Articles include the production of Christmas cards using a drawing by Lady Casey, death of Captain Semmens who was a member of many sub-committees, relocation of library, cupboard to be built in kitchen and Mr Skaftouros continues to be an excellent hirer, Bird and Bottle restaurant raised money with a special dinner and entertainment night, some difficulties with Stainsby and Perkins Braillers have been overcome, thermoform machine is on order, tape recorder/talking book project still under consideration, Tellatouch machine has been received and will be evaluated, loss of Mrs Simpson who was the leader in the Honour Roll this year, St Paul's School are assisting with binding books for students, resignation of Mrs Weir and appointment of Mrs Hearn as Librarian, revision of policy to only teach Braille to adults and first junior student taken on in Geelong, potential of more auxiliaries being established and need to increase income from Hall requires suggestions from the public.

32 pages of text with drawings

braille library of victoria, corporation records

Articles include the production of Christmas cards for purchase, a visit by the Chief Secretary Hon. A. Rylah who advised that the Free Library Scheme was for municipal councils and that instead a State Library Council (which was being formed) would be a better source of relief, offers of help to contact potential overseas suppliers for electronic and braille equipment, the organisation of the Reservoir auxiliary, establishment of a Machines Committee to look at mechanized forms of Braille production and the possibility of entering into talking book production, improvements to heating, cooking and lighting, needing to use discretion when hiring hall due to an unfortunate incident, donations of Perkins Braillers, brailling of Decimal conversion charts, agreement in prinicipal to a National Braille Reference Library in Canberra, and purchase of Perkins and Stainsby Braillers to improve output of Braille books.

32 pages of text with drawings

braille library of victoria, corporation records

Articles include the production of Christmas cards for purchase, the departure of Mr Davey as treasurer due to commitments in his personal life and that his property was completely burned out by bushfires and would be far more attention, catering difficulties at the Christmas party required improved facilities in the kitchen and this, as well as changes to seating and emergency exit changes due to meet building inspection, has seen an increase in bookings for the Hall, bathing box house at Chelsea still in good repair, two successful Braille Reading competitions held, J. Williams - a transcriber- visited American and returned home with a Perkins Brailler as she uses for the library and provided another one to the library, and although no response has been forthcoming from the Free Library Service Board of Victoria, the government inquiry into the Victorian Library Service has recommended that financial support be given to the Braille Library of Victoria.

32 pages of text with drawings

braille library of victoria, corporation records

Articles include Life Governorship bestowed upon Alice McClelland for her 41 years of service, David Palmer Music Library given to library with terms of agreement signed by Hugh Jeffries and Neil Westh (David Palmer Trust) and Captain Semmens and Dr Orr (BLV), sound system installed in and outside storage shed added to Hall, still operating at a deficit and with no reply from Free Library Service Board of Victoria on assistance, and decision to close of Ballarat branch of Braille Library and make it an Auxiliary for the Aged Blind with next year to be the final one.

32 pages of text with drawings

braille library of victoria, corporation records

Articles include Sir Rohan Delacombe agreeing to become patron, staff rest room and kitchen added, improved lighting in the Hall, increase to 119 transcribers, resignation of Doreen Ross and appointment of V Wearne as Librarian, Mr and Mrs Woods have moved out of the flat - which is now occupied by Mrs Weir, thanks to Wesley College boys and their teacher Mr Rush looking after the garden, as well as Miss Haley who makes canvas bags in which volumes are dispatched, approach to Free Library Service Board for some financial assistance, and Ivan Molloy's speech to the Ballarat branch on the Home Teaching Service.

32 pages of text with drawings

braille library of victoria, corporation records

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 illustrations

annual reports, lady nell seeing eye dog school, phyllis 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 illustrations

annual 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 illustrations

annual reports, lady nell seeing eye dog school, harry vanderjagt, phyllis gration, patti gration

Cheque presented to the Children's Services team for the money raised during the 2013 Carols by Candlelight performance.

3 coloured photographs of cheque presentation

fundraising, tracy larsen white, ron hooton

This sculpture could have be constructed and gifted to the Royal Blind Society of New South Wales by a Canberra based artist. It has resided at several Vision Australia sites, including St Kilda Road, Macaulay Road and Glenferrie Road, and brought much joy to those who saw it as part of their daily work routine and adorned her with a string of beads. Christened 'Amelia' by staff in 2012, her paper coating was beginning to deteriorate over the years with the woollen fur covering coming apart from her hump. Her beaming smile continued to cheer staff, particularly in the Children's Services division.

1 papier mache constructed camel with fur

sculpture, animals

The Federation Markers project, jointly funded by the Commonwealth Government and Stonnington Council, was intended to commemorate the centenary of Federation by means of a series of plaques to be erected around the municipality. Following public consultation, 50 historically significant themes were identified On the 7th April 1928 this playing field was inaugurated as the world's first permanent sports ground for blind cricketers when the first ball was bowled at a competition between the Victorian Blind Cricket Association and interstate teams. Mr William Paterson, a volunteer worker and advocate for blind people for over 60 years, was instrumental in acquiring and developing this sports ground and clubhouse on behalf of the Association for the Advancement of the Blind (now called Vision Australia Foundation). - text copied and edited from Stonnington History Centre record, accessed 26/5/2022.

1 plastic sign with images and wording

victorian blind cricket association, association for the blind, william paterson

The 'Blind' Orchestra on stage at Ormond Hall, surrounded by potted ferns. Instruments included drums, piano, banjos, trombone, saxophones, double bass and violins. Unfortunately no information on names at this stage. In the background, the organ is also visible.

Seventeen musicians dressed in tuxedos

rvib orchestra, ormond hall

10 students read at their desks in the classroom. Braille maps are on the walls and their are miniature wooden tanks, airplanes and a building on top of the cupboard. The walls are wood panelled to halfway up, then glassed.

1 black and white photograph of 10 pupils in the school room

rvib burwood school, education

Black and white photograph showing a young child, approximately six years old, using a Perkins Brailler. Possibly taken at the RVIB's Burwood School, where the Perkins Brailler was introduced in 1963.

1 black and white photograph of boy using a Perkins

rvib burwood school, braille equipment

Photograph of a young, red-haired woman operating what looks to be a telephone switchboard. The woman, possibly a receptionist, and possibly vision-impaired, wears headphones with a mouth piece to allow hands-free operation of the phone. With her right hand, she operates the keyboard in front of her. In the background is a bookcase with phone books stacked upon it.

1 black and white photograph of woman working in office

rehabilitation, royal victorian institute for the blind

Black and white photograph of the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Crowd scene at Carols by Candlelight. Bowl is to right of shot. Light in centre, shining towards camera.

1 black and white photograph of Carols by Candlelight stage

royal victorian institute for the blind, carols by candlelight

Black and white photograph of a man wearing a suit and hat, and a young boy of approximately ten years of age, standing side by side, outdoors, and each holding a white cane.

1 black and white photograph of man and boy holding canes

royal victorian institute for the blind, orientation and mobility

Often RVIB staff went to people's homes to provide assistance such as orientation and mobility, and rehabilitation. In this image, a older man holds a white cane as he stands on the front garden step of his Victorian era home, shaking the hand of a younger female who is speaking to him.

1 black and white photograph of two people shaking hands

royal victorian institute for the blind, orientation and mobility

View of RVIB building in St Kilda Road, taken from the front lawn. Leaves are scattered across the grass and a single male figure stands outside the building.

1 black and white photograph of St Kilda Road building

royal victorian institute for the blind, buildings

Stage view of Carols by Candlelight, taken from inside the Myer Music Bowl. The orchestra and choirs watch the conductor, at a GTV camera televises the event.

1 black and white photograph of orchestra and choirs on stage

carols by candlelight, royal victorian institute for the blind

Rehabilitation covers learning how to undertake various tasks with assistive devices. In this image, a seated man presses buttons, guided by the hands of a female rehabilitation instructor. Some buttons are labelled with Braille markers.

1 black and white photograph of man and woman

rehabilitation, royal victorian institute for the blind

Parenthood often means finding ways to do things you need to. A woman washes dishes in her home, whilst keeping an eye on her toddler by placing them in a backpack. The toddler looks over the woman's shoulder, as she continues her work, with 2 washed cups already sitting in the drying rack.

1 black and white photograph of woman washing dishes

rehabilitation, child rearing

Screen magnifiers allow easier access for those with some sight, who find it difficult to fill in forms. In this example, Allan Bates writes his name and address on to a small form, and watches his placement via a Visual Tek magnifier.

1 black and white photograph of man filling in a form

assistive devices, allan bates

In this image two children are playing checkers at school. The tactile board has walls around each square and the children feel where each piece is placed. From the image, the black have a smooth top, whilst the white has a circle engraved into the top. Children are dressed in school jumpers and tops, and a white board with writing as well as small posters about the seasons, are in the background.

1 black and white photograph of children playing checkers

education, recreation

In this image a man sits and places tiles carefully on to a board, after applying adhesive. He wears floral apron, to protect his clothing, and a pot of Selley's Tile Bond (with an ice cream stick in it), rests on the board. Most likely taken during a crafting program held at a centre.

1 black and white photograph of man sticking tiles to a board

recreation, crafting

In this image two woman sit in a canoe and paddle across a waterway. There are bushes and trees in the background, with a wide clearing separating the water way from the bush. Both woman wear life jackets and hats.

1 black and white photograph of woman in a canoe

recreation, canoeing

In this image a woman weaves two different colours of plastic cording into a interconnecting X shaped pattern. Weaving has often been done as a commercial skill taught by blind institutes, however machine woven materials and goods have now turned this skill into a recreational one.

1 black and white photograph of woman weaving

recreation, weaving