"La Verdure Aux Canards" (Greenery with Ducks) is a large scale, needlepoint picture created by the late Mrs Marion Averay (wife of the donor) between January 1971 and April 1972 whilst she and her husband were living in France. It has been worked in Gobelin stitch on a 19hpi linen canvas. The canvas and threads (wool and silk) were purchased from the Langlois tapestry manufacturers of France. The design is a copy of a handwoven 18th century Aubusson tapestry.handicrafts, langlois, averay, mrs marion

The Geelong branch committee was established in 1976 to manage the Geelong Centre then based in Pakington Street, Newtown. One early decision was to call the Centre "Illawarra", meaning 'high place above or overlooking the sea'. The branch committee disbanded in 1993. The auxiliary was established in 1963 to increase services for blind and vision impaired local people by raising funds for Vision Australia Foundation, then known as the Association for the Blind. Over the next 39 years, until is disbanded in February 2002, the Illawarra Auxiliary (renamed in 1976) raised many thousands of dollars to achieve this aim. Branch Chairman: 1976-79 Mrs L.W.M. Heath, 1980-82 Mr R. Averay, 1982-85 Mr L.W.M. Heath, 1985-88 Mr P.P. Larcey, 1988-91 Dr. B.J. Landsell, 1991-93 Mr F. Francesevic Auxiliary President: 1964-66 Mrs K.S. Nall, 1967-69 Mrs G.S. Gray, 1970-72 Mrs L.M.W. Heath, 1973 Mrs E. Currell, 1974-75 Mrs L.W.M. Heath, 1975-78 Mrs E. Snibson, 1979-84 Mrs I.E. Backwell, 1984-86 Mrs D.P. Smith, 1986-89 Mrs E.E.A. Donaldson, 1989-93 Mrs B. McKane, 1993-99 Mrs J. Backwell, 1999- Mrs B. McKane This photograph was taken of the honour board that previously hung in the Geelong Centre.Image of honour board with names of the people who were Geelong Branch chairmen or Auxiliary Presidents association for the blind, illawarra (geelong)