A mid-twenties male uses a white cane to navigate a footpath on a busy road.1 x B/W photograph of man using white caneFile: Skills Training - O&M A white cane provides blind people with early warning of obstacles. Using a white cane for mobility.royal blind society of new south wales, white cane day, orientation and mobility

Two trouser legs and soft pair of leather shoes descend steps, along with a white cane.B/W photograph of man walking down steps with white caneSkills Training - O&M A white cane provides blind people with early warning of obstacles 5A inset into Pic 5 CJ 481/C/4royald blind society of nsw, white cane day

RBS client Zelko Mikulic receives white cane training from an RBS O&M instructor.Black and white photograph of man holding white cane guided by instructor1/68049 Mobility training - 1967royal blind society of nsw, white cane day, zelko mikulic

The Royal Blind Society undertook a review of it's White Cane Day media coverage in 1994, to see where it could improve awareness of events.3 pages review the promotion of White Cane dayroyal blind society of new south wales, white cane day, marketing

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

A female with a white cane is standing with another female at the head of stairs, possibly at RBS Enfield.1 B/W photograph of two woman in stairway, one using a white caneFile: Field Servicesroyal blind society of new south wales, white cane day, orientation and mobility

In 1964 the first White Cane Safety Day was proclaimed in the United States, to recognise the white cane as a method of independence for blind people and increase awareness by motorists to pay extra consideration to white cane users. Since then the recognition of White Cane Day has spread around the world including Asia, Africa and Europe. In Australia, Queensland was the first state to celebrate White Cane Day in 1978, followed by Victoria in 1979.Typewritten letter in brown frameOn the back: This proclamation of October 15, each year, as White Cane Day throughout the State of Victoria, was made by the Premier of Victoria, the Honourable R.J. Hamer as the result of a deputation by blind people from the Association for the Blind on Thursday October 12th, 1978.rupert hamer, association for the blind, white cane day

The Organising Committee for White Cane Day created a pamphlet (or booklet) of information on each of the organisations involved. These two versions represent the original and final versions of this document.2 x White Cane Day Organising Committee information leafletswhite cane day, advertising

A bearded man walks on a grassy area next to the RBS building in Enfield, having just walked past a couple holding hands.2 B/W photographs of man using white caneFile: Skills Training - O&M 88-7 A white cane provides blind people with early warning of obstacles. S-129, bottom picture of page 3 Gordon Tibbles, PR Officer RBSroyal blind society of new south wales, white cane day, orientation and mobility

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

To celebrate White Cane Day in 2008, a group of cane users met at the Travellers Aid office at Flinders Street station, before walking down the escalators, along the platform and along the Yarra River and St Kilda Road at Southbank.98 digital images of people participating in the 2008 White Cane Day eventvision australia, white cane day, cath caddis, tracy wright, kylie gerson, nicola misso, di seybold, flinders street station

In 1980, the original week long session of planned activities to celebrate White Cane Day was jettisoned for displays and presentations in the new City Square. These included films, Swish demonstrations, children’s tactile artwork and photographs. It was a lovely sunny day, with crowds enjoying a performance by the Victorian Police Brass Band and their well known equine Gendarme, as well as the Lightfooters square dancing. The Minister of Health, Bill Borthwick, officially opened the program of activities.10 B/W photographs of White Cane Day celebrationswhite cane day, janene sadhu, bill borthwick, john cook, john wilson, lindsay mcmillan, phyllis gration, bryan sitlington

Andrew walks along an external building verandah using a sonic guide and white cane.1 x B/W photograph of man walking with assistive devicesFile: Skills Training - O&M A white cane provides blind people with early warning of obstacles. (Andrew is also wearing a sonic guide in glasses.) Walking with the aid of sonic guide glasses. Technology for blind people at the Royal Blind Society. Credit: Rankin/1987royal blind society of new south wales, white cane day

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

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 brief history of White Cane day outlining the use of the white cane in the United States and Australia.1 page typed sheet of informationwhite cane day, advertising

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

Minutes of the first White Cane Day organising committee, led by Bryan Sitlington, who organised events to celebrate the first proclaimed White Cane Day in Victoria.22 pages of typed meeting minutes on white paperwhite cane day, bryan sitlington, john blanch, blind members council, howard m. lightfoot, norman banks, derek pickard, adrienne kemp, lindsay mcmillan, c. poulson, royal guide dogs association, l. triggot, val whitehead, villa maria society, r. johnston, royal victorian eye & ear hospital, royal victorian institute for the blind, braille and talking book library, association for the blind

A leaflet produced to raise awareness of white canes. On the front a man's hand holds a white cane. Inside the leaflet reads "Bear in mind the white cane is a symbol of the visually handicapped" and was produced by the White Cane Committee, 247 Vulture Street, South Brisbane, Q, 4101.1 page with illustration of white caneIllustration of a hand holding a white cane on the front pagewhite cane day, advertising

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 seventh White Cane Day organising committee, chaired by Bryan Sitlington.33 pages of typed meeting minutes on white paperassociation for the blind, braille and talking book library, royal victorian institute for the blind, royal guide dogs for the blind association, white cane day, bryan sitlington, val whitehead, harold gration, national federation of blind citizens, ross johnstone, villa maria society, camille wilkins, sue fraser, iris whittaker

Minutes of the sixth White Cane Day organising committee, chaired by Bryan Sitlington.25 pages of typed meeting minutes on white papersue fraser, royal victorian institute for the blind, white cane day, bryan sitlington, val whitehead, harold gration, royal guide dogs for the blind association, royal victorian eye and ear hospital, ross johnstone, villa maria society, mark jones, camille wilkins, bob gregory, sue hardy, chris anderson, braille and talking book library, association for the blind

Barbara Giblin, a mobility instructor with RBS, guides a long cane user, down stairs. 1 B/W photograph of woman instructing another on using white cane down the stairsMiss Barbara Giblin, mobility instructor, with client on use of the Hoover long cane. Mobility - national. Negative number: 7/72105royal blind society of nsw, white cane day, orientation and mobility, barbara giblin

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

Brief information sheet produced by the White Cane Day committee, comprising of representatives from various organisations. It gives a brief history of the day and the committee that was formed to celebrate this.1 typed page on white paperwhite cane day, advertising

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

Another example of a painted white cane, made from a tree branch stripped of lateral buds, but with a metal tip indicating its primary use as a navigation device rather than a support stick.Wooden white cane with crooked handle with metal tipassistive devices, white caned

Two people are walking in the front garden of RVIB. The man holds a white cane in front of him, whilst the woman raises her arm as she helps advise in use of the cane.Digital image of a male using a white cane with a woman along side to assistroyal victorian institute for the blind, orientation and mobility