NEWS
Guide Dogs Queensland on the day our 26 May 2010 edition was published celebrated a half century of providing services to Queenslanders who are blind or vision impaired.
The iconic charity will mark the occasion of its golden anniversary with a special reception at Government House hosted by its patron, the Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley.
GDQ CEO Chris Laine said the first committee meeting of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association of Queensland was held in Brisbane on May 26 1960 with the first president being Mrs Louise Arnold of West End who had been matched with a Guide Dog called Halda in Perth.
“We owe our formation to the Apex Club of Brisbane which worked hard to inspire people like the Brisbane Lord Mayor to establish an association that supported local people who were blind and in need of help,” Ms Laine said.
She said in the early days Queenslanders had to travel to Perth and then Melbourne for Guide Dog training and the association was able to raise finances to support their travel and expenses.
“GDQ has grown to offer not only guide dogs but the latest in electronic mobility aids and White Cane training – all free of charge to Queenslanders who are blind.
“We have a world class breeding program and an international reputation for the standard of our training and instructors.”
Ms Laine said GDQ still had strong links to its past with Senior Guide Dog Mobility Instructor Marc Lyell having worked with their first Guide Dog client Mr Hubie Morris of Townsville. Mr Morris received his first guide dog in 1960 and his last in 1979 and Marc was his instructor.
“Times have changed but our core mission of providing mobility, independence and freedom to Queenslanders remains steadfast thanks to the support of the Queensland community,”
