Brenda Murray is not your typical 88-year-old.

Brenda has three sons, six grandchildren and eight grandchildren and was the first mayor of the East Gippsland Shire Council when the City of Bairnsdale, Shire of Bairnsdale, Shire of Omeo, Shire of Orbost and Shire of Tambo amalgamated in 1994. She was born in England and moved to Orbost where she spent most of her adult life.

While contending with vision impairment, Brenda continues to live a normal life.
“I am 88, but I want to wear out rather than rot out, so I am very involved in a group that advises for the board of Vision Australia,” she said.

“That means quite a lot of interstate travel. I am on the council disability advisory committee and I am chair of the resident’s association at Eastwood Village where I live. I just like to be busy.

“I love people, I hate injustice and I think if you can be of help in some small way, it’s great.”

Brenda’s vision impaired journey began 12 years ago, and one thing that has remained constant during much of that time is her black labrador retriever guide dog, Sky.

“The day was July 16, 2006,” she said.

“It was sudden and had a sudden impact. It was hard to believe at first, but Vision Australia came to my help almost immediately. I knew then there is a life after vision impairment.

“I am not totally blind. I have light perception, so I can see movement, but I can’t see people’s faces, read things or see TV. I still live alone. I do everything for myself. I cook and go on holidays.

“I have had Sky for nearly 11 years, so she is an old dog now. She’s going to be retired next year, but I am keeping her because you don’t give up on your friends when they are no use to you.

“We have been together 24/7 all that time. She was one-year-old when I got her and very lively. Now she is a spate old lady.

“We know what each other thinks. We communicate all the time and you get your life back when you get one of these.”

As a volunteer and a client of Vision Australia, Brenda was thrilled when the organisation opened an office in Bairnsdale and advocates for other vision impaired people to utilise its services.

Brenda also produced a booklet in Bairnsdale that lists the services, which are available to vision impaired people.

“Vision Australia is the organisation that works to support blind and vision impaired people,” she said.

“Bairnsdale is a rather unique place as Vision Australia opened a satellite office in the town after nine years of my agitating to do it.

“Currently it is only open from 10am to 1pm every weekday. Eventually, when there is more money available, we hope that it will be staffed for longer.

“At the moment it is open for three hours and it is wonderful for people to go in there. There they can find out about services they never even heard of. People will always find someone who can tell them everything they need to know.

“There is a huge need for support for older Australians and people with eye conditions.

“Once upon a time people used to say ‘Poor old grandma. She is old so she is losing her sight’, so they stuck her in a rocking chair in the corner and that was it.

“These days older people are encouraged to be out and about. Older people have a lot of experience that they can give to the community.

“Even if their eyesight is failing there is no reason for them to be just left out of society and the community and not to maximise the wisdom and experience they can offer.”

Vision Australia is a national provider of blindness and low vision services in Australia, working in partnership with Australians who are blind or have low vision to help them achieve the possibilities they choose in life.

“The group that I am particularly concerned about is the older people who didn’t grow up with technology,” Brenda said.

“They don’t use computers and have difficulties using mobile phones and so Vision Australia is trying to help those people. They employ people who specialise in adaptive technology, which is adapting technology for vision impaired people.

“Vision Australia also helps people who are newly diagnosed because it is a shock when you first find out.

“They teach you how to use a long cane, how to move about, judge things, use keypads, recognise denominations of money and work out how to eat a meal at a restaurant because you don’t know what is on the plate.”

PICTURED: Brenda Murray doesn’t let being vision impaired hold her back and can often be found with her guide dog, Sky, helping the community. Recently, Brenda created a booklet in Bairnsdale that lists the services that are available to vision impaired people.