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

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

Wooden braille board with wooden header, hinged with brass hinges and small pins to clamp the paper to the board. Metal frames on each side hold a rod across the front of the board. The rod is fixed to two moveable parts which can go up or down the board as required.

1 wooden back board with metal flanges either side

royal victorian institute for the blind, braille equipment

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 Unabridged Fiction Category was "Dark Places" by Louis Braille Books.

1 wooden cassette box shaped like a book and with ability to hold cassettes inside

1995 TDK Australian Audio Book Award Dark Places by Louis Braille Books

louis braille audio, awards, association for the blind

Financial report for the Royal Blind Society of New South Wales for the financial year ending 30 June 2000.

1 volume of text and images

royal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

Articles in the annual report include: establishment of Vision Assist service to help people use their remaining sight, creation of an Equipment Resource Centre at Enfield, a 1300 number set up to improve access to services, development of JobPhone to listen to employment classifieds in Fairfax newspapers, Talking Newspaper Service in Lismore, Narooma and Manly celebrated their 10th birthdays whilst the 29th title was launched in Lake Macquarie, introduction of an Audio Description Services for arts lovers, operation of several primary and high school aged camps for peer support, beginning of joint venture with RVIB to combine transcription and library services, and being named 'Australia's Best Run Charity' in 1999 by The Australian newspaper.

1 volume of text and images

royal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

Financial report for the Royal Blind Society of New South Wales for the financial year ending 30 June 2003.

1 volume of text and images

royal blind society of new south wales, corporation records

An overview of activities and achievements during the past financial year. Articles in annual report include: opening two new offices in Coffs Harbour and Canberra, merging library services with RVIB and VAF, development of the "Do It Yourself" package with the University of Sydney and launched by Benita Collings, Behind the Budget luncheon with H.G. Nelson, Wendy Harmer and Peter Berner, a tactile art exhibition with the Sydney's Object Gallery, building a new volunteer Speakers Network and profiles of volunteers Clarys Churchill and Ian Carswell, and clients Emily McNeil, Tess Herbert, Nelson Rufatt, Jonathan Mondy, Fiona Williams, James Pittar, Rita Lucas, Noni Guthrie, Alexandra Sugis and Elizabeth Ford.

1 printed volume of information about the RBS during the financial year

royal blind society of nsw, annual reports, lauren rapley, emily mcneil, graeme innes, pearl stapleton, dick smith, clarys churchill, tess herbert, benita collings, erica chiandotto, nelson rufatt, natalie kaine, jonathan mondy, annette hayes, fiona williams, james pittar, rita lucas, cem oztan, noni guthrie, alexandra sugis, elizabeth ford, paula-jane robinson, ian carswell, andrew daddo, wendy matthews, tayla fitten, dion milton, peter berner, wendy harmer, h.g. nelson, marie bashir, walter bolin, victoria maggs, katherine purcell, michael simpson, john landau, denis lister, carol ireland, stephanie peebles, barry chapman, christopher cullen, charles cowper, frank martin, ivan cribb, keith barton, michael brown, john mumford, owen van der wall, roslyn lambert, tony miller

An overview of activities and achievements during the past financial year. Articles in annual report include: launch of Project Nexus (to merge with RBS and VAF), 'Egypt by Touch' exhibition, inaugural Dare to Date ball and Aqua Dance party, production of Braille and Large Print in Tetun language for Timor, publication of "I'm posting the pebbles", and the RVIB Fair held for the first time since 1985.

1 printed volume of information about the RVIB during the financial year

royal victorian institute for the blind, annual report, trevor anderson, doug kent, chris baillie, lui palombi, debbie deshayes, jenny pring, chery kurnow, robyn guymer, chris edwards, jamie kelly, tim mitchell, molly meldrum, john so

An overview of activities and achievements during the past financial year. Articles in annual report include: continuing involvement with Project Nexus (to merge with RBS and VAF), NILS becoming a separate entity, launch of History Project, launch of Feelix at Melbourne Zoo with patron Sigrid Thornton, funding of "Little Steps to Learning" by Paul Newman Foundation, RVIB For Sight Week, RVIB Gold Ball, Dare to Date ball and hosting Southern Cross games.

1 printed volume of information about the RVIB during the financial year

royal victorian institute for the blind, annual report, jade sanderson, trevor anderson, doug kent, sigrid thornton, rhonda burchmore, ray martin, hi-5, vanessa amorosi, chad kelly, kushbu lal, wanda egerton, russell short

An overview of activities and achievements during the past financial year. Articles in annual report include: acknowledgement of the passing of Dr Trevor Anderson (President) during the year, merge of organisations, equipment upgrade at Burwood School and transition of early education program out to Southern and Eastern offices and publication of "Little Steps to Learning" and 'Thanks Mate I'll Try That'.

1 printed volume of information about the RVIB during the financial year

royal victorian institute for the blind, annual report, trevor anderson, doug kent

Photograph taken by a staff member of the rear view of the Kooyong building, of 4 hot air balloons in the early morning and the moon still in the sky.

vision australia, buildings

Photograph taken by a staff member of the main entry of the Kooyong building, with 'Wicking Centre' signage.

vision australia, buildings, john wicking, janet wicking

Four beautiful artworks feature on this CD. An older woman with two lovely sculptures: one a mosaic wall using half teacups to create a 3D effect, some of which have plants in them, and a papier mache head on an elongated neck. A boy with a beautiful drawing of a person, and a dyed piece of material on a wall.

22 digital images of clients and their fantastic artworks

vision australia, recreation

Celebrating the amalgamation of Royal Blind Foundation Queensland with Vision Australia officially launched 14 February 2007. Guests included Sigrid Thornton, ambassador for Feelix, Andrew Parkinson, Bursary Award winners Caitlin McMorrow and Arthur Chawner and musician Lorin Nicholson.

27 digital images of the launch of Vision Australia in Queensland

vision australia, gerard menses, kevin murfitt, gerard gosens, trish egan, karen knights, nick carter, caitlin mcmorrow, arthur chawner, eileen bedford, lorin nicholson, renee williamson, andrew parkinson

Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Vision Australia and Blind Citizens Australia.

31 digital images of signing a MOU between Vision Australia and BCA

vision australia, blind citizens australia, gerard menses, kevin murfitt, owen van der wall, robyn gaile, nadia mattiazzo, michael simpson

Images of a Yellow Cabs taxi driver assisting a person with a cane and with a guide dog.

15 digital images of a taxi driver with a person who has a cane or dog

vision australia, yellow cabs, janene sadhu, jamie kelly

The Vision Australia Square Dance Club performed at the Kooyong Day Centre and got the audience up on their feet. Afterwards they posed on the oval with their flag.

32 digital images of square dancers and dancing

vision australia, wanda egerton, margaret fox, blind sports victoria, square dance club, virgil snyder, ian chapman