Christmas 2004 was something of a turning point for Mary Beekman. This was when the 78-year-old from Strathfield, in Sydney, first realised that macular degeneration had caused her sight to deteriorate to an extent that she could no longer drive.
“That’s when I also recognised that I really could no longer read. I couldn’t even see a page close up,” Mary recalls.
When it comes to career development, Brett Anthony believes in the two Ts – technology and training.
The 45-year-old father of two from Gymea, New South Wales, is a Customer Service and Administration team leader at Rockdale City Council in southern Sydney. However, he began his career as an aircraft engineer in the Australian Air Force. He served for nine years, but left when retinitis pigmentosa (RP) caused his eyesight to deteriorate.
Christmas is all about counting your blessings, so i'd like to tell you about my beautiful daughter. Emily is like any other five year-old girl. She loves music, storytime and dressing up, and can’t wait to start school next year.
The only difference between my little girl and her friends is that she is vision impaired, and has been for most of her life. When she was about five weeks old I noticed that her eyes didn’t follow me. I knew something wasn’t right.
He's run the New York Marathon and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro; now Charlie McConnell can add trekking the Kokoda Trail to his list of achievements. Charlie, who is blind, completed the epic walk late in 2006 with his friend Ellis Janks.
Charlie on the Kokoda Trail.
On finishing the eight-day trek, he flew home and completed the 90km Sydney to the Gong Bike Ride on a tandem bike.
Your gift will help a child with low vision say “It’s okay mum, I can do it myself thanks”, just like Emmanuel does now.
Eric Sumner can't understand all the fuss that's being made about his trip to Gallipoli for Anzac Day 2007. He had wanted to go since he was 14, so when the opportunity came up, shortly before his 91st birthday, he jumped at the chance. Why wouldn't you?
Ros became blind when she was pregnant with her first child and Vision Australia was there to help.
"I was 24 years old when I was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy. At the time I was working as a secretary for a Trustee company in Sydney, and began immediate laser treatment to save my sight.
Initially I could see blotchy patches, but by the end of 12 months of laser treatment, I was totally blind. It was at this time that I became pregnant with my first child.
Now, 16 years later, I have two wonderful sons whom I take care of on my own, and a fulfilling career.
Speaking to Ted Thorburn it's hard to believe he has ever been anything but positive. The 55-year-old from Mossman, Queensland, is a mentor, poet and inspiration to many people in his region, particularly those who are blind or have low vision.
But Ted has had his share of struggle. He went through a tough "loss period" when glaucoma claimed much of his vision.
Born with the eye condition, he had reasonable vision in his youth when he worked and travelled throughout Australia. Ted lost his sight in his right eye after an operation in his late thirties.
First Geoff noticed the squares of his favourite crossword puzzle appearing to float across the page. Then one morning he drove confidently to a wedding, only to find he couldn't see clearly enough to drive back home safely that afternoon.
Nino and Elese Gatto are very familiar faces in Griffith, New South Wales. For the past 18 years they have sold jams and pickles from a stall in town to raise funds for local people who are blind or have low vision.
Last year alone the Gattos presented us with a cheque for $5,000. The Gattos were inspired to support Vision Australia soon after the birth of their grandson, Ben, who was born with Leber's congenital amaurosis.
What he sees at six metres resembles what someone with perfect vision views at 60m. He also has nystagmus, which causes involuntary eye movements.
