In March 1985, Merle Reid past away. She had worked for RVIB at Burwood since 1963, first as a cleaner but later as a laundry supervisor and childcare assistant. Encouraged by Matron Dunnell, she began her teacher qualifications and went on to become a teacher at the school. With her positive outlook, she became a firm favourite with children and staff alike, and to honour her impact, a proposal was made for a new outdoor playground was made bearing her name.

Album of images and text as a tribute to Merle Reid

rvib burwood school, merle reid

In 1983 the Swan Hill Guardian became the first Talking Newspaper produced by the RVIB. In the three years since then 18 other rural newspapers followed and in 1986 there was a concerted push to add Melbourne papers to this network. This document provided an outline of the process of establishing a paper, and the role community groups and public libraries played in this.

2 foolscap page document about the Talking Newspaper Service

royal victorian institute for the blind, talking newspaper service

Annual report of the Association for the Advancement of the Blind outlined activities and events over the year, including the well attended picnics and the need to continue the work as outlined in the League of Nations which acknowledged the large number of blind people not yet employed.

1 volume of printed material with some illustrations

association for the advancement of the blind, annual reports

Article on the writer's experience with a long cane and their personal belief of it's abilities.

1 page article about long cane usage

orientation and mobility, white cane

Article by Dr Hoover on mobility aids and how more observational studies - rather than prescribed ones - should be developed.

7 typed pages that have been removed from a book

richard hoover, orientation and mobility

Newspaper articles about blindness, visually impaired or blind people and activities.

Scanned copies of newspaper articles collected by Lady Nell

lady 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

In 1986 the Royal Blind Society of New South Wales commissioned Quest films to make commercial about the Society and it's programs.

93 colour transparencies, 84 black and white transparencies and 7 printed proof sheets

royal blind society of nsw, quest films, fundraising

Recording of La Fiamma for the Talking Newspaper Service in Sydney.

10 negatives of coloured images of narrator in studio and 1 printed proof sheet

royal blind society of nsw, talking newspaper service

In late 1992, Max Thomas and Ross McKenzie from Perpetual Trustees presented a cheque to Jon Isaacs. Also included in the negatives are some taken of the archway at Enfield.

18 negatives of coloured images of donation and archway and 1 printed proof sheet

royal blind society of nsw, max thomas, ross mckenzie, jon isaacs

Business card used by Ron Black in his role as a Public Relations officer. It was found inside an album of images that he used when speaking about the Royal Blind Society of New South Wales and it's programs.

1 white with burgundy print and RBS logo

royal blind society of nsw, ron black

Introduced in 1974, the Braille Book of the Year was created to both acknowledge excellence in writing as well as raise the profile of Braille books. In 1995, the award was won by 'Goodbye Girlie' by Patsy Adam Smith. The Bathurst Award for Narrator of the Year award went to Beverley Dunn for the audio version of the same. Presentations were made by Rose Blustein, Patsy Adam Smith and Beverley Dunn at the Malthouse.

8 colour photographs of the event

J614/20 J615/8 J614/6 J615/18 J614/9 J614/5 J615/2 J614/4

awards, association for the blind, patsy adam smith, beverley dunn, rose blustein, james condon, rebecca maxwell

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 event

National 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

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 event

National 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

Introduced in 1974, the Braille Book of the Year was created to both acknowledge excellence in writing as well as raise the profile of Braille books. In 1994, the award was won by (information needed)'. The Bathurst Award for Narrator of the Year award went to Beverley Dunn for the audio version of 'White Eye: a novel', whilst 'Coming of Age' by Anne Deveson won 'Book of the Year'. Presentations were made by Anne Deveson and Beverley Dunn.

4 colour photographs of the event

awards, association for the blind, anne deveson

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 event

louis braille audio, awards, alison forbes, karl hughes, robert de graauw

Introduced in 1974, the Braille Book of the Year was created to both acknowledge excellence in writing as well as raise the profile of Braille books. In 1993, the award was won by Ruth Park for her book 'A Fence Around a Cuckoo'. The award was accepted by her literary agent Tim Curnow. The Bathurst Award for Narrator of the Year award went to Irini Pappas for the audio version of 'Put Your Whole Self In', a story about the Northcote Self Group Hydrotherapy and Massage group, by Meme McDonald, which also won 'Audio Book of the Year'. Presentations were made by Arnold Zable, Lorna Hayter, Meme McDonald, James Wright and Jeremy Wurm.

25 colour photographs, 4 black and white, 1 single negative (behind P1540.13) and 7 strips of negative

awards, braille & talking book library, james wright, arnold zable, lorna hayter, meme mcdonald, jeffrey hodgson, paul karo, rose blustein, irini pappas, jeremy wurm, michael carman, eileen larkin, iris wileman, elsie warren, beryl grover, ida dolinko, estelle cother, peggy stenboig, marjorie oke, ada handyside, sheila baldwin, joyce spokes, stanley mcgeagh, maggie millar

In 1993, as part of the Melbourne Writer's Festival, a tent was set up so that people could come and listen to readings of books shortlisted for the Braille Book and Audio Narrator of the Year at lunchtime. These images show the audience and some selected presenters including Michael Carman.

8 coloured photographs and 7 strips of negatives

awards, braille & talking book library, michael carman, james wright, karl hughes, kris benic, adrian beddows

Introduced in 1974, the Braille Book of the Year was created to both acknowledge excellence in writing as well as raise the profile of Braille books. In 1992, the award was won by Arnold Zable for his book 'Jewels and Ashes. The Bathurst Award for Narrator of the Year award went to James Wright for the audio version of the same book. Presentations were made by Trevor Hay, James Wright and Arnold Zable.

4 colour photographs, 4 black and white and 1 proof sheet of negatives

awards, braille & talking book library, trevor hay, james wright, arnold zable

Introduced in 1974, the Braille Book of the Year was created to both acknowledge excellence in writing as well as raise the profile of Braille books. In 1991, the award was won by Trevor Hay for his book 'Tartar City Woman: scenes from the life of Wang Hsin-ping, former citizen of China'. The Narrator of the Year award went to Paul Karo for 'The Rise and Fall of Alan Bond'. Presentations were made by Wilma Bedford (Director of Life Be In It), John Blackman, Rose Blustein, Ross Gibbs, Paul Cotter (?), Trevor Hay and Paul Karo.

14 colour photographs, 3 black and white and 1 proof sheet of negatives

awards, braille & talking book library, wilma bedford, paul karo, trevor hay, wang hsin-ping, john blackman, rose blustein, john cook, peter walsh, ross gibbs, paul cotter

This card provided the bearer with the ability to park on the RVIB grounds. It reads as follows: Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind 557 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, 3004, Victoria, Australia Telegraphic address: 'Royalblind". Telephone: (03) 529 3544 Fax: (03) 51 4735 Parking Authorisation Vehicle Reg. No. Date Time Authorised by Please display this card on dashboard

1 white card with blue writing and spacing for handwritten details

royal victorian institute for the blind, office equipment and supplies

44 cards (A-I) featuring four members of the Doctor, Musician, Painter, Carpenter, Barber, Scientist, Gardener, Tailor and Motorist families. Produced by RNIB, these cards were designed for various kinds of players with both print and Braille upon each card.

36 playing cards with Braille across top of card in red box

Catalogue No. 9086

recreation, games

Silver wristwatch with inscribed cover and Braille watch face.

Silver wristwatch with Braille numbers

"CYMA" on watch face "The Fred Sutcliffe Watch 24-2-60" on watch cover

assistive devices, braille, fred sutcliffe

Wood and rubber stamp used by RVIB Charlton Auxiliary volunteers on documents and envelopes.

1 small wood and rubber stamp with wording

Royal Victorian Institute Charlton Auxiliary For the Blind

royal victorian institute for the blind, office equipment and supplies, auxiliaries

Created prior to the Mowat-Wormald development, this prototype emits a beam of ultrasonic sound that detects reflection from objects and obstacles as well as vibrate when the object is within range. The rate of vibration increases the distance reduces and was designed to be used in conjunction with other mobility aids such as a cane or a dog. With a simple toggle switch, it could be operated easily or stored safely away due to it's compact size.

A small black rectangular metal container with mesh on one aend and a switch and tuning dial on the other end.

Model MS01

assistive devices, orientation and mobility

This speaking calculator was designed to perform several functions as well as memory, in synthetic voice. With two modes - visual or visual plus voice - it was powered by a nickel cadmium rechargeable battery or by a special adaptor from mains supply voltage.

Dark brown rectangular box with numerical and mathematical keyboard

TSI

assistive devices, audio equipment, office equipment and supplies

This wooden frame is designed to sit over paper pages. The elastic strands provide a guide to the writer to maintain a straight line of writing, with the beads allowing indication of space between words or sentences. This frame allows those who have deteriorating sight to continue writing handwritten notes.

1 wooden frame with elastic and beads and metal corners

association for the blind, assistive devices

Swish rules as authorised by the Victorian Swish Council on July 9, 1983. This book was part of the Braille & Talking Library collection in Commercial Road. Swish is a game played with a bat, ball and barriers on a tennis-table like court.

1 spiral bound book of thermoform pages

recreation, swish

A wooden ruler with raised metal dots marking the spacings on the ruler. Made prior to 1971, when metric measurements were introduced, this 18-inch ruler is a demonstration of how easily a simple visual measuring tool could be adapted for varying degrees of sight by the use of tactile markings.

1 wooden ruler with metal pins as measurement points

assistive devices, royal national institute for the blind

"The Board, Tilly Aston Customer Council and Staff acknowledge and record for posterity the outstanding service given to blind and vision impaired people in Victoria. This exceptional contribution was made in a selfless and warmhearted manner and continues Vision Australia's tradition of caring and sharing. Inherent in the many attributes displayed were the admirable qualities of leadership, loyalty, consistency of purpose, and a great generosity of spirit. In recognition of this distinguished service we now pay tribute to and honour Neil and Elizabeth Maxwell in the presentation of the John Wilson Award on 6th October 2000." Signed by John Cook - Chief Executive Officer, ? Chairman, Tilly Aston Customer Council and Malcolm Daubney, President.

1 white A3 page with blue border around edge

vision australia foundation, neil maxwell, elizabeth maxwell