Issue 9 - September 2008

The Guernsey Blind Centre Decorated for Liberation Day

'Not about disability but ability'

Introduction

I can hardly believe that this is the 9th edition of our Newsletter.

We have done so much these last few months and with lots of help from HSBC Securities staff on all our fundraising efforts from Donkey Derby, Liberation Day, Tower on the Nid and much more.

I am so pleased to also celebrate Debbie and Katy's first year with the Guernsey Blind Association.

May we continue with the next six months activities and a big thank you to all our volunteers for continuing to support us.

Without your help we would be in serious trouble.

Thank you again.

Sandy Mauger

Corporate Friends of
The Guernsey Blind Association

N.M. Rothchild
Belle Fleur Nursery
Fuel Supplies
Medical Specialist Group
Schroders
Zouche Group Limited
Kingston Management
Moores Hotel Limited
Long Port Properties Limited
NRG International Limited
Kraken Financial Group Limited
Mercator Trust Company
JLT Risk Solutions Limited
Royal Bank of Canada

Events Held This Year
Liberation Day May 9th 2008

Red white and blue were the colours of the day!

May 8th

We held a tea party at the centre for our Thursday Afternoon Clients. Big Band Music was played, and sandwiches, fruit cake and tea were served and enjoyed by everyone.

May 9th

On Liberation Day we had a stall on the Crown Pier which was supported by HSBC Securities Staff; part of the stall was demonstrating the equipment we have at the centre for the Visually Impaired/Blind. The other half was fun and games - the whole day was a huge success promoting the Guernsey Blind Association. Our thanks to the staff of HSBC Securities.

A Word from the Adviser

Where has the year gone?

I have been in post for one year and have been kept very busy, promoting the work of the Guernsey Blind Association, organising events and along the way making new friends. Earlier this year we had our Liberation Day celebrations, Tower on the Nid open day, summer outing and the Donkey Derby.By attending these public events I am surprised by the follow up of enquiries and thus we are able to help and support more Islanders. I am looking forward to another busy year and coming up with new ideas for our Thursday afternoons at the centre. My thanks go to everyone who has supported me over the year and I look forward to the next twelve months.

Debbie Clarke
Advisor for the Visually Impaired

A Word from the Secretary

I have enjoyed the diversity of my job as secretary here with the Guernsey Blind Association, it is a busy and varied post and plenty to organise and arrange. \I have loved attending the various social events and matching the voices on the phone to the people !!

Working with Debbie is lovely and I hope we make a great team, we are both looking ahead to the forthcoming year.

Katy Burkhardt
Secretary to the GBA

June 29th - The Tower on the Nid No 5

Miss Nancy Dorey very kindly offered us the Tower to open for a day and all proceeds raised went to GBA Funds.

Entrance was by donation, the day was lovely and warm and a steady stream of people visited the Tower, judging from the comments in the visitor's book the day was very successful.

Some quotes taken from the visitor's book:-

Steve and Jamie;- "Brilliant experience"

Rita and Frank Polly;- "Wonderful Views and a lovely man to help - (Ian)"

J. Sebire;- "Taken nearly 37 years but the views are worth the wait"

B. Burgess;- "Lovely views pleased to have been able to view the Tower"

16th August - Donkey Derby

The Donkey Derby was again held at Saumarez Park, a day which was well attended despite the weather! HSBC staffs were kindly once again supporting us dressing up in costumes and having fun games. The games were Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Hook the Duck, Splat the Rat and a Lucky Dip. The simulation spectacles were a great feature with the public, giving them a good insight into the problems associated with Visual Impairment, Hugh Bacon suggested next year we have a games table set up with the different games so people can have hands on approach.

Guernsey and Herm - Two of My Favourite Places, an article by Jim McCafferty

This year is the 25th anniversary of my first visiting Guernsey. In 1983 I was invited to camp with one of the local scouts groups here in Edinburgh, who teamed up with scouts from Selkirk on a then two yearly basis, on a planned camp on Guernsey. Although the contact between the two groups has disappeared I still keep in touch with the scout group in Selkirk, whose leaders kindly invite me to join them each time they camp in the Island. We camped at the Rue Mainguy site in July.

I was educated at the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh. This is an establishment for both day and residential pupils; I was there from when I was 5 to the age of 18. On leaving school I took up employment at the Scottish Braille Press as a Braille Transcribers. This I did for more than 20 years, although towards the end of this period I was involved with the computer assisted production of Braille, which was then in its infancy. In 1995 I applied for and was successful at getting a job with the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in Forfar, where I was responsible for ensuring that Braille correspondence coming into and going out of the training centre was accessible to those to whom it was meant.

In 2000 I got the opportunity to return to the Scottish Braille Press on a full time basis, where I now work as a Braille Proof Reader.

For as long as I can remember I have always been interested in issues specifically relating to Blind and Partially Sighted people. It seems natural therefore that I should undertake some sort of voluntary work and over the years this has included 16 years as a member of the Executive Council of the Royal National Institute of Blind People, a spell as Chairman of the local society for the Blind here in Edinburgh and membership of the Braille Authority of the UK, which organisation I currently represent the Scottish Braille Press. Other voluntary work has been with the Scout Association and presently I look after the Alternative Formats training library, material from which is available to both existing and potential leaders.

Although I have camped on Guernsey with scouts many times I discovered the peace of Herm in 1987 and since 1991 have holidayed on Guernsey on Herm. Over the years I have received a lot of support from the Guernsey Blind Association and I would like to place on record my sincere thanks for this.

I have a Guide Dog a lab retriever cross called Windsor, who is a very good guide and companion. When I come to Guernsey/Herm I prefer he has a holiday too, so he stays behind with friends in Edinburgh. Instead I use my Ultra Cane which I feel very comfortable with.

For me who likes peace and quiet either Guernsey/Herm is the ideal holiday destination. I could travel further a field for less, but when holidaying on either island I feel safe and comfortable and that to me is much more important than visiting new places.

Guernsey/Herm are two very beautiful islands and I thank you for allowing me to share them on an occasional basis.

Forthcoming Events

Monday 6th October - 7.30pm The Square Restaurant, Forsight Group
Foresight Group Members and HSBC Securities Staff, are invited as our guests for a social gathering and dinner.

Sunday 12th October - St Andrew's Apple Day 11am - 3pm

Saturday 13th December - Christmas Lunch 12.30pm at Les Cotils Christian Centre

Officers and Committee

GUERNSEY BLIND ASSOCIATION

TEL 236933         FAX 236932

E-MAIL  gba@guernsey.net

WEBSITE  www.guernsey.net/~gba/