Client Stories

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.

Ruby Wood has lived in the same Melbourne house for almost 60 years. When she was declared legally blind in 2005 due to age-related macular degeneration, the 86-year-old feared she would have to move: "I didn't want to go. I didn't want to lose my independence."

"I had a little peripheral vision so could still get about and do my things," she says.