Annual SIBI reports bound in a cloth covered volume1 volume, illustrationssydney industrial blind institution

Annual reports produced by the SIBI, informing their subscribers and the general public of the good work undertaken by the Institute and the ongoing need for funding. Information provided included income, expenditure, fund raising, staff, services, etc. Below is a summary of other information contained in the reports. 1902 - Trades at which the blind are employed, extracts from visitors books, balance sheets, supplementary catalogue of books in library, subscription and donation lists by town, constitution of the institution and rules, sick fund rules and balance sheet. Also noted were the impending installment of a printing press for books, the development of blind distributors of tea beverages and that instead of a blind boys home, boys would instead be sent to board with suitable families. 1933 - A list of braille transcribers and the amount of braille produced, a brief report on the Floral Festival organised by the Women's Auxiliary Committee and the donation of a shop in George Street for 12 months for the selling of articles made by the Blind was provided by a SIBI committee member. 1934 - A brief report on the hostels at William Street and Woollahra, a detailed listing of all functions which raised money through the auspics of the auxiliaries, and a visit by Superintendent Hedge and Librarian Mr Thompson to the Croydon Ladies Social Club. 1938 - A radio show called the 'Glow Worm Session' on 2GB with home teacher Roy Kippax, the 150th anniversary of Sydney celebration and a 16 millimetre film that was made to publicise the Institute's work. 1939 - A record amount raised through the sale of goods made by Blind Workers, the refurbishment of "The Haven' at Woollahra and transfer of residents from William Street, and free admission by the Trocadero and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to swing concerts and 'Broadway Serenade'. 1940 - Incorporation of the Institute's Women's Magazine into Boomerang Magazine, the enlistment of two Board members Cohen and Meeks for active service, and a brief report from each of the branch auxiliaries. 1941 - The difficulty of obtaining stereotype Braille items from London and the passing of the editoress of the Women's Magazine Miss L.E. Hudson who had just completed the final edition. 1942 - Employment of 60 blind men and women in war related industries, the purchase of an air raid shelter and the small size of the report due to the shortage of paper. 1943 - Closure of the Basket department due to government regulations on cane stock, the provision of a lunch hour news service provided by visitors and individual reports from each of the Ladies Auxiliaries. 1944 - Presentation of a revolving chair to Honorary Librarian Mr H.W. Thompson for 35 years of service, the filling in of air raid trenches due to the improvement of the wartime situation and that SIBI had been supplying the Royal Australian Navy with mats, brushware and other products. 1945 - Continued placement of blind workers in outside industries, the compilation of a register of blind citizens and the election of the Hon. Justice Maxwell as President. 1946 - The successful application for Royal assent and the subsequent name change of the insitution, the intervention of Hon. Member C.R. Evatt Minister for Housing regarding the building of a new hostel for blind women and the establishment of an Honour Roll with a description of inductees Mrs K.L. Barry, Mrs J. Ayre, Mrs E. Vance . 1947 - Establishment of an occupational therapy department, the acceptance of Helen Keller to visit the society and the induction of Mrs Rivis Mead to the Honour Roll. 1951 - Passing of Librarian Miss Jean Currie and the use of prisoners to transcribe materials into Braille.Single volumes with various pagings, illustrations

Since the founding of the Association for the Advancement of the Blind in 1895, an annual report has been produced detailing the work undertaken by the association during the year.1 volume of various pagings, illustrations.

Beige satin scroll with names of donors printed upon it rests inside a brown wooden box. To view the scroll, turn the handles up or down. List of names represents people who donated to an appeal (date unknown). Box was designed to be mounted on a wall.Wooden box with satin scroll of printed namesRoyal Blind Societyroyal blind society of nsw, fundraising

Rose pink satin scroll with names of donors printed upon it rests inside a brown wooden box. A plastic cover protects the scroll, and printed upon this is an image of the stone archway (from the first building housing the Sydney Industrial Blind Institution) as well as the words 'The Presidents Club'. To view the scroll, turn the handles up or down. List of names represents people who donated to an appeal (date unknown). Box was designed to be mounted on a wall.Wooden box with satin scroll of printed namesThe Presidents Clubroyal blind society of nsw, fundraising

To celebrate the work undertaken by various members on the Centenary Appeal, the Association for the Blind presented wooden shields as mark of recognition and respect.Wooden shield with engraved gold and blue coloured plateAssociation for the Blind Centenary. Tom Dery. In appreciation of your support as Vice President of the successful $7.5M Centenary appeal 1994-1997.association for the blind, nameplates

To celebrate the work undertaken by various members on the Centenary Appeal, the Association for the Blind presented wooden shields as mark of recognition and respect.1 burgundy wooden shield with engraved gold and blue coloured plateAssociation for the Blind Centenary. Sir John Holland AC Kt. In appreciation of your outstanding support as Patron of the successful $500,000 Mornington Peninsula & Westernport Victoria appeal 1995-1997.association for the blind, john holland

As a way of recognising contributions by agencies and individuals outside of the organisation, commemorate plaques were struck and presented as part of an awards ceremony.1 wooden shield with engraved gold coloured plate, with blue Vision logoVision Australia Foundation. QuanTum Information Technology / Victorian Actors Benevolent Trust In recognition of your outstanding contribution towards vital services for people who are blind or have severe sight loss. August 1999.vision australia foundation, nameplates

To share information and gain first hand knowledge, organisations sometimes undertook study visits to various countries. In appreciation for the hospitality and information gained as part of this, the Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped presented a commemorative plaque to RVIB.1 plastic stand with engraved brown platePresented to Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind in appreciation of the warm hospitality extended to our official during study visit on 18th-19th October 1993. October 1993 from Singapore Association of the Visually Handicappedroyal victorian institute for the blind, singapore association for the visually handicapped

To share information and gain first hand knowledge, organisations sometimes undertook study visits to various countries. In appreciation for the hospitality and information gained as part of this, the Sarawak Society for the Blind - Sibu branch presented a commemorative plaque to RVIB. 1 plastic stand with engraved silver plate of a collage of images of rural village scenes, with yellow and black insignia for the Sarawak Society for the Blind Sibu branch rests in the middle.With compliments from Sarawak Society for the Blind (State) 1st August 1994royal victorian institute for the blind, sarawak society for the blind

Lifetime achievement awards were presented to organisations, such as the Charlton Auxiliary and individuals for their invaluable support of RVIB.1 certificate with colour printingRVIB Lifetime Achievement Award awarded in recognition of support to Charlton Auxiliary. Presented by John Landy AC. MBE, Governor of Victoria, Patron of RVIB. Signed by the RVIB CEO Doug Kent, dated 26th March, 2003.royal victorian institute for the blind, auxiliaries

To celebrate the work undertaken by various members on the Centenary Appeal, the Association for the Blind presented wooden shields as mark of recognition and respect.1 brown wooden shield with engraved gold and blue plate Association for the Blind Centenary. John Wicking. In appreciation of your outstanding contribution as Chairman of the Tilly Aston fund, part of the $7.5M Centennary appeal 1994-1997.association for the blind, john wicking

Fundraising for the work of the Association for the Blind took on many forms. On May 24, 1989, a auction of sports items was held with guest celebrity auctioneers Lou Richards, Bob Davis and Ray Lord at Elanora.16 col. photographs and 2 B/W photographsassociation for the blind, lou richards, bob davis, ray lord

October 15, 1979 was the very first publicly proclaimed White Cane Day in Victoria. Announced by Premier Hamer, onlookers were invited to learn more about the various societies in Victoria that assisted the blind and vision impaired. Barry Humphries was the guest of honour, and spoke with a small group before venturing out with his own white cane to test out Melbourne’s wet streets. Caravans were set up along Swanston Street to distribute information. The RAAF band played and a square dance exhibition was held by vision impaired dancers in Bourke Street. 13 B/W photographs w/ 20 negatives and 23 col. negativesOn the back of BRIP381.11 is a partially erased pencil description 'Kathy Zwald' and 'Doris Nothling".white cane day, barry humphries, doris nothling, kathy zwald

October 15, 1979 was the very first publicly proclaimed White Cane Day in Victoria. Announced by Premier Hamer, onlookers were invited to learn more about the various societies in Victoria that assisted the blind and vision impaired. Barry Humphries was the guest of honour, and spoke with a small group before venturing out with his own white cane to test out Melbourne’s wet streets. Caravans were set up along Swanston Street to distribute information. The RAAF Central band played and a square dance exhibition by The Lightfooters (a group ofvision impaired dancers) in Bourke Street. 12 B/W photographswhite cane day, raaf central band

In 1980, the original week long session of planned activities to celebrate White Cane Day was jettisoned for displays and presentations in the new City Square. These included films, Swish demonstrations, children’s tactile artwork and photographs. It was a lovely sunny day, with crowds enjoying a performance by the Victorian Police Brass Band and their well known equine Gendarme, as well as the Lightfooters square dancing. The Minister of Health, Bill Borthwick, officially opened the program of activities.10 B/W photographs of White Cane Day celebrationswhite cane day, janene sadhu, bill borthwick, john cook, john wilson, lindsay mcmillan, phyllis gration, bryan sitlington

To celebrate 100 Years of operation, a Centenary Garden Party was held at Government House and volunteers were presented with tokens of appreciation for their involvement with the Association for the Blind. The Honorable Richard McGarvie, Governor of Victoria, and Lady McGarvie handed out pins to the many volunteers from around the state who have given service.1 photo album of colour photographsVolunteer Awards (100 years)association for the blind, john wicking, janet wicking

Given its sturdy construction, this cane was primarily used as a support device and demonstrates how initially canes which were painted white, retained their existing colour on the crook. Not everyone could afford to have a smooth cane and on this example you can see and feel where branches were stripped off from the main section. These would have also provided a tactile way to identify one cane from another.Short wooden support cane with rubber tipassistive devices, white cane

Ideal because of it's light weight, metal canes were developed, some with a rubber grip that could slide down the cane and allow the user's hands to hold the cane comfortably. This cane has a noticably small crook which, given it's long length, was presumably not used by the owner to hold it. The tip of the crook and end of the cane are enveloped in plastic protectors.White metal cane with rubber on handle and tipassistive devices, orientation and mobility

This lightweight collapsible cane is in four sections joined to each other by elasticized cord. The top section has the top of the cord attached to a metal rivet.White aluminium cane with elastic insert to allow foldingassistive devices, orientation and mobility

At 130 cm, this cane is meant to be held at chest height by the user. In the 1940's the long cane 'two point touch' technqiue was pioneered by Richard Hoover, which combines swinging the cane from side to side and tapping either side of one's shoulders to identify obstacles and changes in walking surfaces.Wooden white cane with crooked handle with metal join and metal tipassistive devices, orientation and mobility

Minutes of the first White Cane Day organising committee, led by Bryan Sitlington, who organised events to celebrate the first proclaimed White Cane Day in Victoria.22 pages of typed meeting minutes on white paperwhite cane day, bryan sitlington, john blanch, blind members council, howard m. lightfoot, norman banks, derek pickard, adrienne kemp, lindsay mcmillan, c. poulson, royal guide dogs association, l. triggot, val whitehead, villa maria society, r. johnston, royal victorian eye & ear hospital, royal victorian institute for the blind, braille and talking book library, association for the blind

To keep current with media articles on how vision impaired people, blindness organisations and their activities were reported in the press, books of newspaper cuttings were created. News stories were taken from local, regional and national papers covering a variety subjects.1 red covered notebook with newspaper cuttingswhite cane day

To keep current with media articles on how vision impaired people, blindness organisations and their activities were reported in the press, books of newspaper cuttings were created. News stories were taken from local, regional and national papers covering a variety subjects.1 red covered notebook with newspaper cuttingswhite cane day

Sir Rupert Hamer, who proclaimed October 15 as White Cane Day for the State of Victoria, holding a white cane and standing between two blind ladies. The one on the right is possibly Mrs Alice McClelland.1 B/W photographwhite cane day, sir rupert hamer

Metal badge consisting of an oval shaped medallion coloured with a dark blue edge and light blue centre, white cane across length of medallion and inscriptions written around the edge. Clasp is silver coloured metal on both tie pins and badges. Marked: On front of badge : Association for the Blind.1 metal pin 1 metal badgeAssociation for the Blindwhite cane day, badges

A white cane on a lime green background with the words 'Association for the Blind' written around the edge. The final word is in larger print and on the back of the badges is the price of the badge: 20c. Badges were a way of raising both funds and awareness for many blindness organisations.1 metal pin with white cane on lime backgroundAssociation for the Blindwhite cane day, badges, association for the blind

Minutes of the second White Cane Day organising committee, led by Bryan Sitlington, which decided to concentrate activities on to a single day. 20 pages of meeting minutes with covering letterwhite cane day, bryan sitlington, john blanch, villa maria society, blind members council, lindsay mcmillan, royal guide dogs association, national federation of blind citizens, m. jones, royal victorian eye & ear hospital, lady nell seeing eye dog school, allen egerton, val whitehead, royal victorian institute for the blind, braille and talking book library, association for the blind

Minutes of the third White Cane Day organising committee, led by Bryan Sitlington.22 pages of typed meeting minutes on white paperwhite cane day, guide dogs for the blind association victoria, allen egerton, bryan sitlington, jennie lawrey, royal victorian eye & ear hospital, villa maria society, ross johnstone, val whitehead, mark jones, phyllis gration, adrienne kemp, jennifer gordon, national federation of blind citizens, royal victorian institute for the blind, braille and talking book library, association for the blind

Minutes of the fourth White Cane Day organising committee, chaired by Bryan Sitlington.20 pages of typed meeting minutes on white paperwhite cane day, bryan sitlington, royal victorian eye & ear hospital, guide dogs for the blind association victoria, jennifer gordon, jennie lawrey, val whitehead, villa maria society, greg cooper, hugh jeffrey, national federation of blind citizens, peter barilla, graeme rule, phyllis gration, royal victorian institute for the blind, braille and talking book library, association for the blind