card stocks were sold through the Christmas Card Shop in the city, resulting in a healthy profit, all machines (Stainsby, Perkins, Tellatouch, Braille typewriter, thermoform and Crabb-Hulme Press) are regularly used, talking book machines are still under discussion, and Mrs Armytage has been engaged as an Auxiliary organiser with now four organisations raising funds.25 pages of text with drawingsbraille library of victoria, corporation records

Articles include future report on the feasibility of providing a talking book service, troubles experienced when letting the hall for dancing has meant that it can no longer be hired for this purpose, death of Eileen Durham - part of the Sewing Auxiliary that bound books - who had given 50 years of service, decision to create a Braille Proficiency Examination similar to that done by RNIB and increase of Hospitals and Charities Commission grant this year.25 pages of text with drawingsbraille library of victoria, corporation records

Articles include the addition of a talking book service to the library, 50 years of service celebrations for Alice McClelland, a talking book funds sub-committee has been convened, a planning sub-committee has also been created to evaluate the future needs of the Library in the next 5-10 years, and the Reservoir, Altona, Sixty-Niners and Benalla Auxiliaries continue to raise funds.25 pages of text with drawingsbraille library of victoria, corporation records

Swish rules as authorised by the Victorian Swish Council on July 9, 1983. This book was part of the Braille & Talking Library collection in Commercial Road. Swish is a game played with a bat, ball and barriers on a tennis-table like court.1 spiral bound book of thermoform pagesrecreation, swish

Introduced in 1974, the Braille Book of the Year was created to both acknowledge excellence in writing as well as raise the profile of Braille books. In 1991, the award was won by Trevor Hay for his book 'Tartar City Woman: scenes from the life of Wang Hsin-ping, former citizen of China'. The Narrator of the Year award went to Paul Karo for 'The Rise and Fall of Alan Bond'. Presentations were made by Wilma Bedford (Director of Life Be In It), John Blackman, Rose Blustein, Ross Gibbs, Paul Cotter (?), Trevor Hay and Paul Karo. 14 colour photographs, 3 black and white and 1 proof sheet of negativesawards, braille & talking book library, wilma bedford, paul karo, trevor hay, wang hsin-ping, john blackman, rose blustein, john cook, peter walsh, ross gibbs, paul cotter

Introduced in 1974, the Braille Book of the Year was created to both acknowledge excellence in writing as well as raise the profile of Braille books. In 1992, the award was won by Arnold Zable for his book 'Jewels and Ashes. The Bathurst Award for Narrator of the Year award went to James Wright for the audio version of the same book. Presentations were made by Trevor Hay, James Wright and Arnold Zable. 4 colour photographs, 4 black and white and 1 proof sheet of negativesawards, braille & talking book library, trevor hay, james wright, arnold zable

Introduced in 1974, the Braille Book of the Year was created to both acknowledge excellence in writing as well as raise the profile of Braille books. In 1993, the award was won by Ruth Park for her book 'A Fence Around a Cuckoo'. The award was accepted by her literary agent Tim Curnow. The Bathurst Award for Narrator of the Year award went to Irini Pappas for the audio version of 'Put Your Whole Self In', a story about the Northcote Self Group Hydrotherapy and Massage group, by Meme McDonald, which also won 'Audio Book of the Year'. Presentations were made by Arnold Zable, Lorna Hayter, Meme McDonald, James Wright and Jeremy Wurm. 25 colour photographs, 4 black and white, 1 single negative (behind P1540.13) and 7 strips of negativeawards, braille & talking book library, james wright, arnold zable, lorna hayter, meme mcdonald, jeffrey hodgson, paul karo, rose blustein, irini pappas, jeremy wurm, michael carman, eileen larkin, iris wileman, elsie warren, beryl grover, ida dolinko, estelle cother, peggy stenboig, marjorie oke, ada handyside, sheila baldwin, joyce spokes, stanley mcgeagh, maggie millar

Audio manager Karl Hughes sits at his desk, answering the phone as he acknowledges the photographer with a smile. Behind him are bookcases filled with audio reels and cassettes. To his left, a glass wall is covered with photographs and news clippings of audio book award success. On his desk sits a computer, some DAT tapes and piles of paperwork.Karl Hughes on the phone surrounded by audio reels and tapesbraille & talking book library, robert de graauw, karl hughes

A recording session with narrator Lise Rodgers, and producer Carmel McAloon, at the studios in Commercial Road.Lise Rodgers reads a book into a microphone whilst Carmel McAloon sits outside the booth, listening to the recordingbraille & talking book library, robert de graauw, carmel mcaloon, lise rodgers

Made from a large, heavy, irregular shaped piece of stone. One fascia has been cut lengthwise at an oblique angle & polished. On this face are 2 bronze medallions. One shows 2 hands and the other, 'Braille Book of the Year' is written in Braille. This award was presented for the first time at a presentation dinner on the 3rd May 1974 to Mr. Keith Dunstan. Mr. Barrett Reid of State Library, Dr. Stephen Murray - Smith from Melbourne University and Mr. Lloyd O'Neil, publisher formed the literary panel.1 stone block with 2 bronze medallions, one inlaid with hands and the other with BrailleBraille Book of the Year (in Braille)braille and talking book library, awards, sculpture

On the 14th May 1927 his Excellency Lord Somers, in the presence of a large assemblage opened Braille Hall at the Braille Library (now Vision Australia Library) in Commercial Road, South Yarra. To mark appreciation of the gift of the hall by the two benefactors Edward Wilson and Richard Gibson, the committee placed two of the stained glass windows on each side of the hall’s fireplace. Commissioned by Librarian Miss Millicent Ritchie, the windows depict four British authors - Scott, Milton, Shakespeare and Dickens. They were removed from South Yarra in 1999 for conservation work and cleaning prior to their relocation to Kooyong in 2001. In 2017 refurbishment works made the windows redundant however they were reinstalled either side of the main entranceway in 2018. 4 x stained glass windows depicting famous writersbraille and talking book library, millicent ritchie