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

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

A bearded man uses a white cane and sonic guide to help him navigate around the streets of Strathfield. The sonic guide consists of a pair of heavy black spectacles with three sensors built into the bridge of the glasses. The glasses are attached by a cable to a control box which is designed to be clipped onto the wearer's belt or clothing. The control box has two switches and a volume setting, and assists the user in determining objects in their path and their distance to them.2 B/W photographs of man using sonic guide and white cane"5156-220" and '5156-224" on back of photographsroyal blind society of nsw, white cane, orientation and mobility

Two people wait in a line to board to double-decker bus in Sydney, holding their white cane and feeling the side of the bus. A female in a white coat looks on from the side of the bus near the person about to board. A man (possibly Wally Urgacz) and a woman use their canes to alight from the bus, with the guidance of a woman in a white coat. 4 B/W photographs of two people boarding a bus1967 - Mobility - historical - Bus orientation Bus orientation, locating doorways, safe ways of mounting steps, RBS V NB: Inefficiency of short collapsible cane in descending bus steps. Women aged 67 with some peripheral vision. RBS IV Learning bus orientation with long cane. Man aged 65 (light perception only) RBS VI Mobility training for doorways and seating arrangement in bus. Annual report 1968 Royal Blind Society of New South Wales royal blind society of nsw, white cane day, orientation and mobility, wally urgacz

Joan Johnson outside the RBS offices in Enfield, using her white cane to walk along the path.2 B/W photographsJoan Johnson uses the white cane to warn of obstacles in her path. Royal Blind Society 1989white cane day, royal blind society of new south wales, joan johnson

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

Michael Yanchenock uses his white cane to navigate around the side of a building in Sydney both alone and with mobility instructor Margit Rihr. These pictures were taken near the William Street/Boomerang Street building of RBS.2 x Sepia toned photograph of orientation and mobility training1-1769 Michael Mobility training Oct 1969 Photographic Illustrators, Double Bay 2-1769 Photographic Illustrators, Double Bay - 36-1764. Margit Rihr & Michael Yanchenock - mobility training October 1969, Mobility - historicalroyal blind society of nsw, white cane day, orientation and mobility, michael yanchenock, margaret rihr

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

Various letters of acknowledgement and support for White Cane Day in 1990, written by then Queensland Premier Wayne Goss, Australian Prime Minster Bob Hawke, Brisbane Lord Mayor Sallyanne Atkinson, Queensland White Cane Committee and a Media News release from RVIB,6 typed letters from various people and to the mediaroyal victorian institute for the blind, queensland white cane day committee, white cane day, wayne goss, bob hawke, sallyanne atkinson

A folder of newspaper cuttings about White Cane Day in 1994. These include personal stories about people who use white canes and the various schools and organisations who helped the Royal Blind Society of New South Wales sell confectionary white canes to help raise money for the Society.Various pages of newspaper cuttings royal blind society of nsw, white cane day

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

Built in 1918-1919, this distinctly styled building was constructed with the needs of returned blind soldiers in mind by architects Anketell and Henderson. Matting tracks were placed in the single level floor and handrails on the wall to guide users around the building. In 1929, two stained glass windows were constructed and placed in the building to commemorate the 120th anniversary of Louis Braille's birth. (These were removed and transferred to Kooyong when the library moved its operations in 2002.) The building is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.1 x col. photograph of red brick octagonal buildingbraille and talking book library, tilly aston

The AFB were aware that accommodation options for blind people were limited and sought to open a hostel to assist with this.The first hostel opened in Lara Street, South Yarra but could not meet demand. In 1926, a suitable property 'Egremont' at 54 The Avenue, Windsor, came on the market. The price was £2650. Lack of funds to purchase seemed an insurmountable barrier. With assistance from the Trustees of the Edward Wilson Estate and the Felton Bequest a deposit of £650 was raised. In a huge step of faith the Committee took out a mortgage of £2000. The interest on the mortgage and its repayments weighed heavily on the Committee. The Avenue, as 'Egremont' was commonly termed, was also a seven roomed house. Mr Paterson and the Architect, Mr Parkes of Oakley and Parkes, immediately began planning an extension, fourteen single bedrooms were added. They were filled from the Waiting List. A Windsor Auxiliary was formed and worked to reduce the mortgage of £2000. An active programme of dances, card evenings, theatre nights and the like took place under the leadership of Mrs. Robertson. The Auxiliary also took an interest in the boarders, arranging entertainment and social activity. £1500. was still owed in 1930. Living side by side is no easy task for a group of people, and the Hostel meeting minute books are filled with stories of disputes over wireless sets, telephones, hot water bottles and wardrobes. In 1958, with rising costs and the growth of aged care centres, the Hostel was closed and the house sold to a succession of private buyers. In 2016 it still stands and has been refurbished as a guest house.B/W copy of newspaper photographThe hostel for blind women at 54 The Avenue, Windsor was established in 1926 to provide a place where sightless women may live together to their mutual advantage under proper and sympathetic supervision. The Windsor Hostel was sold in 1958. This building still stands today and has been refurbished.egremont, blind womens hostel, tilly aston

Tilly Aston moved to 42 Raleigh Street in 1913, after her mother had died and her brother married. She died there of cancer on 1 November 1947 and was buried in St Kilda cemetery; her estate was valued for probate at £1149. Her headstone is inscribed: headstone ‘Tilly Aston, Blind Poetess and Philanthropist, Died 1st Nov 1947, Aged 74, Resurgam.’2 x col. photographs of grave and headstonetilly aston, association for the blind

The Asylum and School for the Blind, designed by Crouch & Wilson, was built on St Kilda Road in 1868, and later became the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind. This photograph was most likely taken in the late 19th century, with white posts and wire fencing sectioning the driveway from the garden..B/W photograph of RVIB St Kilda Road buildingroyal victorian institute for the blind, crouch & wilso

The Guiding Light Appeal was first launch in 1968 to raise money for building programs that the Association desperately required. Although the appeal target was reached, in 1974 it became clear that further funds were required to complete the work, and a second Guiding LIght Appeal was launched in May 1974. The Appeal chairman was Sir Henry Bolte and its target of $1million was slightly exceeded. 2 x B/W photographsBRI-P191.1 Personalities: Mr J.O. Wicking President of Association (right) With Sir Henry Bolte (L) & Sir Rohan Delacombe (Centre), Governor of Vic; at opening of Guiding Light Appeal 1974 Ticket no 3724 Client Abaus 120# Wanted Wed 18th Mounted as usual 52% Retouch scratches on photo, delete glass and cigarette from Bolteguiding light appeal, john wicking, sir henry bolte, sir rohan delacombe, association for the blind

Images of John Wicking at the Association's Christmas Party held at the Malvern Town Hall. In the first picture Mr Wicking reads from a prepared speech on the stage, with a Christmas model of a reindeer and sleigh behind him as well as seated people. In the second image John and Janet Wicking are talking to another couple in the foyer of the Malvern Town Hall, with the Gilbert/Montford war memorial in the background. The third image is of John Wicking and John Wilson, sitting side by side at long tables, talking to the people around them.3 x B/W photographsXMas Party 77 40A/3, 10, 15john wicking, janet wicking, john wilson, association for the blind

Presentations to John Wicking and Dame Elisabeth Murdoch of shields by John Moule, and Jeff Kennett and Don Argus of 'No Sight, Great Vision' book as part of the Centennary Appeal celebrations.4 x col. photographsjohn wicking, dame elisabeth murdoch, john moule, jeff kennett, don argus, association for the blind

Presentation at RVIB to unknown man with three other men either shaking hands or presenting the award. From the camera and camera bag held by the awardee, most likely a photographer who has done work for RVIB.B/W copy of negativesE:602royal victorian institute for the blind

Dianne Kerr (right) presents an award at Ballarat to an unidentified female.1 x col. photographdianne kerr, ballarat office

Award presented to unknown female with four staff members looking on. Dianne Kerr is second from right.1 x col. photographdianne kerr, ballarat office

John Moule hands out Life Governor awards to various recipients at Kooyong.8 x col. photographs and 10 negativesjohn moule