Contractions are used in Braille to allow reduce the amount of space that a word occupies on the page, whilst still maintaining the ease of reading. In list this, a series of words with their common contractions helps the reader to use them. For example: the word atone, in this list, would be spelt with an 'a' and 't', then the contraction for 'one' would be used. In some instances, two contractions are listed, which the reader identifies by the use of a slash between them. For example: demented is 'd' then 'e', then 'ment' and a second contraction of 'ed'. The origin of this list is unknown, however has been designated as the Braille and Talking Book Library.4 pages of typewritten words with contraction notesbraille, transcription

This book contains the set up and clues for cross word puzzles that can be constructed with the RNIB crossword board. The board is contained inside a wooden box, which also has compartments for storing yellow and red rubber markers that fit into a grid that sits on the lower side. Red smooth markers are used for blanks, whilst the yellow markers have three turnable pieces, which can be adjusted to represent each letter in Braille.1 braille book and 1 wooden box containing yellow and red rubber markers that fit into the grid inset in the box.'From the Evening News book of crossword puzzles no. 18' Catalogue 29444recreation equipment, games

The St Dunstans braille writer was modelled on the German Picht model, which enabled the writer to read what was written immediately by place the embossed character upwards of the carriage. Named after the organisation, it used a different finger technique than the Stainsby-Wayne machine that was predominantly available, and was lighter to carry.Black and silver Braille typewriter, with six keys and a large key (space bar) in front. At the back of the keys is a roller arrangement (similar to a typewriter) where paper is placed.St Dunstans Mark II. Ser. No. 575braille equipment, assistive devices

Mary Pauline Daly was a gracious benefactor of the Braille and Talking Book Library. Born in Chewton to Ellen Horan and Denis Daly, she passed away in Parkville and this photograph of her is in recognition for her generous gift to the library.Miss Mary Daly 1894-1987 who bequeathed her entire estate to Braille & Talking Book Librarybraille and talking book library, mary daly

A Cyma Amic alarm clock, composing of brass and metal. Raised dots to indicate each hour of the day instead of numbers, hands on clock exposed so can be felt by vision impaired person and alarm function is a round raised brass plate with a dot so can be set. Back of clock has alarm function and wind-up mechanism, no braille information, each function has engraved picture or words. Clock sits on a small square base.Metal clock with raised dotsassistive devices, braille

To encourage the development of audio books, a series of awards were established by the National Library of Australia in 1988, and sponsored by TDK from 1991 until their demise in 2000. Open to both commercial and non-commercial publishers, it aimed to recognise the quality achievements by individuals and publishing houses and to promote the inclusion of audio books into the mainstream market. In 1995 the winner of the Unabridged Fiction Category was "Dark Places" by Louis Braille Books.1 wooden cassette box shaped like a book and with ability to hold cassettes inside1995 TDK Australian Audio Book Award Dark Places by Louis Braille Bookslouis braille audio, awards, association for the blind

This wooden board has hinged flap to allow paper to be inserted, and two tacks under on the lower part secure the paper. The top flap is then closed and a metal clasp holds it firmly in place. A row of holes either side of the board, allow for a hand frame to be attached, to guide the writer in maintaining straightness when transcribing.Wooden rectangular Braille hand frame with holes evenly spaced and built in hinged paper clamp. Pivoted metal Braille guide with two rows of Braille, each 25 cells long. 'Armitage memorial' pressed into framebraille equipment, association for the blind

The Wickings were key supporters of the Association for the Blind, with John Wicking becoming President of the Association for the Blind for over 10 years, and his wife Janet taking a key role in supporting blind who are blind or have low vision. Personally involved in the development of low vision centres, this plaque recognises the work they undertook through the naming of Vision Australia's head office in their honour.1plastic plaque with print and brailleVision Australia blindness and low vision services On Saturday 28th August 2010, Vision Australia's Kooyong Head Office was officially dedicated as the J.O. and J.R. Wicking Centre in recognition and celebration of the significant contribution of John and Janet Wicking to the blindness and low vision community in Australia.association for the blind, john wicking, vision australia, nameplates

Certificate presented to Neil Maxwell for his involvement in the Library Services Special Interest Group. These groups were created to allow clients to provide direct feedback on services.Certificate with Vision Australia logo and in print and braillenon-fictionneil maxwell, vision australia

Overview of the work done by the Association for the Blind and contact details for all those involved in managing the appeal. The 'Sight, Kooyong' appeal aimed to raise $750,000 to provide additional facilities at Kooyong, Oak Park, Geelong, Ballarat, Mildura and Shepparton, expand the George Vowell Day Centre and establish residential facilities at Mt Eliza, expand welfare and rehabilitation services across Victoria, increase work done in the Low Vision Clinic and expand awareness in the prevention of blindness.1 booklet with braille and print on front covernon-fictionassociation for the blind, elizabeth maxwell, neil maxwell, fundraising

White cover, printed in Braille; 30cmHx21cmW, 52 pagesvicdeaf news, braille

Blue cover, printed in braille, 28cmHx28.5cmW, 44 pagesvicdeaf news, braille

This award was presented at an award night hosted by the Braille and Talking Book Library to Richard Flanagan for "Death of a River Guide". As Richard Flanagan did not receive his award on the night the Braille and Talking Book Library kept it for him, however it was not collected. To encourage the development of audio books, a series of awards were established by the National Library of Australia in 1988, and sponsored by TDK from 1991 until their demise in 2000. Open to both commercial and non-commercial publishers, it aimed to recognise the quality achievements by individuals and publishing houses and to promote the inclusion of audio books into the mainstream market.Wooden rectangle with metal plate inscribed with winners nameBraille and Talking Book Library Tilly Aston 1873 - 1947 ... that all may read Benalla Award Audio Book of the Year 1996 Presented to Richard Flanagan for "Death of a River Guide"awards, audio books

Blue cover, printed in Braille, Size 28cmHx28.5cmW, 44 pagesvicdeaf news, braille

Blue cover, printed in Braille; Size 29.5cmHx20cmW, 47 pagesvicdeaf news, braille

This wooden board has two differently designed sides: one with four strips running the length of the board and the other with seven strips of wood running across the width of the board. These strips and various ridges around the edge and in the 'lanes' assist players as they play card games. The attached booklets describe the sides as Squares (4 strips) or Streets (7 strips), which could be used to play a variety of card games described. On the Squares side: Carpet, Count Nogo, Frames and Poker Patience and on the Streets side: Triangles and Henley could be played in addition to the traditional game of Patience. The board was designed to be used with a distinct sized card (RNIB no. 9087) that could fit between the strips. Wooden board with card dividers with accompanying printed and braille booklet. recreation equipment, games

Sir Edward Mitchell was the chairman of the Edward Wilson trust, which enabled the building of the Braille Library during a time of great economic turbulence due to the last months of World War 1. This commemorative trowel was given to him in thanks for his (and the trust's support) of the project, which would ultimately provide a great resource to blinded soldiers who were prepared and able to learn Braille. In addition to the area housing the Braille collection itself, an entrance hall, reading room, secretarial office and hall also provided space for reading, administration of the collection and opportunities for social or recreational activities.1 silver plated trowel with handle inside boxPresented to Sir Edward Mitchell K.C., K.C.M.C. on the occasion of his laying the foundation stone of the new library for the Victorian Association of Braille Writers October 28th 1918. (Inside box lid: By Special Appointment Harrison Bros & Howson, Sheffield, England Cutlers to His Majesty)victorian association of braille writers, sir edward wilson

A small, writer for note paper or index cards, designed by an East German company production started in 1980 and continued in the former DDR until 1989.Metal braille machine with red base and 7 white wood keysMechanische Werkstatt fur Blindenhilfsmittel der DDR 7033 Liepzig Burgauenstrabe 9braille equipment, picht

Each five minute period is indicated on the embossed setting dial by two dots and the first quarter hour is additionally marked to show the individual minutes. The case is fitted with rubber feet. White base with black circle with braille upon it and a hard plastic white dial in the middleassistive devices, smiths

Made by Tracie Bartram, a local artist, this pot represents the growth and change. 1 large earthenware pot painted light blue on outside with words in braille and cursiveShimmer Grow Full bloom Smell Buzzzzzz Bee Happy Slide Zip The colour Flutter by Be free Feel the love grow Crawl royal blind society of new south wales, artwork

The award reads as follows: Australian Institute of Management 38th Annual Report Award presented to Braille and Talking Book Library Bronze Award for Distinguished Achievement in Annual Reporting, May 1988 (Signed by) Chairman of Annual Report Award Committee (and) Chief Executive of Institute New South Wales Limited Digital image of rectangular wood block with paper certificate laminated to front:Australian Institute of Management 38th Annual Report Award presented to Braille and Talking Book Library Bronze Award for Distinguished Achievement in Annual Reporting, May 1988 (Signed by) Chairman of Annual Report Award Committee (and) Chief Executive of Institute New South Wales Limitedbraille and talking book library, awards

Also known as Peg solitaire or Brainvita, this one player game was a favourite in the court of Louis XIV. This board is based on the English design with peg holes in the shape of a cross. European boards are circular with peg holes placed to the edge. Regardless of shape, the game is played the same. Pegs are placed in the board, leaving an empty spot in the middle. Using this space, a player must move any peg left, right, up or down over an adjacent peg, thereby landing in the space and removing the peg that has been passed over. Pegs are progressively moved (and removed) from the board until the single remaining peg is placed in central spot initially left vacant. RNIB Catalogue no: 9197. 1 wooden board in blue box 32 black pegs, 1 green peg and 1 printed/Braille booklet. recreation, games

David Leslie Palmer was first a student (1892-1903) then a teacher of violin (1904-1912) before becoming musical director (1912-1944) at RVIB. Under his leadership, the RVIB orchestra grew into a popular band that travelled around Victoria and was in demand at concerts and balls.2 metal plates with dark brown background and gold edging and raised letters on one and gold edging and braille on the other.D.L. Palmer Musical Director 1912-1944 Fullness of Life Thru Musicroyal victorian institute for the blind, david palmer, nameplates

"This 'Tree of Life' is dedicated to the memory of Mercy Dickinson who some thirty years ago had an inspiration to form the Blind & Vision Impaired Pottery Group. Mercy's contribution to the Blind & Vision Impaired Community is symbolised by the tree and it's branches, which are forever blossoming and showing new growth. This Plaque was officially unveiled by the Hon Matt Foley Minister for Employment, Training & Youth and Minister for the Arts. 3rd February 2004"1 metal plate framed by woodRBF (with braille lettering below) Royal Blind Foundation Queensland "Tree of Life"royal blind foundation of queensland, mercy dickinson

Commemorative plaque for the funding of the Master Tape area by the Helen M. Schutt Trust. As an audio library, master tapes were created so that titles could be duplicated multiple times. Preserving these master tapes required a temperature controlled environment and minimal dust or dirt.Metal plate attached to wooden plaqueThis Master Tape area was funded by the Helen M. Schutt Trust (followed by brailled version of above)nameplates, royal victorian institute for the blind, association for the blind

Before the introduction of electricity, lighthouses had a clockwork mechanism that caused the lens to rotate with a light source inside that was either powered by Kerosene or Colza oil. The mechanism consisted of a large weight attached by a cable through the centre of the lighthouse to the top where the cable wrapped around a barrel, drum or wheels that controlled the speed of the lights rotation by a clockwork mechanism. The keeper would crank the clockwork mechanism, which would lift the weight ready for the next cycle similar to an old grandfather clock mechanism. Once the weight lifted to its apex at the bottom of the first landing, the keeper would let it fall, which would pull on the cable, which would, in turn, operate a series of gears activating the rotation of the Fresnel optical lens, which would then rotate to create the lighthouse’s unique light speed of rotation characteristic. Creating a specific characteristic required a way to regulate the speed of the rotation, and was important as sailors could identify a particular light by its speed and time between flashes. The weight had to fall at a certain rate to create the proper rotation speed of the lens and a regulator within the mechanism accomplished this. History: From 1851, Chance Brothers became a major lighthouse engineering company, producing optical components, machinery, and other equipment for lighthouses around the world. James Timmins Chance pioneered placing lighthouse lamps inside a cage surrounded by Fresnel lenses to increase the available light output these cages, are known as optics and they revolutionised lighthouse design. Another important innovation from Chance Brothers was the introduction of rotating optics, allowing adjacent lighthouses to be distinguished from each other by the number of times per revolution the light flashes. The noted English physicist and engineer, John Hopkins invented this system while employed at Chance Brothers. Chance Brothers and Company was a glass works and originally based in Spon Lane, Smethwick, West Midlands England. The company became a leading glass manufacturer and a pioneer of British glass making technology. The Chance family originated in Bromsgrove as farmers and craftsmen before setting up a business in Smethwick near Birmingham in 1824. They took advantage of the skilled workers, canals and many other industrial advances taking place in the West Midlands at the time. Robert Lucas Chance (1782–1865), known as 'Lucas', bought the British Crown Glass Company's works in Spon Lane in 1824. The company specialised in making crown window glass, the company ran into difficulty and its survival was guaranteed in 1832 by investment from Chance's brother, William (1788 – 1856). William owned an iron factoring business in Great Charles Street, Birmingham. After a previous partnership that Lucas had dissolved in 1836, Lucas and William Chance became partners in the business which was renamed, Chance Brothers and Company. Chance Brothers invented many innovative processes and became known as the greatest glass manufacturer in Britain. In 1848 under the supervision of Georges Bontemps, a French glass maker from Choosy-le-Roi, a new plant was set up to manufacture crown and flint glass for lighthouse optics, telescopes and cameras. Bontemps agreed to share his processes that up to then had been secret with the Chance Brothers and stayed in England to collaborate with them for six years. In 1900 a baronetcy was created for James Timmins Chance (1814–1902), a grandson of William Chance, who had started the family business in 1771 with his brother Robert. Roberts grandson, James became head of Chance Brothers until his retirement in 1889 when the company became a public company and its name changed to Chance Brothers & Co. Ltd. Additional information: Lighthouses are equipped with unique light characteristic or flashing pattern that sailors can use to identify specific lighthouses during the night. Lighthouses can achieve distinctive light characteristics in a few different ways. A lighthouse can flash, which is when brief periods of light interrupt longer moments of darkness. The light can occult, which is when brief periods of darkness interrupt longer moments of light. The light can be fixed, which is when the light never goes dark. A lighthouse can use a combination of flashing, oscillating, or being fixed in a variety of combinations and intervals to create individual light characteristics. It is a common misconception that a lighthouse's light source changes the intensity to create a light characteristic. The light source remains constant and the rotating Fresnel lens creates the various changes in appearance. Some Fresnel lenses have "bulls-eye" panels create beams of light that, when rotated between the light and the observer, make the light appear to flash. Conversely, some lenses have metal panels that, when rotated between the light and the observer, make the light appear to go dark. This Dioptric clockwork apparatus used to turn a lighthouse optical lens is very significant as it is integral to a lighthouses operation, we can also look at the social aspect of lighthouses as being traditionally rich with symbolism and conceptual meanings. Lighthouses illustrate social concepts such as danger, risk, adversity, challenge and vigilance but they also offers guidance, salvation and safety. The glowing lamp reminds sailors that security and home are well within reach, they also symbolize the way forward and help in navigating our way through rough waters not just on the oceans of the world but in our personal lives be it financial, personal, business or spiritual in nature. Nothing else speaks of safety and security in the face of adversity and challenge quite the way a lighthouse does. Revolving dioptric clockwork apparatus used to turn a Fresnel optical lighthouse lens. A cylindrical cast metal pillar and cabinet painted green with 3 glass doors enclosing the top section. Inside the pillar/cabinet is a large clockwork mechanism used to turn and regulate a lighthouse light by means of weights and a chain attached to same. One door has the name "Adams Mare" in metallic dots similar to "Braille" to the inside edge of door frame.shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, flagstaff hill, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, revolving dioptric mechanism, dioptric mechanism for lighthouse, lighthouse clockwork timing mechanism, acetylene lighthouse light mechanism, 19th century lighthouse mechanism, kerosene light, fresnel lenses, colza oil, chance brothers

Information on the Tilly Aston Heritage Collection held at Vision Australia Foundation, with some brief information about Tilly Aston (whom the collection was named after) and the resources held in the archive, and the ability of VAF to provide educational resources, accessibility advice and services to museums.1 white sheet with blue, black and green writingPhotograph of an older girl reading Braille to younger ones on a park bench (previously attributed to Tilly Aston, however there are facial discrepancies)vision australia foundation, fundraising

A series of early twentieth century photographs were sourced and reprinted on to chipboard panels for use by the Royal Blind Society of NSW publicity department, to demonstrate the work and activities that blind people did at the Sydney Industrial Blind Institute (later RBS NSW, now Vision Australia). The source of these photographs is unattributed and the remaining panels of the set have not been located.Working Braille shorthand machine - Panel 11, Photo 13 A corner of the girls' sitting room - a lesson in Braille music (blind pupil and blind teacher) - Panel 1, Photo 2 The Industrial Blind Institution, Boomerang Street, Sydney. No.1 workshop, east side - basketmaking - Panel 2, Photo 3royal blind society of nsw, education, employment

Black and white photograph showing a young child, approximately six years old, using a Perkins Brailler. Possibly taken at the RVIB's Burwood School, where the Perkins Brailler was introduced in 1963.1 black and white photograph of boy using a Perkinsrvib burwood school, braille equipment