The Lady Nell Seeing Eye Dog School was founded at Wonga Park in April 1960. This plaque commemorates the official opening by Hon. T.W. Mitchell and reads: This plaque marks the opening of the Lady Nell Seeing Eye Dog School by the Hon. T.W. Mitchell M.L.A. on the 10th April 1960. Later that year, a property at 16 Thanet Street Malvern was purchased, and the school relocated to that site.This plaque marks the opening of the Lady Nell Seeing Eye Dog School by the Hon. T.W. Mitchell M.L.A. on the 10th April 1960nameplates, lady nell seeing eye dog school

A booklet promoting the work of the Lady Nell 'seeing eye' dog school from 1977. The school at the time was the only original 'seeing eye' dog school in Victoria, which was registered with the Hospitals and Charities Commission and was financially assisted by the Victorian State Government. The booklet was for sale for $1.00.36 page pamphlet with portraitslady nell seeing eye dog school, phyllis gration

President's overview of the year including: discussion about the government investigation and those who gave negative testimony, withdrawal of Government's case and clearance of accusations, full disclosure of Terms of Settlement, inaccurate comparisons made with Kew facility, reflection on how investigations were conducted, resignation of Greg Cooper due to harassment by investigators, opening of a handicraft and rehabilitation centre in Annerley, article on Alf Kemmel and his involvement with the breeding program, mini profiles of some people with their dogs, 12 people graduated this year, request for more homes for breeding dogs, enlargement of day centre, and purchase of goodwill of St Leeor Nursing Home (freehold bought in 1985) to extend nursing home facilities to blind and visually impaired. Annual Report for Guide Dog Owners and Friends Association is also included with list of committee members, net surplus, auditor's report, biographical notes of Executive Director and Facts about Lady Nell Seeing Eye Dog School and Rehabilitation Centre.1 volume with text and illustrationsannual reports, lady nell seeing eye dog school, phyllis gration

Three commemorative, but also usable, spoons with 'Lady Nell' and 'Seeing Eye Dog School' on a beige background, around a blue and beige circle with a dog in harness in the middle. An orange background as the outer rim makes it resemble an eye. The bowl and handles of the three spoons vary in design. Spoon collecting was a popular hobby during the late 1970s and early 1980s amongst souvenir hunters who found it an easily portable way to track their travels and interests. 3 silver plated spoons with various bowl and handle shapesfundraising, lady nell seeing eye dog school

President's overview of the year including: despite obstacles 10 people graduated with seeing eye dogs this year including some who had suffered health issues and required re-training or delayed training, this was a good achievement given the departure of 2 senior trainers and the lack of suitable puppies, the onslaught of unjustified media attacks has wrecked public relations work, the distinction that the Guide Dog Owners and Friends Association conducts the Seeing Eye Dog School (and not the other way around) as well as other activities which take time and money, hostel continues to provide accommodation, case against The Herald newspaper for defamation for it's very damaging article in 'The Herald and Weekly Times newspaper', litigation with Government due to biased investigation, disbanding of two auxiliaries due to age of members and adverse publicity about the school, thanks to Barbara Peach and her husband for their support during difficult times, Faye Rea for her devotion to the work in Queensland, and various other individuals. Annual Report for Guide Dog Owners and Friends Association is also included with list of committee members, net surplus, auditor's report, biographical notes of Executive Director and Facts about Lady Nell Seeing Eye Dog School and Rehabilitation Centre.1 volume with text and illustrationsannual reports, lady nell seeing eye dog school, phyllis gration

President's report including shortages of staff and suitable dogs, the work of the Stawell (founded in 1966) and Beeac (founded in 1970) Auxiliaries, working with Kua Cheng Hock and his dog Stacy in both Australia and Singapore, donation by Rodney Haig of his prize money for Tattersalls award, the purchase of a caravan and workshop to provide services in Queensland, and the success of the hostel and day centre programs. Articles on 'How a Seeing Eye Dog is Trained' by Kim Gration, profile of Phyllis Gration and the establishment of Lady Nell, as well as Patti Gration losing her mobility due to an accident, as well as images of various people with Seeing Eye dogs.1 volume with text and illustrationsannual reports, lady nell seeing eye dog school, harry vanderjagt, phyllis gration, patti gration

President's overview of how the school started and it's relationship with Guide Dogs over the years, with references to AFB and Malvern residents, resulting in the publication of untruths about the school and how this has negatively impacted upon it's primary objective of training and supporting Seeing Eye dogs. The proposed freeway through the five acre property purchased for expansion and other challenges faced throughout the year are also mentioned.1 volume with text and illustrationsannual reports, lady nell seeing eye dog school, phyllis gration

President's overview of defamatory media and government investigation of the school, reopening of the hostel at 2 Derril Avenue, Malvern, difficulty in obtaining pups, difficulties in not being able to expand at Thanet Street site and inability to use the Dingley site as intended due to the proposed freeway, inability to fundraise due to bad publicity, court action against Herald-Sun journalists, discussion over cases where dogs were removed and profiles of some people and their dogs. 1 volume with text and illustrationsannual reports, lady nell seeing eye dog school, phyllis gration

President's overview of the year including: the sadness of retiring dogs, opposition by the Hard Headed Group to the approved application for use of 12-12a and 18 Thanet Street as places of instruction, extra work required by an FOI application, lack of suitable puppies experienced, welcome back to Mrs Chandler, Michael Riley and Russell Wills, and farewell to Ralph Church and Margaret McDonald, closure of hostel at 384 Wattletree Road due to lack of ability to staff, life governorships awarded to Marianne and Brian Davenport, resignation of Sir Rammond Garrett and death of Hon. T.W. Mitchell, both Foundation Members. Articles on the Kurzweil Reading Machine, Queensland branch report, tribute to Tilly Aston, article from The Age on how Seeing Eye dogs have helped James Allerdyce and Ansett ANA worker Judith Barczak fundraising to pay for a dog.1 volume with text and illustrationsannual reports, lady nell seeing eye dog school, phyllis gration

President's overview of the year including: the beginnings of the school at Wonga Park, Arthur McKay being the first person to receive a dog, the scarcity of funds after training the first dog and the joy of receiving the first substantial donation from the Sunshine Foundation Trust, opposition from some quarters, Kim Gration and Dennis Gration involvement with the school, the work of Pat Mallaney in Tasmania, support and assistance from vet Dr Rowan Blogg, opening the activity centre in 1962, seeing eye dog trainer Judy Oakenfell, the sale of Wonga Park and transfer to Malvern, threats to dismiss Harold Gration working due to involvement with the school, overview of growth of Queensland branch, working with Jeff Mowat who developed the Mowatt sensor, training of people around Australia and from New Zealand, return of 'Stacey' from Singapore due to not being accepted on public transport, restaurants, etc, diverse age range of people trained, less people volunteering, loss of 3 auxiliaries due to lack of members, and opening of shop and welfare centre in Cairns.1 volume with text and illustrationsannual reports, lady nell seeing eye dog school, phyllis gration

President's overview of the year including: completion of reception room which joins 16 and 18 Thanet Street, thoughts on the success of the school, attendance at International Dog Guide Conference in London, over 27 years the school has trained over 800 dogs, deaths of Jack Franks and Thelma McKenniariey, assisted actor Robert Menzies portray a blind character in the movie 'Cactus', difficulties in running the hostel and day centre with few qualified people to fill vacancies for the former and lack of volunteer drivers for the latter, decision to close Cairns shop, resignation of Kevin O'Mahoney and difficulties in replacing him, long cane training in Queensland, demand for guest speakers, thank you to work experience students, welcome to Ray Owens, presentation of Anzac Award by Lt Governor at Government House, beginning of in-house breeding program - rather that rely on donations of suitable puppies - with Roz McNaught, Alf Krummel and Dawn Robinson providing and housing these dogs.1 volume with text and illustrationsannual reports, lady nell seeing eye dog school, phyllis gration

Newspaper articles about blindness, visually impaired or blind people and activities.Scanned copies of newspaper articles collected by Lady Nelllady nell seeing eye dog school, royal victorian institute for the blind, association for the blind, royal institute for the blind (sa), villa maria society, queensland industrial institute for the blind, guide dogs for the blind association of victoria, australian national council of and for the blind, phyllis gration, max medlyn, christopher finnen, dawn goebel, arthur mackey, walter jacobs, kevin o'mahoney, jean smith, pam marks, white cane, assistive devices, garry stinchcombe, matey fisher, robert gordon, ruth keoden, winsome mclean, arthur wilkins, len childs, bob elliott, graham miller, jack birkett, norman pressey, don westaway, norman salmon, mark houran, yvonne simpson, irmo guglielamana, jenny ziviani, shaun oliver, peter goss, albert poelstra, ewan gouldon, uncle ben's of australia, dr henry nowik, mary martin, kathleen wenzer, donna hayes, ken campbell, barry murphy, michael riley, jack dowdle, harold gration, leah francis (nee wilson), john dingle, alex mcnish, peter richards, irene mye, jim finn, cec mcillwraith, terry carlson, keith smith, gordon stent, frank taylor, don verlander, olive moody, roslyn sackley, ross johnson, jako mikulic, jewel blanche, william mckennariey, vicki barclay, grantley dee, ray hannah

President's overview of the year including: 11 people have graduated with 1 more expected shortly, School meets the cost of flying people into Melbourne to train with dog rather than establish schools around Australia, how Elizabeth and Jean came from New Zealand to train as they wanted to attend a school established by a blind person, returned home but the emigrated back to Australia. Jean suffered a stroke and was cared for by her sister, and when Elizabeth needed to train with a new dog, Jean was able to stay in the Nursing Home opposite the school. Until Lady Nell was established, age restrictions were imposed so that no woman over 45 and no man over 55 could train with a dog, which Mrs Gration changed when establishing the school, with the oldest graduate at 78 and the youngest at 14 years of age. Challenges in getting people who had the dedication to become a guide dog trainer, and the movement of recent appointees. Another previous requirement was that only totally blind people could have a guide dog, which was amended by Mrs Gration so that people with minimal sight could also apply for one. Seeing eye dogs are also de-sexed, which is not always the procedure at other institutions. Some discussion of the activities at the Day Activity Centre, commencement of a two storey building at 12 Thanet Street to increase accommodation and indoor recreation activities, hostel for blind men and women, as well as the St Leeor Private Nursing Home. Discussion about puppy boarders as well as people who have stepped up into the public relations role (Trevor Mayers and Lesley Marsh) due to staff changes, and return of Greg Cooper to a part-time role.1 volume with text and illustrationsannual reports, lady nell seeing eye dog school, phyllis gration

President's overview of the year including: the replacement of an older house with a 2 storey building at 12 Thanet Street, continued success of the St Leeor Nursing Home under director Anita Henley, need for permanent and temporary accommodation as offered by the hostel at 2 Derril Avenue, popularity of Day Activity Centre, loss of Adeline Levinson, thanks to Jan McCall and Dr Tony Mason, appeal for volunteers and opportunities for speaking engagements, and profile of Phyllis Gration.1 volume with text and illustrationsannual reports, lady nell seeing eye dog school, phyllis gration

President's overview of the year including: activities taking place in the new 2 storey building at 12 Thanet Street, continued success of the St Leeor Nursing Home and the hostel at 2 Derril Avenue, popularity of Day Activity Centre, return of Ian Westerland after the completion of his Social Work degree, changes in Queensland office, appeal for volunteers and opportunities for speaking engagements, and profile of Phyllis Gration.1 volume with text and illustrationsannual reports, lady nell seeing eye dog school, phyllis gration

President's overview of the year including: difficulties in securing funds from an estate in NSW due to challenges from Guide Dogs, continued good work done by Trevor Mayers and Wendy Madams in the Queensland office, information on how the program works, appeal for volunteers and opportunities for speaking engagements, and profile of Phyllis Gration.1 volume with text and illustrationsannual reports, lady nell seeing eye dog school, phyllis gration

President's overview of the year including: difficulties in securing funds from estates who use wording other than specified by the association, opening of an office in Geelong, return of Michelle Noyce in the Queensland office, competition for donated dollars, role of Phyllis Gration in passing law that assistance dogs should not be excluded from transport or public place, holiday at Seamist in Otways for Swish Club and various staff members and their families, visits from Bill Thornton (Canada) and Alan Brookes (Int. Federation of Guide Dog Assoc. for the Blind), information on how the program works, appeal for volunteers and opportunities for speaking engagements, and profile of Phyllis Gration.1 volume with text and illustrationsannual reports, lady nell seeing eye dog school, phyllis gration

As part of educating the community, the Lady Nell Seeing Eye Dog School undertook a series of school visits to promote the work and the understanding of seeing eye dogs. Here are a collection of images from these visits.6 x B/W photographslady nell seeing eye dog school, phyllis gration

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

"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