Annual report providing overview of activities and achievements including: due to a second year of COVID disruptions 20% of services were delivered by telehealth, launch of "Happy Pants" program for children under 10, audio description services provided for Melbourne Theatre Company streaming of 'As You Like It', Feelix Library now offering Lego Braille Bricks kits to borrowers, partnership with Amazon to connect to VA offices through Alexa, and return of the Bendigo Easter Egg Hunt.1 volume with illustrations providing overview of organisational achievementsvision australia, corporation records, andrew moffat, ron hooton, katie spence, sanjiv rajendran, laura hendrey, gurleen chona, kieran jiwa, jessica gallagher, katie farrell, anthony carbines, nastasia campanella, callum padgett, ellie hudson, michelle percuoco, carly shedden, natalie kaine, rebecca kent, stephanie micallef, tones and i, lina xi, paige coleman, walter mcguire, bec murrell, natasha maclaren jones, tony broun

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 1993 the winner of the Adult Literature Category and Overall winner was "The English Patient" by Louis Braille Production and its narrator Stanley McGeagh.8 colour photographs of the eventlouis braille audio, awards, alison forbes, karl hughes, robert de graauw

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 1994 the winner of the Adult Literature Category and Overall winner was "White Eye: A Novel" by Louis Braille Production and its narrator Beverley Dunn.4 black and white photographs of the eventNational Library of Australia Photographic Services Photograph: Loui Seselja Date: 15.11.94 Film No NL 37599 louis braille audio, awards, karl hughes, robert de graauw, beverley dunn, blanche d'alpuget, rose blustein

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 Adult Literature Category and Overall winner was "Dark Places" by Louis Braille Production and its narrator James Condon.5 black and white photographs of the eventNational Library of Australia Photographic Services Photograph: Loui Seselja Date: 14.11.95 Film No NL 37827 louis braille audio, awards, kate grenville, rose blustein, james condon

This ARSA low vision jumbo quartz unisex watch is black mat aluminium with black face of 34 mm and 12 white figures and black leather strap. Auguste Reymond has now been the leading Swiss manufacturer for forty years in the field of Braille and low vision watches, distributing ARSA timepieces all over the world, in cooperation with all major associations dedicated to the support of the visually impaired. All timepieces are genuine Swiss made watches, assembly by hand in their premises.1 jumbo black and white watchassistive devices, arsa

Annual report of the Association for the Advancement of the Blind outlined activities and events over the year, including 240 members, decision to establish a home for the indigent blind, 800 visits have been paid to people in their homes, more than 90 pounds has been lent to members in distress, provision has been made in the new Electoral Bill for the Blind to record their votes and the loss of Mr Norris from Mackay, who had become of the first members of the Braille Correspondence Club and contributed articles to magazines.1 volume of printed material with some illustrationsassociation for the advancement of the blind, annual reports

First annual report for the National Information Library Service, which was created through the merge of the Library and Material Production Units of RVIB and RBS. In August 2001, Roxanne Missingham (National Library of Australia) launched NILS which was designed to reduce duplication between state-based services, increase the variety of Braille, audio and e-text materials and reduce costs. This report shows the progress towards these goals, the future inclusion of Vision Australia Foundation and the number of books, loans and materials produced over the year.national information library service, corporation records, jamie kelly, tim mitchell, ann carlson

RVIB Auxiliaries raised monies for the organisation at a grassroots level, via a variety of meetings, fundraisers and events. To keep them in touch with head office and to let branches what other branches were doing across the state, regular newsletters were sent out. Presentation of lifetime achievement awards by Governor John Landy, launch of the Feelix Early Childhood Braille Book Library, staff profile of Patsy Vizents, RVIB Gold Ball, RVIB for Sight Week, reports from Auxiliaries around the state and obituaries.32 pages of text and imagesroyal victorian institute for the blind, auxiliaries

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

"In Memory of the Late FRED BROMLEY First President and Life Member of Narbethong Welfare Association for Visually Handicapped Children and Young Adults Inc 1975-1984. He was made a Life Member in recognition of his tireless services. IN APPRECIATION There is also a digital image of the Braille version of the plaque. Fred Bromley was a Queensland MP (1960-1974) and in addition to the above role in the Welfare Association, was also an executive member of the Lady Nell Seeing Eye Dog School, and was awarded an Order of Australia in 1984 in "recognition of service to the community, particular the welfare of disabled people".Grey flecked plastic sign with white letteringfred bromley, nameplates

Framed portrait of Tilly Aston who began the Association for the Advancement of the Blind, a forerunner to the Association for the Blind. It is part of a series of paintings commissioned by the AFB Board to commemorate the work of past presidents of the organisation. Tilly sits with one hand resting against a table, and the other in her lap. She is wearing a black collared dress with a white lace neck ruff held with an opal pin. Two medals (the Jubilee medal and Coronation medal) are pinned to the chest, each consisting of a red and white bowtie with a brass medallion. Tilly Aston was born in Carisbrook, Victoria, in 1873. When she was very young her parents noticed she was having problems with her vision. They took her to a doctor who diagnosed her with no sight in her right eye and the prognosis of loss of vision in the left eye. As a result of this she was totally blind by the age of 7. Despite this her parents endeavoured to give Tilly as many of life’s advantages that their limited means could supply. From an early age she was taught singing, music, poetry, arithmetic, encouraged to read and observe the natural world around her and be independent. At the age of 8 she was sent to the Asylum and School for the Blind (later called the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind). She excelled in a wide range of subjects and matriculated in 1889. With the help of a public fund was able to attend Melbourne University, being the first blind Australian to do so. Unfortunately the lack of Braille text books made it impossible for Tilly to continue her studies and she left in second year. Tilly was determined that other blind people would not have the same negative experience she had had. In 1894 she organised a meeting to form the Victorian Association of Braille Writers with the aim of producing and supplying Braille to blind Victorians. Braille was produced by trained volunteers with ? recruited in the first six month. Other rights and services for blind people remained very limited. In 1895 Tilly organised a meeting, which formed the Association for the Advancement of the Blind (now Vision Australia). The Association was instrumental in obtaining many benefits for blind people including a blind pension, voting rights and transport concessions. It also established the first nursing homes for blind people, at a time when many blind people were homeless and destitute. Tilly went on to be Australia’s first blind teacher. She was also a very talented musician, author of seven books and was very gifted at arts and crafts. She knew Esperanto and corresponded with people all around the world including Helen Keller. Tilly passed away on November 1st 1947. Her legacy continues through the work Vision Australia which provides services for thousands of blind Australians. A memorial bell dedicated to her is also situated in the King Domain Gardens. 1 art original in gold frameThe plaque at the base of the painting reads 'Miss Matilda (Tilly) A. Aston / President 1904, 1910, 1943 to 1947/ Association for Advancement of the Blind'. association for the advancement of the blind, association for the blind, tilly aston

Articles in annual report include: the development of an educational camp at Romsey through the bequest of Mrs Cecelia Tye, a new Family Group home at Andrews Street, East Burwood, new program developed for Trans Australia Airlines providing mobility instruction to air hostesses when guiding blind passengers, three kiosks at RMIT, Melbourne University and RVIB providing employment and training for blind workers, a short term contract assembling motorcycles, introduction of paperless Brailler (Digicasette), beginning of Il Globo becoming available as an audio magazine and provision of up to $3000 interest home loan for blind people. 1 volume of printed materialroyal victorian institute for the blind, 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

Annual report of the Association for the Advancement of the Blind outlined activities and events over the year, including membership of 166, the death of B.W. Holgate who was a most active worker, another order of goods has arrived from England, due to the large increase of work an office has been opened at Oxford Chambers, the Tea Agency has been reorganised, decision to establish an Australian Braille Correspondence club, asking for help in identifying anyone needing the services of the Association and efforts being made to remove the Immigration Restriction Act thus removing the bond required when travelling between states.1 volume of printed material with some illustrationsassociation for the advancement of the blind, annual reports

Henry Stainsby (1859-1925), Supt. of the Birmingham Royal Institution for the Blind, (later General Secretary of the British & Foreign Blind Association) along with Birmingham manufacturer Albert Wayne, introduced their Shorthand Braille Writer, circa 1910-1940. Used at the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind. These machines were often supplied with a case, to deaden the sound when in use. The machine was designed to take down verbatim reports from dictation. As the strip of paper passes automatically through the machine, no time is needed to adjust the paper or the machine for each line. Speeds of 80 - 140 words per minute can be obtained.Black metal typewriter which has seven keys and a small reel of paper415 Stainsby-Wayne Embossed Shorthand Typewriter Patented * Alfred Wayne * Birm, ENGbraille equipment, royal victorian institute for the blind

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. After the conclusion, Vision Australia Foundation decided to continue the awards in-house.1 digital imageVision Australia Library Awards 2001 2001 Braille Book of the Year: The Shark Net by Robert Drewe 2001 Sanderson Young Adult Narrator of the Year: David Tredinnick for Max 2001 Sanderson Young Adult Audio Book of the Year: Whistle Man by Brian Ridden 2001 Adult Narrator of the Year: Deidre Rubenstein and James Wright for The Architect 2001 Adult Audio Book of the Year: Conditions of Faith by Alex Millervision australia foundation

Various images taken of library processes and staff, for the NILS Annual Report. These include: - the Circulation area, where items were returned via post and stacked on trolleys. Cassette books were checked for completeness (as a book could require multiple cassette containers or having missing cassettes) and if they had been rewound, before returning. The computer system either re-circulated the book out to another borrower or put to storage in the Hanging Carousel, which was 1 storey high and housed 1000's of books. Books being sent out again were issued a card with the address label printed on it, and were required to be placed in the address rack on the book, before being shipped out via post. - Computer Access Centre was located in the Browsing Library and consisted of two computers, one with a larger screen for increased font size and a trackball mouse designed for people with limited mobility. - Duplication where blank cassettes are loaded into 'slaves' and a master recording duplicated on to multiple tapes - Browsing Library where a small selection of Braille, audio and large print books are kept and can be viewed. - Braille and Large Print Production, where text is scanned then transformed into the desired format, before proofing and dispatch to the client. - Audio Production studios where text is recorded by single or multiple narrators, and produced. 298 images of NILS staff, clients and volunteersnational information library service, john turner, carl sayo, tim mitchell, marnie rose-smith, ted johnson, craig carey, jamie kelly, alan egerton, alan bates, bernadette jolley, debbie cooke, kelly thong, robert de graauw, karl hughes, justin bates, jean watson

The Eureka A4 was invented in Melbourne by Milan Hudacek, and designed to capitalise on the growth of IBM PCs. It attached to the PC and allowed blind and vision impaired people to utilise screen orientated programs. It had a sockets for telephone lines, a Braille keyboard, an inbuilt disk drive, speed and volume controls as as well outlets for data ports and headphones. The Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind (now a part of Vision Australia) received both the Eureka Award and the Qantas Rolls Royce Award in 1990 for its participation in the development and promotion of the Eureka A4 computer. It was the first computer of its kind, designed specifically for people who are blind or vision impaired.1 black rectangular box with grey and orange keys with advertising leafletSerial no: 1897braille equipment, assistive devices, milan hudacek

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

The Feelix library was developed to help children who were blind or have low vision experience the connection with books via tactile objects. Each print book was hand selected, a clear Braille overlay placed on the pages, and items relating to the story were made or purchased and added to the kit. The kit (book and objects) was held inside a cardboard suitcase and sent through the mail in a bright orange, zippered plastic padded pouch with a carry strap. On May 22, 2007 Sigrid Thornton visited the Feelix library at the RVIB Burwood School for a special story time with Kate, William, Seth, Claudia, Amelia, Liam, Dominic, Anna and others.66 digital images of Sigrid Thornton's visit to the Feelix libraryroyal victorian institute for the blind, feelix, rvib burwood school, sigrid thornton, trish anderson, robyn sainsbury-vale

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. After the conclusion, Vision Australia Foundation decided to continue the awards in-house.1 digital image of poster produced to celebrate winning multiple awardsVision Australia Library 2002 Awards Winners Braille Book of the Year: Rose Boys by Peter Rose Adult Audio Book of the Year: Corfu by Robert Dessaix Adult Narrator of the Year: Paul English for Corfu Civica Young Adult Audio Book of the Year: Willow Tree and Olive by Irini Savvides Civica Young Adult Narrator of the Year: Melissa Eccleston for Willow Tree and Olive Vision Australia Library Producing books in alternative formats since1894vision australia foundation, awards

Members and staff of Vision Australia Foundation's library service at the 2002 Library Awards night held at the Kooyong office. 1 - Karl Hughes and Jennifer Yang 2 - David Tredinnick and Caroline Lee (narrators) 3 - Liana Fonti and Joelle Rault 4 - unknown 5 - Marie Aberle, Meike Mellars and Lynda Downie 6 - Jane Clifton and Evelyn Krape (narrators) 7 - Tony Porter (narrator) 8 - Joelle Rault and Anna Fairclough 9 - Caroline Baum (host) 10 - Don Watson (author) presenting the Braille Book of the Year Award 11 - Peter Rose, author of Rose Boys, Braille Book of the Year winner. 12 - Judge (unknown) 13 - Stig Wemyss (narrator) 14 - Melissa Eccleston (narrator) 15 - Rebecca Macauley (narrator) 16 - Chris Thewlis (from Civica Pty Ltd, sponsor) 17 - Agnes Nieuwenhuizen presenting YA Book of the Year award to Irini Savvides, auhor of Willow Tree and Olive 18 - Irini Savvides 19 - Paul English (narrator) 20 - Paul English (narrator) 21 - Deidre Rubenstein (narrator) 22 - Evelyn Krape (narrator) 23 - Robert Stillwell (of Bib Stillwell BMW, sponsor) 24 - Robert presenting award to Paul English for his narration of either Corfu or The Blind Eye (he was nominated twice) 25 - Paul English 26 - Hilary McPhee (publisher/editor) presenting Adult Audio Book of the Year Award 27 - Hilary McPhee 28 - Either the winning author, or the author’s representative, accepting the award28 photographs of attendees for the 2002 Vision Australia Foundation Library Awards.vision australia foundation, awards, book of the year, karl hughes, jennifer yang, david tredinnick, caroline lee, liana fonti, joelle rault, marie aberle, meike mellars, lynda downie, jane clifton, evelyn krape, tony porter, anna fairclough, caroline baum, don watson, peter rose, stig wemyss, melissa eccleston, rebeca macauley, chris thewlis, agnes nieuwenhuizen, irini savvides, paul english, deidre rubenstein, robert stillwell, hilary mcphee

In 1995, the Association for the Blind celebrated it's centenary with the release of a silver coloured medallion that was available for purchase. On the front is a cameo of a woman wearing a pendant and an old fashioned ruffled blouse. Around the outside is written 'Tilly Aston' and '1873-1947' . On the reverse is brailled 'They're sowing the tiny seeds of action!' on the outer rim and in the middle is the figure '100' with a small spray of laurel each side. Beneath this are the words 'Association for the Blind Centenary 1995'. The medallion is inset to a blue velour box, with a white lining on the lid and a round circle in gold with 'Association for the Blind Centenary', '100' and '1895-1995'. A small yellow paper leaflet briefly describes the setting up of the Association for the Advancement of the Blind by Tilly Aston. Silver coloured medallion with illustrations, in box with accompanying leafletBox - Association for the Blind centenary, 100, 1895-1995association for the blind, awards