Archive
Successful Swings
89 golfers enjoyed the 7th NSW Annual Moss Vale Golf Day which took place on Monday 21st September. Ralf Anders won the men’s competition for those with AGU handicaps with 43 points while Alice Cran-Crombie won the ladies’ with 35 points on a count back.
Tony Perkins won the Nearest the Pin competition and Stuart Rook had the Longest Drive of the day. The weather was perfect for the 18 holes and before the few spots of rain fell all the players were safely inside at the bar enjoying a well deserved beer!
“Thank you to everyone who played at this year’s event, Tim McKinnon and Andrew Mrakovcic for organizing the day and of course the sponsors”, said Judith Cook, Australasian Manager for Optometry Giving Sight. “It was a great opportunity to catch up with friends and supporters while enjoying a beautiful golf course.”
Thank you to the sponsors of the golf day: Optical Products, Hoya, Rodenstock, Essilor, Designs for Vision, Healy Optical, Opticare, Investec, mimo, Alcon, the OAA, Insight and mivision.
Are you up to the Challenge!
“I am proud to help promote the World Sight Day Challenge”, said singer/songwriter, optometrist and now World Sight Day Challenge Ambassador, Sophie Koh.
“Working in a practice in Melbourne, it is rare to see someone suffering from uncorrected refractive error, but there are millions of people who do. I have volunteered in East Timor and in the Northern Territory so have seen firsthand the difference an eye exam and pair of glasses can make.”
The WSDC was launched at ODMA Fair in July and the response has been fantastic. Optometrists from all over Australia are registering to take part. Some will participate for the first time this October, for others like Anthony Kelly from Queensland, 2009 will be their second or third time.
“The World Sight Day Challenge has become an annual event in our practice”, commented Anthony. “I donate my eye exam fees from World Sight Day and we all wear the t-shirts. My staff enjoy participating and inviting patients to make a donation during the month. It’s a great opportunity to give something back.”
To participate in the Challenge optometrists are invited to donate their eye exam fees from World Sight Day (or any other day in October); or make a personal or practice donation; and plan a practice celebration around World Sight Day, October 8.
“Australian optometrists joining forces and participating in the World Sight Day Challenge is indicative of the Australian mentality”, commented Geoff Henry Lawson, cricket legend, optometrist and WSDC Ambassador. “Rising to the Challenge and helping others is something Aussies do so well and I am proud to be associated with the Challenge for a second year.”
Optometrists and their practices aren’t the only ones taking part in the WSDC. Companies, large and small, including CIBA VISION, AMO and Essilor, are taking the WSD Company Challenge. Staff are invited to make a donation and participate in fundraising activities such as raffles at BBQs and morning tea organised by each company. Optometry students are also organising events as part of the WSD Student Challenge.
Funds raised by optometrists and patients will help to fund projects that train vision technicians and optometrists, create vision centres and provide eye exams and glasses in Indigenous Australia, Sri Lanka, East Timor, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, India, Peru, Nicaragua, Mexico and Papua New Guinea.
Register today to receive your free kit of materials or call 1300 88 10 73 for more information.
Runners and Walkers Raise $2,000
Optometry Giving Sight supporters participated in the 39th annual City to Surf fun run in Sydney on Sunday 9th August raising $2,000. Joining a record 75,000 people, Optometry Giving Sight supporters ran and walked the 14km, including the tough incline affectionately known as Heartbreak Hill.
“The atmosphere was incredible and the weather was perfect for us”, commented Jo Humphries, Communications Manager for Optometry Giving Sight who ran the City to Surf for the third time. “We are delighted that the family and friends of those participating were so generous in their sponsorship. In particular, first time runner and optometrist, Peter Ramshaw of Frenchs Forest, NSW, raised an impressive $555 for Optometry Giving Sight.
Thank you to everyone who ran, walked and sponsored us!”
Congratulations to all who participated! If you are planning on participating in an organised fun run, bike ride or other sporting event you can make it even more special by gaining sponsorship in aid of Optometry Giving Sight. Contact us for more information.
Essilor donates $50,000 to Optometry Giving Sight
CEO of Essilor Australia and New Zealand, Pascal Toneatti, presented Optometry Giving Sight with a cheque for $50,000 at ODMA Fair in Sydney on 11 July as part of their sponsorship. Essilor has supported Optometry Giving Sight since 2006.
“Essilor is strongly committed to corporate citizenship”, said Mr Toneatti. “Essilor employees are proud to take an active role in supporting Optometry Giving Sight to ensure that more people around the world have access to quality vision care.
“Optometry Giving Sight is the International Charity of Choice of the Optometry industry and I would like to thank all the eye care professionals who contribute to this great cause. It is their support that allows and encourages Essilor's ongoing commitment. I would like to acknowledge the incredible results that Optometry Giving Sight has achieved and to encourage the whole industry to join forces in supporting them.”
The cheque was presented as Optometry Giving Sight launched their annual World Sight Day Challenge. Optometrists, practices, optical companies and students registered for the Challenge throughout the exhibition. Many met Ambassadors, singer/songwriter, Sophie Koh and ex-Australian cricketer, Geoff Henry Lawson.
Judith Cook, Australasian Manager of Optometry Giving Sight said “We are delighted to accept Essilor’s generous contribution to our work. Their continued support has helped us fund programs which have transformed lives through the provision of eye exams, glasses and the development of sustainable vision care.”
Essilor encourages their customers to participate in the World Sight Day Challenge and will be engaging their staff through the Company Challenge in October.
More information about the World Sight Day Challenge.
Run for Sight
Ever been tempted to take part in one of Sydney’s largest running events?
Want to help raise money for a great cause?
Then why not register for this year’s City 2 Surf event in support of Optometry Giving Sight?
It is a great way to have fun, get fit and, most importantly, help give sight to those in need.
By running to raise funds for Optometry Giving Sight you can help transform the lives of some of the 670 million people worldwide who are blind or vision impaired simply because they don’t have access to an eye exam and a pair of glasses.
To register, visit: www.city2surf.com.au
Join the Optometry Giving Sight team. You will need to use the team password: givingsight
For more information simply email or call 02 9385 4867.
Recognition for Philanthropy
Eyecare Plus Orange have been presented with the Optometry Giving Sight ‘Practice Award’ for 2008. Nick Hansen and his team won the award for raising the most money from an individual practice for the World Sight Day Challenge last year. The announcement was made at the Essilor breakfast at the SRC in Melbourne.
“It was a great honor to receive the Award”, commented Nick. “We were able to raise so much money because our staff got enthusiastically behind the project and the people of Orange responded accordingly. Thanks to all involved.”
UNSW optometry student, Claresta Soesanto, was presented with the ‘Chairman’s Award’ by Optometry Giving Sight’s Australian Chair, Bob Lees. Claresta took the lead in organizing fundraising events for the World Sight Day Student Challenge in 2008 resulting in a donation of $8,000. Thanks to her efforts UNSW raised the most of any university worldwide!
“The recipient of the Chairman’s Award is based on the philanthropic efforts by an individual”, commented Bob. “This year Claresta’s enthusiasm and leadership resulted in a significant sum being raised that will help to transform the lives of perhaps thousands of people”.
If you know someone who deserves recognition for their commitment to helping to give sight – and hope – to people in need through their support of Optometry Giving Sight, contact us.
Register for this year’s World Sight Day Challenge.
AMO Keeps Giving Following Acquisition
Having recently been acquired by Abbott Medical Optics, long-time sponsor Advanced Medical Optics will continue to support Optometry Giving Sight in Australia.
Ron Baroni, Head of AMO Australia and New Zealand, presented a cheque for $100,000 to Optometry Giving Sight at the SRC in May.
“We are delighted to continue to support Optometry Giving Sight as Patron National Sponsors”, commented Ron. “Optometry Giving Sight’s work complements our promise, Vision for Life, and enables us to give back and help give sight to the millions of people who suffer uncorrected refractive error in developing communities.”
Optometry Giving Sight thanks AMO for their significant support. In addition to the company’s financial contribution, AMO also encourages their staff and customers to support Optometry Giving Sight through regular giving and campaigns such as Seeing Eye to Eye.
Something to Celebrate!
In May Optometry Giving Sight in Australia celebrated its fifth birthday. During the last five years, optometrists and staff, optical corporations, the OAA and state divisions have committed to ending refractive error blindness by making Optometry Giving Sight their charity of choice.
Funds raised have transformed the lives of people in need through the gift of vision. Most recently the 4 Vision Technicians who were trained in India have returned to Sri Lanka and will commence work in 4 new vision centres. With ongoing support from our partners at ICEE, they will provide vision care services to the millions of people in this region, providing an eye exam and glasses at an affordable price and from a locally trained person for the very first time.
In Zambia, 612 teachers have been trained to screen children. More than 112,000 children aged 11-15 will be screened and more than 5,000 glasses provided. The program aims to ensure these children stay in school so that they complete their education and have a chance at a real future for themselves and their families.
Introducing New Sponsors
We are delighted to welcome leading ophthalmic newspaper, Insight, as a Gold In-Kind Sponsor. Insight will run regular advertisements promoting our work to its readers.
Specialising in promotional merchandise, marketing, public relations, event management, consultancy, model and promotions talent, Adpro Management Group (AMG) has become our latest Silver National Sponsor. AMG is keen to work with Optometry Giving Sight supporters and can cater for your corporate, event, marketing and promotional needs. Find out more about how AMG can work with you, visit www.adpromanagement.com.
Cornea and Contact Lens Society of Australia endorsed Optometry Giving Sight 18 months ago as their Charity of Choice and in April became supporter National Sponsors. We are pleased to have the support of such highly committed eye care professionals.
New Manager for Optometry Giving Sight
Optometry Giving Sight is delighted to announce that Judith Cook has accepted the position of Australasian Manager. Having worked in the Australian optical industry for 12 years, Judith will bring a wealth of knowledge and skills to the organisation.
For the last six and a half years Judith worked for Essilor; most recently as National Sales Development Manager. In December 2008 she resigned from her position and went in search of a new challenge, which she found with Optometry Giving Sight.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such a worthwhile charity. It feels great to know that I can use my skills to give sight to the millions in need. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in the optical world as I know that many of them are already keen supporters”, remarked Judith.
Judith replaces Madeleine Whiting who managed the Australian office for nearly five years.
“We are delighted to welcome Judith to the team”, commented Bob Lees, Chair of Optometry Giving Sight in Australia. “It is wonderful to have someone who is so well known to the profession and who is so excited about being able to apply her exceptional skills to ensuring that Optometry Giving Sight in Australia continues to raise the funds needed to transform the lives of people in need”.
Prior to working with Essilor, Judith worked for CIBA VISION Australia.
And the total is...
It may seem a long time ago but the final total is almost in. Thanks to the support of thousands of optometrists, staff, patients and companies across four countries almost $500,000 has been raised from the World Sight Day Challenge 2008 – double last year’s total!
“It felt good to be able to do something like this for a great cause”, said Di Lees from Beckenham Optometrist in NSW.
‘Optometrists help save sight’; ‘Optometrists support the World Sight Day Challenge’ and ‘Optometrists working to improve vision for poor’ were just three of the headlines in almost 100 stories run in newspapers, radio stations, websites and on TV across Australia.
Local communities read, heard and watched how their local optometrist was helping to eliminate uncorrected refractive error by supporting the World Sight Day Challenge.
“...we were even on the local news and in the papers! We will definitely do it again next year”, reported Kearah Cooling of Buck and Todd Optometrist in QLD.
The funds will be used by Optometry Giving Sight to support programs in communities in Sri Lanka, East Timor, Indigenous Australia, Latin America and South and East Africa where people have little or no access to eye exams and glasses. Training of local eye care professionals and infrastructure will be funded along with service delivery to ensure a long term solution for these communities.
“Thank you to everyone who participated in the World Sight Day Challenge and who helped to raise so much! It was great that people had so much fun participating”, said Madeleine Whiting of Optometry Giving Sight. “We are delighted that we were able to help promote the commitment of optometrists to global blindness prevention through the media. As many participants have said to me it really was a win-win situation”.
Essilor Renews Support
Long time supporter Essilor has renewed its sponsorship of Optometry Giving Sight for another year.
“I am delighted that Essilor is able to continue helping Optometry Giving Sight provide vision care to people in developing communities. So many of our customers have ticked the Optometry Giving Sight box, making it their charity of choice and as we are the leading lens manufacturer, Optometry Giving Sight is the perfect match for our charitable giving”, said Simon Lewis, Sales and Marketing Director, Essilor Australia Laboratory Group.
Changes at Optometry Giving Sight
After nearly 5 years at the helm of Optometry Giving Sight in Australia Madeleine Whiting has made the decision to move on. “Madeleine’s dedication and commitment has seen Optometry Giving Sight in Australia grow into a successful fundraising organisation, supported by the OAA, thousands of optometrists, their staff, students and many of the key optometric corporations and their staff. I would like to join the Optometry Giving Sight team in thanking Madeleine and wishing her much success in her new role as Senior Relationship Manager at Monash University”, said Bob Lees, Chair of the Optometry Giving Sight National Committee.
Madeleine’s successor will be announced when appointed. Over the last two years CIBA VISION Corporate Fellow, Brian Spiller, has transformed Optometry Giving Sight’s marketing and fundraising campaigns both here in Australia and globally. Optometry Giving Sight is delighted to announce that he will continue to provide significant support globally in 2009 by becoming the Institute for Eye Research (IER) Corporate Fellow. Brian will be the Global Marketing Manager for Optometry Giving Sight.
From January 2009, Colette Kinsella will work full time for Optometry Giving Sight as Business Development Manager, splitting her time between Australia and the US. Colette was the Sales Manager for General Optical before moving to the International Centre for Eyecare Education where she helped develop their fundraising program outside of the optical inustry. Colette will now utilise her vast experience within the optical industry in her new role with Optometry Giving Sight.
Optometry Giving Sight looks forward to funding more sustainable eye care programs in 2009 with the continued support of the optometry profession and industry.
Anyone for Golf?
The Annual OAA VIC Golf Day will take place on Monday 16th March 2009 at the prestigious Yarra Yarra Golf Club. Following lunch in the club house golfers are invited to play the impressive course and then enjoy a delicious dinner. Thanks to the support of corporate sponsors the day costs just $100 but is valued at $240. Optometry Giving Sight, the OAA’s Charity of Choice, is the beneficiary.
The Yarra Yarra Golf Club has been ranked 15th in Australia by Golf Australia, visit www.yarrayarra.com.au for more information on this impressive course located in Melbourne’s sand belt.
For more information about the golf day call David Ludowyk on 0418 517 879 or download the registration form.
Last year 92 optometrists, representatives from optical suppliers and ophthalmologists from around Victoria played on the hottest St Patrick’s Day on record. $7,000 was raised for Optometry Giving Sight to fund sustainable programs focused on correcting refractive error.
Thank you to this year’s sponsors! Hoya is the Gold Sponsor with the Silver Sponsors including: MIMO Pty Ltd, Experien, Servicing Optics, BOC and ProVision. Bronze Sponsors include: Modstyle, Rimoptics, Designs for Vision and Maui Jim.
New Leadership
We are delighted to announce Bob Lees as the new Chairman of the National Committee, Optometry Giving Sight in Australia. Bob is a partner in the Lees and Henschell Optometrists practice in Queensland and has been an active member of the National Committee for two years.
“There is no doubt my experiences in Sri Lanka allowed me to see first hand the power Optometry Giving Sight has to change people’s lives”, said Bob.
Supporting Bob on the National Committee will be new Deputy Chair, Ian Breadon of Breadon and Ruegg Optometrists, Victoria; Micheal Knipe, Chairman of ProVision and partner in Total Eyecare in Tasmaina and Amanda Davis, COO of ICEE.
Madeleine Whiting, Australasian Manager thanked retiring National Chair, Professor Brien Holden, and said that he will now focus on his position as Chair and CEO of Optometry Giving Sight at a global level. She also welcomes new Committee members Dorothy McDiarmid, retired industry professional; and Graham Hill of Graham Hill and Associates, Victoria.
Annual Golf Day a Success
There was a great turn out at the Annual Moss Vale Golf Day as optometrists and suppliers took to the 18-hole course to prove their golfing abilities, as well as a number of beginner players trying their hand at the sport. The rain held off and great day was had by all.
Prizes were awarded for the top performers which were generously donated by some of the event sponsors listed below. Thanks to all who attended and to Tim McKinnon and Andrew Mrakovic for organizing the event.
Thanks also to the following sponsors whose support enabled this great event to take place:
Gold: Hoya, OP’s Optical Products, Essilor
Silver: Healy Optical Wholesalers, Experien, Opticare, BOC, Designs for Vision, mivision, L’Amy
Bronze: Mimo
Rising to the Challenge!
“What a great way to promote your practice in your community while helping one of the most important causes in the world…preventable blindness.
This year we made the 9th of October bigger and better with all staff and optoms in World Sight Day Challenge shirts, newspaper ads and most importantly we doubled every dollar donated by staff and patients on the day. We are optometrists and this is our opportunity to support what we really believe in”, said Nick Hansen of Hansen Optometrists in Orange.
“It has been a win-win experience, highlighting the importance of eye examinations for everyone, generating positive publicity for our practice in the local area, and raising funds to provide crucial eye care for those in need”, said Majella O’Connor (eft) from Ocean Eyes Optometrists, Victoria.
Thousands of individuals participated in the 2008 World Sight Day Challenge. Optometrists donated their eye exam fees on World Sight Day or pledged a regular donation. Staff organised practice celebrations, decorating the reception with posters and leaflets and used innovative ways to encourage donations. Companies held fundraising events for their staff while optometry students organized raffles and BBQs with the UNSW students raising more than $8,500! Thank you to everyone who participated in the World Sight Day Challenge!
320 optometrists around Australia are taking part in the World Sight Day Challenge during October. Anthony Kelly and Nick Hansen describe why they are taking part again…
“Last year, I supported the World Sight Day Challenge by donating my consultation fees for the day. Also, we encouraged our patients to make a donation, which most did. The donation tin was on our reception counter for the month of October with many people donating to help the vision needs of those less fortunate in third world countries. We live in a privileged country, and this is a small gesture that all optometrists can do to improve the lives of others with a vision problem, whose only misfortune was being born in a poor country,” said Anthony Kelly, Eyecare Plus, Bundaberg.
“What a great way to promote your practice in your community while helping one of the most important causes in the world…preventable blindness. Last year we were over whelmed with the response from our staff and patients. This year we plan to make the 9th of October bigger and better with all staff and optoms in World Sight Day Challenge shirts, newspaper ads and most importantly we will double very dollar donated by staff and patients on the day. I would encourage all optometry practices to participate even if it’s only asking patients for a donation when you do a free adjustment on their spectacles. We are optometrist and this is our opportunity to support what we really believe in, all people deserve the right to clear eyesight”, said Nick Hansen of Hansen Optometrists in Orange, NSW.
Optometry Students around Australia are also lending their support to the Challenge. Saleem Ha, a student from UNSW said “"Having heard so much about avoidable blindness and the Vision 2020 plan, UNSW Optometry students have decided to make a stand, raising awareness and money for this cause. Threatened with the prospect to compete with our interstate student rivals, UNSW Optom students have taken up the World Sight Day Challenge with fundraising, raffles and holding sausage sizzles".
Thank you to everyone who is participating in the World Sight Day Challenge!
If you haven’t registered it’s still not too late. The Challenge runs until the end of October so there is still time to become a regular donor, donate your eye exam fees on any day in October and celebrate in your practice. Register today!
Read some of the recent media coverage about the World Sight Day Challenge
Sunday Canberra Times
Southern Courier
Great Southern Star
Courier Mail
Caboolture Shire Herald
Canberra Times
Latrobe Valley Express
Sunday Telegraph
(this also appeared in the Sunday Mail Brisbane, Sunday Mail Adelaide & Sunday Times)
Echo - Bellarine edition
Project Success encourages new funding in Timor region
ProVision optometrist, Andrew Maver, recently returned from a successful trip to Baucau, East Timor, which saw 354 patients examined in the Optometry Clinic and 212 pair of spectacles dispensed. The trip was part of the long running East Timor Eye Program to which Optometry Giving Sight has allocated over $75,000. “It was fantastic to be able to work in partnership with locally trained eye care nurses and optical staff, such as Nuno da Costa [pictured above], who demonstrate the importance of programs like these which support training and capacity building within the country itself,” commented Andrew. “We saw people having their useful sight restored and the further flow on effects to their families through improved ability to work and support themselves and their local communities.”Following the success of this project, we are excited to announce the funding of a new program in West Timor - the Sumba Volunteer Optometry Project. The project will be led by another ProVision optometrist Peter Lewis who will be joined by colleague Peter Stewart. The team aim to provide immediate refractive eye care to an estimated 500-600 people and dispense some 300-400 spectacles.
Refractive eye care is much needed in the area, which has no substantial permanent eye care for its 500,000 inhabitants. Those who live outside the two major towns have to often walk many kilometres for basic medical assistance, and the project team aim to develop a more sustainable vision care system in this region.
Lawson World Sight Day Challenge Ambassador
There are few Australians who understand the importance of good vision more than cricket legend Geoff “Henry” Lawson. Now the optometrist and former fast bowler is lending his support to the World Sight Day Challenge in October.For Lawson, who began studying optometry while pursuing professional cricket, returning to the profession as an ambassador for Optometry Giving Sight is a natural progression.“As a health profession, optometry means you get a very immediate response to helping – people come into the practice with bad vision, then leave with good vision. Hopefully, optometrists who have also experienced this can step up and help. By getting involved in the World Sight Day Challenge and making a contribution to those less fortunate, you can’t help but be affected. It changes your perspective and opens your eyes to what little effort can achieve”.Turn over to read why Peter Bell is taking the Challenge again this year and register today by completing the enclosed registration form at www.givingsight.org.
Winter Conferences a Success
Optometry Giving Sight was represented at a number of leading optical conferences this Winter including WAVE in Perth and will also be represented at the Tasmanian Lifestyle Conference in Hobart.
Thank you to those optometrists who represented Optometry Giving Sight at the ProVision Conference in Fiji. A fantastic response was received from delegates and we would like to thank everyone who signed up to take part in the World Sight Day Challenge – with numbers of participants this year reaching the highest level yet.
Taking the Challenge Again
Optometrist Peter Bell from Mandurah, WA, participated in the World Sight Day Challenge 2007.
“I would encourage optometrists across Australia, particularly my colleagues in WA, to participate in the World Sight Day Challenge in October. It’s easy to donate your eye exam fees for just one day and place a collection tin on the desk, and it’s great to be able to tell your patients what optometry is doing for international blindness prevention. My practice will definitely be taking part again this year.
“Last year my staff really enjoyed participating. They wore the World Sight Day Challenge t-shirts on the day and encouraged our patients to make a donation following their appointment. I was also invited to speak on a couple of Perth’s radio stations about my involvement with the Challenge which was great publicity for my practice. A few patients actually remarked that they heard the interviews.
“I think that this scheme is a three-way street....it is very positive for the optometrist/practice, the patients feel good about helping and perhaps most importantly we will give sight to people who don’t have access to practices like ours”
Calling all golfers!
The Annual Moss Vale Open Golf Day
Where: Arthur Street, Moss Vale, NSW Australia 2577
Moss Vale Golf Course is 120km from Sydney and 145km from Canberra.
When: Monday 3 November 2008
Registration at 10:00am
Tee off from 11:00am
Dinner at 5:00pm
What: Single Stableford in conjunction with a team event.
Separate competitions for players with AGU and LGU handicaps and for the “Burglars”. Maximum handicaps allowed for social players are 27 for the men and 36 for the ladies.
Who: All golfers involved in Optometry and eye care, their family and friends.
Cost: $85.00 (includes: light lunch, 18 holes of golf and dinner)
Cheques made payable to Optometry Giving Sight.
To book your place contact:
Tim McKinnon on (02) 4868 2233 / 0402 247 910
Or Andrew Mrakovic on 0413 747 005
Donations for the prize pool are greatly appreciated.
Accommodation is available at the club’s Dormie House, but rooms are limited so book early to avoid disappointment: 02 4868 1800 / www.dormiehouse.com.au
Book a golf cart by calling the pro shop on: 02 4868 1503
Current sponsors of the event include:
Gold: Hoya, OP’s Optical Products, Essilor
Silver: Healy Optical Wholesalers, Experien, Opticare, BOC, Designs for Vision, mivision, L’Amy
Bronze: Mimo
Bowling Out Blindness
During the Essilor Breakfast at the SRC on 19th May in Melbourne, Geoff “Henry” Lawson OAM, optometrist, cricket legend and now World Sight Day Challenge Ambassador (back left) explained why he feels so passionately about the cause:
“Having visited many developing countries with the Australian Cricket Team and now as Coach for the Pakistan Team I see daily the debilitating impact of uncorrected refracted error. Please join me in supporting the World Sight Day Challenge by:
• Donating your eye exam fees from World Sight Day - October 9th
(or any other day in October)
• And/or becoming a regular donor
• Planning a celebration in your practice in October
“Working together as a team we can harness the collective power of optometrists and help provide
the resources needed to eliminate the real tragedy of uncorrected refractive error”.
Everyone who registered for the Challenge had the opportunity to have their photo taken with Geoff and his Baggy Green and went into a draw to win signed cricket bats and balls. Congratulations to Masumi Kobayashi who won the full size cricket bat!
Register for the World Sight Day Challenge today
Temperatures Soar at Annual Golf Day
92 optometrists, representatives from optical suppliers and ophthalmologists from around Victoria took part in the annual OAA Victoria Golf Day on the hottest St Patrick’s Day on record - with players braving temperatures of 39 degrees to enjoy the beautiful Yarra Yarra course. Optometry Giving Sight benefited from the day with $8,000 expected to be raised.
With an impressive hole-in-one, Christian Lister (pictured on left receiving the trophy Peter Lewis) from Tiger Vision, secured 40 points to win the Stableford Competition. Bill Wilkinson from Bill Wilkinson Optical Centre in Bendigo won the straightest drive and Stephen Scully took the prize for the longest drive. The day attracted social golfers through to the more serious players with a number showing their skill by ‘beating the pro’ on hole 15.
MC John Blackman of Hey Hey it’s Saturday fame entertained players over a well-earned dinner. Victorian Optometrist and organiser of the golf day, Peter Lewis, bid successfully on a 32 inch LCD TV generously donated by Hagemeyer Lifestyle Brands and many other players won fabulous prizes in the raffle.
Optometry Giving Sight would like to thank Peter Lewis and David Ludowyk for organising a wonderful day. Thank you to the OAA Victoria, to all the sponsors and of course to all the players who braved the searing heat to play.
Golf Day Sponsors included: Gold – Hoya. Silver – Mod-Style; Hagemeyer Lifestyle Brands; BOC Instruments; Silhouette, Experien Medical Finance; and Servicing Optics. Bronze – Rimoptics; Maui Jim; mivison; Carl Zeiss Vision; Designs for Vision and Optique Line. The drinks cart was kindly sponsored by Cooper Vision.
Photos kindly supplied by Experien
Optometrists Give Sight at Queensland Vision
Queensland Vision proved to be successful conference yet again for Optometry Giving Sight. Many delegates took the opportunity to find out more about the programs that Optometry Giving Sight funds and to chat about how they could support Optometry’s International Charity of Choice.
We would like to thank all who signed up to a regular donation – your commitment will help change the lives of those in desperate need. CIBA VISION generously matched new each of the $25/month or $300/year donations – effectively doubling the first year’s donation!
Many optometrists expressed their interest in our Product Related Practice Giving Program whereby practices can make a donation linked to a specific item, for example donating $2-$5 for every pair of frames sold. This simple concept is a great way to get your practice involved and to promote your commitment to helping others to your patients. For more information about the Practice Giving Program please contact us.
General Optical kindly donated a pair of Calvin Klein sunglasses for the passport prize and many of the staff of our corporate sponsors spent time learning more about Optometry Giving Sight at the trade display. Brisbane optometrist and Optometry Giving Sight National Committee member, Bob Lees, also spent time talking to delegates at the stand about his experience volunteering in Sri Lanka and why Optometry Giving Sight is his Charity of Choice. The support of Greg Johnson and the Queensland OAA team was invaluable in their promotion of Optometry Giving Sight throughout the conference.
Optometrists Association Australia, Victorian Division’s Annual Golf Day
Optometrists Association Australia, Victorian Division’s Annual Golf Day will take place on Monday 17th March 2008 at the Yarra Yarra Golf Club and is in support of Optometry Giving Sight. The day costs $100 – but is valued at $240.
Click here to download registration form
Click here for more information
Please send registration forms to: David Ludowyk, Victorian OAA, 28 Drummond Street, Carlton ,Vic Tel: 0396542122 Fax: 0396542833
Corporate Support For Charity
Representatives from each of Optometry Giving Sight’s corporate supporters came together in December for the semi annual Corporate Planning Meeting. The day provided an opportunity to gain advice and feedback from some of the industry’s most experienced senior executives as well as three optometrists from the National Committee. The meeting strengthened the commitment of the corporations to work together for the benefit of those who gain access to sustainable eye care services thanks to “optometry” giving sight.
The following corporations took part in the Planning Day: CIBA VISION, the Institute for Eye Research, Essilor, Advanced Medical Optics, Optometrists Association Australia, ProVision, Eyecare Plus and General Optical.
Endorsement of The Contact Lens Society of Australia
The Contact Lens Society of Australia officially endorsed Optometry Giving Sight at the 12th Annual International Contact Lens Congress (ICLC). Sue Sluce, President of the Society said, “We are delighted to endorse Optometry Giving Sight as our International Charity of Choice. The Contact Lens Society of Australia realizes that the only way to eliminate avoidable blindness due to uncorrected refractive error is for Optometry to pull together and have one main focus – and that focus is Optometry Giving Sight“.
New support for 2008
New Gold National Sponsors, Specsavers, raised an impressive $74,000 at the largest single fundraising event in Optometry Giving Sight’s Australian history thanks to attendees, suppliers and Specsavers itself at a weekend conference in December. During the event Madeleine Whiting, Australian Manager said, “Specsavers demonstrated their support for social and community causes this weekend. It is only through one optometrist asking another optometrist to support Optometry Giving Sight that we can raise the funds required to address the need for an eye exam and a pair of glasses for those who live in some of the most desperate circumstances. Tonight we saw that leadership in action and had a tremendous number of new optometrists donate.”
Looking Forward
Optometry Giving Sight looks forward to meeting with supporters at Queensland Vision, 28-30th March. Come and have a chat with Optometry Giving Sight representatives and find out more about the projects that are being supported.
$5 million Allocated to Projects
Speaking at the American Academy of Optometry, the Executive Chairman and CEO of Optometry Giving Sight, Professor Brien Holden, announced that Optometry Giving Sight would disperse its first US$1,000,000 by the end of 2007. The funds will support projects that will give sight to people with refractive error blindness and impaired vision in Africa, Sri Lanka, East Timor and Indigenous Australia.
The funds have been raised by optometrists, their staff and patients in Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe.
“We are on track to raise the next US$4 million in 2008 and 2009, and the Board thought it wise for strategic planning and synergy purposes to allocate funds going forward to complete the current priority projects,” said Professor Holden. > more
World Sight Day in the Media
As hundreds of optometrists around Australia took part in the World Sight Day Challenge many received media coverage on their support. Click on the links to see a selection of the great exposure your colleagues received.
Paul focuses on saving kids’ sight (Gold Coast Bulletin)
There is something special about a child’s smile when they are able to see properly for the first time. Varsity Lakes optometrist Paul Graham > more
Volunteer has clear vision (Daily Telegraph)
When optometrist Jane Kierath flew to Sri Lanka in the wake of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami she had a career-defining moment. > more
Optometrist has his eyes on the world’s children (Northern District Times)
West Ryde optometrists Tom Geroulas (pictured) has responded to a challenge to donate fees from eye exams on Thursday, October 11 to help the 13 million children. > more
Challenge helps save sight (Mandurah Coastal Times)
Peter Bell, a practicing optometrist in Mandurah, will support Australia’s first World Sight Day Challenge. > more
Volunteers tackle millions of sightless, child by child (Hobart Mercury)
There are 13 million children in the world who have gone blind because they do not have access to eye specialists. > more
Volunteer group has far sight for East Timor (Whitehores Leader)
Blackburn North optometrist Sue Strachan has seen the injustice of life in East Timor, where thousands of children are blind simply because they have no access to glasses. > more
Oswald & Brown – Giving Sight (Yorke Pennisula Country Times)
Peter Oswald of Oswald and Brown Optometrists at Kadina, is one of the thousands of Australian optometrists giving their support to “Optometry Giving Sight’s World Sight Day Challenge” initiative. > more
Firms in focus on the Right to Sight (Toowoomba Chronicle)
Another Toowoomba optometrist practice, Somerville & Merrin, has stepped up to the plate to help out on World Sight Day on Thursday. > more
Look at the world in whole different light (Bankstown Canterbury Torch)
As part of the Optometry Giving Sight project, Australian Optometrists have shown their commitment to preventing blindness > more
Optometry for a Cause (Busselton Dunsborough Mail)
Tomorrow is a day for eyes, when many optometrists around the country donate the money they earn from eye-exam fees > more
Give that they see (Cairns Sun)
Bruce Mellick and Kelcey Hala from Bruce Mellick Optometry, Cairns, have responded to a challenge to all Australian optometrists to donate > more
The Contact Lens Society of Australia Endorses Optometry Giving Sight
The Contact Lens Society of Australia officially endorsed Optometry Giving Sight at the 12th Annual International Contact Lens Congress (ICLC) on the Gold Coast on the 3rd September.
Sue Sluce, President of the Society said: “We are delighted to endorse Optometry Giving Sight as our International Charity of Choice. The Contact Lens Society of Australia realises that the only way to eliminate avoidable blindness due to uncorrected refractive error is for Optometry to pull together and have one main focus – and that focus is Optometry Giving Sight. We are proud that up to 37% of our conference delegates already support Optometry Giving Sight but encourage all of our members to sign up and help change lives“.
CIBA Vision, Global Founding Corporate Patron of Optometry Giving Sight, chose to forgo a trade display at the ICLC and instead match all new donations of $300 or more. Optometry Giving Sight staff were joined by CIBA Vision representatives to secure 20 new donors and six additional donations, which included a number of speakers fees! > more
Running to Give Sight
Nearly 20 CIBA Vision and Optometry Giving Sight employees and supporters braved “Heartbreak Hill” to compete in the annual Sydney “City to Surf” fun run on Sunday, 12 August, 2007.
This is the first time Optometry Giving Sight has benefited from fundraising from the City to Surf. The team sported branded t-shirts and joined more than 64,000 others to run, jog and walk the 14kms from Sydney City Centre to Bondi Beach. Supportive colleagues, family and friends sponsored the team raising much-needed funds to give sight to those in desperate need.
CIBA Vision Managing Director, Dan Hammond said, “Optometry Giving Sight is very important to us and it was great to get a team together to support this cause in what is one of the greatest sports events in the world. We are planning to have a huge team next year combining CIBA Vision, Optometry Giving Sight and optometry practice teams into one fun, fundraising team”.
CIBA Vision is the Global Founding Corporate Patron of Optometry Giving Sight.
ACBO Endorses Optometry Giving Sight
The Australasian College of Behavioural Optometrists (ACBO) has adopted Optometry Giving Sight as its International Charity of Choice and will encourage its members to sign up to regular monthly donations and to engage their practices and patients through the Practice Giving program.
“It is tragic to think that 13 million children are needlessly blind when all they need is an eye examination and a pair of glasses,” said President Adrian Bell at ACBO’s annual Children’s Vision conference in Sydney on 5 July. “We, as members of ACBO, have a special interest in children’s vision and we can, and must, take action to help this cause. Optometry has a critical role to play in blindness prevention and ACBO is committed to creating a lasting impact through our support of this important initiative.”
Thanks, in part, to the support of delegates attending the conference now more than 30% of ACBO members donate to Optometry Giving Sight.
ODMA Fair
The World Sight Day Challenge was launched at ODMA Fair in Sydney, 6-8th July, with many optometrists indicating their interest to get involved and buying World Sight Day Challenge branded t-shirts to support the event.
Eyecare Plus, Platinum National In Kind Sponsor, are encouraging all the Eyecare Plus practices to rise to the Challenge and participate! To get your practice involved contact Danijela Pekic at Optometry Giving Sight on 1300 88 10 73.
Ian Breadon from Breadon and Reugg, VIC, and Andrew Koch from Total Eyecare, TAS, were just two of the optometrists who volunteered their time at ODMA to be at the Optometry Giving Sight stand and talk to delegates about why Optometry Giving Sight is their charity of choice.
If you would like to volunteer to help at our stand at the next conference you are attending, please call Dani on 1300 88 10 73.
Giving Sight in East Timor
At its last meeting, the National Committee granted additional funds to the Vision for a Nation eye care program in East Timor.
Andrew Koch from Tasmania will lead a ProVision team of optometrists to Bacau, west of Dilli, for a week in late August where they will provide training, mentoring and support for local eye care nurses as well as eye examinations and spectacles to the many hundreds of people who turn out daily to have their eyes examined.
There will undoubtedly be more people like 70-year-old Feliciano, who journeyed to a previous eye clinic from his remote rural village. Andrew describes the moment he put glasses on Feliciano’s face as one of “true beauty and pleasure that was shared by everyone.” Feliciano was so grateful he exclaimed:
“This moment I have become alive. Before I was dead, I had no life. Thank you! I have not been able to see for a long time, I am happy, now I am content.”
“Just do it!”
“Just do it! It's not hard.”
That was the response Sue Larter from Pennant Hills gave when asked what she would say to someone who was considering becoming part of Optometry Giving Sight’s Practice Giving program.
In June this year Sue and her practice partners made the decision to involve their practice in raising funds for Optometry Giving Sight. For every frame sold throughout the month Thompson, Larter & Associates donated $3 and the practice asked their patients to match it. Not stopping there, those patients who did not need new frames as part of their visit were also asked if they would like to make a donation.
“Optometry Giving Sight is the obvious charity for optometrists to support… spectacles are what we do best. If optometry can't support the prevention of such a huge percentage of world blindness, I don't know who should,” commented Sue.
Sue Larter, her colleagues and patients raised a fantastic $540 during the month of June!
Calling all golfers!
The Annual Moss Vale Open Golf Day
Where: |
Arthur Street, Moss Vale, NSW Australia 2577 |
When: |
Monday 24 September 2007 (Day after the Eyecare Plus conference) Registration and lunch at 10:00am. Tee off from 11:00am Dinner at 5:00pm |
What: |
Single Stableford in conjunction with a team event. Separate competitions for players with AGU and LGU handicaps and for the “Burglars”. Maximum handicaps allowed for social players are 27 for the men and 36 for the ladies. |
Who: |
All golfers involved in Optometry and eye care, their family and friends. |
Cost: |
$85.00 (includes: light lunch, 18 holes of golf and dinner) Cheques made payable to Optometry Giving Sight. |
To book your place contact:
Tim McKinnon on (02) 4868 2233 / 0402 247 910 or Andrew Mrakovic on 0413 747 005.
Donations for the prize pool are greatly appreciated.
Accommodation is available at the club’s Dormie House, but rooms are limited so book early to avoid disappointment: 02 4868 1800 / www.dormiehouse.com.au
Book a golf cart by calling the pro shop on: 02 4868 1503
City to Surf
For the first time Optometry Giving Sight have entered a team in the Sydney City to Surf. CIBA Vision and Optometry Giving Sight employees, other supporters and their friends and families will run, jog and walk the 14km from the city centre to Bondi Beach.
To participate with the team and raise funds for Optometry Giving Sight contact Jo Humphries at Optometry Giving Sight in Australia or call 02 9385 4867.
Practice Giving
At the SRC, Optometry Giving Sight launched the new fundraising program called the “Practice Giving” program. This involves optometrists inviting their patients to add a few dollars to their bill; or by donating a few dollars from the sale of certain products on behalf of their patients;and/or participating in special practice promotions such as the World Sight Day Challenge.Sue and Greg Strachan from Melbourne are already participating in Practice Giving. Sue said, “we have been donating a couple of dollars to Optometry Giving Sight for every frame we sell for several months now. We tell patients that we donate $2 for every pair and give them a brochure. We raise quite a lot of money this way and it is really easy to administer in the practice”.
Click here for more information on the Practice Giving program.
ODMA Fair
Optometry Giving Sight will be attending ODMA Fair, 6-8 July, in Sydney. Come and visit stand 409 and be part of the launch of the World Sight Day Challenge.
Optometry’s Leading Role In Blindness Prevention
World-renowned eye specialist Dr Gullapalli (Nag) Rao has told Australian optometrists that they have a leading role to play in the prevention of blindness.
Speaking at the Southern Regional Congress (SRC) in Melbourne on Saturday, Dr Rao highlighted the latest figures from the World Health Organization which state that uncorrected refractive error – simply the need for an eye examination and a pair of glasses – is now the leading form of preventable blindness worldwide.
Dr Rao is the founder and director of the LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) in India and President of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. He is in Australia as the guest of Optometry Giving Sight – the only global fundraising initiative that specifically targets the prevention of blindness and impaired vision due to refractive error.
Dr Rao told the conference that the latest World Health Organization figures reveal that there are an estimated 153 million people with uncorrected refractive error at distance (these are generally people with “myopia”). He said that this figure did not include people with presbyopia – an age related condition where people require reading glasses to see near objects – which accounts for at least another 150 million people. The vast majority of these people live in developing countries.
“For those in poorer nations, the effects of being robbed of sight are devastating,” he said.
According to Dr Rao, a donation of just five dollars can provide an eye exam, a pair of glasses and training for local staff. This alone could be enough to save someone from a life condemned to impaired vision - where children can’t learn, adults can’t work and the elderly lose their dignity and independence.
Click here to read the full press release
Queensland Vision Gives Sight
Fifty optometrists and industry colleagues signed up to support Optometry Giving Sight at Queensland Vision in Brisbane, 12-15 April, raising over $26,000 to help those in desperate need of eye care.
CIBA Vision, Global Founding Corporate Patron, encouraged support by offering to match donations over $300. Over the course of the conference $10,000 of CIBA Vision matching was pledged.
Queensland optometrist Bob Lees spoke about his experience in Sri Lanka with the International Centre for Eyecare Education, one of Optometry Giving Sight’s implementing partners, and his commitment to Optometry Giving Sight. His emotive presentation helped delegates understand the need and the solution – financial support from people like them.
The Gala Dinner, sponsored by CIBA Vision, was held at Albion Park Paceway where diners used ‘funny money’ (and some real money) to bet on the evening’s horse races. A ‘funny money’ auction took place towards the end of the evening with one item, a signed Sri Lankan cricket shirt, attracting much attention. The shirt had previously been bought during a fundraising auction in Sydney and had then been donated back to raise more funds. The ‘funny money’ auction turned into a ‘real money’ auction and the shirt raised an additional $1,000 for Optometry Giving Sight. Thank you to Lee Peper and Asha Mahasuria for their generous support.
Optometry Giving Sight must also thank the Queensland OAA and corporate sponsors.
AMO
As of January 1, Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) became a Patron National Sponsor of OGS. AMO has doubled its commitment to OGS by agreeing to give $100,000 over the next 12 months through sales of their COMPLETE® products.
AMO was the first major corporate partner of OGS and AMO will now join Essilor at the highest sponsorship level.
AMO was the first major corporate partner of OGS, when in May 2005, they approached OGS and asked how they could help give sight to some of the estimated 250 million people worldwide who cannot see simply because they don’t have access to an eye exam and a pair of glasses. The partnership, which was originally launched at ODMA, has grown over the last 18 months and AMO will now move from being a Platinum National Sponsor to join Essilor as a Patron National Sponsor.
The CEO of AMO Australia and New Zealand, Dorothy McDiarmid, herself a financial supporter of OGS, affirmed the company’s commitment to the cause: “This decision to become a Patron of OGS and provide $100,000 in funding for the program reflects our commercial and social commitment to innovating vision. We are thrilled with the progress that has been made in the first 18 months of our partnership and are very proud as a company to have taken the lead with OGS and hope that other companies will join us.”
mivision Becomes Gold In-Kind Sponsor
Ophthalmic monthly publication, mivision, has become a Gold National In-Kind Sponsor of Optometry Giving Sight. mivision will work to increase the profile of Optometry Giving Sight within the optometry profession and industry.
Dr Nag Rao To Attend SRC
Dr Gullapalli Nageswara (Nag) Rao, is known around the world for his humanitarian work in blindness prevention. For more than 20 years Dr Rao has dedicated his life to the elimination of avoidable blindness through the development of sustainable, locally managed eye care programs and infrastructure.
Hear Dr Rao speak about his pioneering work in India, his commitment to VISION 2020: The Right to Sight and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness; and the role of Optometry Giving Sight in helping to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020.
Southern Regional Congress, Melbourne, 19-21 May 2007
New Leadership for Optometry Giving Sight
Optometry Giving Sight in Australia would like to thank Joe Chakman and Ian Bluntish for their enthusiasm and support on the Optometry Giving Sight National Committee in Australia. In 2003 when discussions about Optometry Giving Sight first began they both volunteered to make sure the optometry profession in Australia embraced the initiative. Their time and support helped lay the foundations of our organization. Both Ian and Joe have stepped down to pursue other avenues and we are extremely grateful for their support.
In 2007 we welcome three new members to the Optometry Giving Sight National Committee in Australia. Michael Knipe, a Tasmanian optometrist and the Chairman of the ProVision Eyecare Network. Ian Breadon, a Victorian Eyecare Plus optometrist and previous OAA council member, and Bob Lees a ProVision optometrist from Brisbane and past president of the Qld NT OAA. Bob Lees volunteered to Sri Lanka in 2005 and Michael to East Timor in 2006.
Michael, Bob and Ian will join Chairman, Brien Holden; Greg Campitelli, Director of Development for ICEE; and John Jeffries, National Director of Christian Blind Mission International.
Mount Scopus College Gives Sight
In December, the daughter of a ProVision Optometrist, Liz Vidor, did a fundraiser for OGS at her school.
Amanda and her friends had a school project where they were given $10 and a week to “change the world”. They raised $110 at Mount Scopus College in Victoria by selling ice cream and drinks in the playground. They then emailed Dan Hammond at CIBA Vision and asked him to match the amount they raised, therefore making a $210 contribution!
Auction for Sight
On December 13 ophthalmic group, Vision Group, held a Christmas party for optometrists at the National Gallery of Victoria. As a part of the proceedings, Pamela Freeman a Melbourne artist was commissioned to paint a landscape painting and all the proceeds of the night went to OGS.
Pamela Freeman has been a practicing artist since 1972, and is currently a volunteer guide at the National Gallery of Victoria. Her pictures have been exhibited in many countries and OGS was extremely fortunate to be associated with her work. Damien P. Smith an, Eyecare Plus optometrist from Camberwell in Victoria, was the lucky recipient of the bidding and paid $2,000 to OGS.
A lifetime of Giving Sight
Dr. Jan Lovie-Kitchin, an Associate Professor in the School of Optometry at QUT, and an optometrist since 1973 has just retired. As part of her commitment to OGS she has invited the entire Optometry Department to make a donation to OGS rather than give her presents. So far, Jan has raised more than $600 for OGS and has offered her volunteer services upon retirement.
Giving Sight at Christmas
Monkey Software Pty Ltd is an Australian owned and operated software company specializing in practice management software for the optical industry . This year Monkey software decided that instead of sending Christmas cards to all of their supporters, they would send an email card alerting their clients that a donation of $1,000 had been made to Optometry Giving Sight. Chris Monks from Optomate said ”We like to support a charity and knew that it would cost us at least $1,000 by the time we paid for printing and postage of Christmas cards, and felt this was a better way to be involved.”
CIBA Vision Gives a Day to Optometry Giving Sight
CIBA Vision will give a day of each employee's time to Optometry Giving Sight (OGS) this month. Small teams from CIBA Vision will be visiting more than 200 practices across the country in the week of 20th November to inform them about OGS and to ask for their financial support. This is a great opportunity for optometrists to pledge their support as CIBA Vision will match donations of $300 or more (up to a maximum of $10,000). To make a donation you can do so by clicking here.
Triathlon for OGS
Congratulations to Dan Hammond, Managing Director - CIBA Vision Australia and New Zealand, who has competed in the Noosa Triathlon to help raise funds for OGS. Dan has raised $10,000 in support of OGS and this being matched by CIBA Vision to raise a grand total of $20,000 for OGS. Here is an inspiring race report from Dan Hammond.
Noosa... a beautiful place at any time but imagine the town full of enthusiastic nervous athletes. The approach to a triathlon combines all the usual concerns and the knowledge that your courage is about to be tested. All of the weeks of hard training had come to a head and here I was at the Noosa Traithlon start line to raise funds for Optometry Giving Sight.
The swim was pure joy. In the 29 minutes it took me to swim the 1500m in the beautiful canals of Noosa, this dragon was slain. OK, so it's like swimming in a washing machine and I was hit several times around the head and inevitably hit others....but it was fabulous.
The bike - 40km on uneven terrain including the dreaded hill was going really well until the turnaround with a huge headwind making the normally easy return something of a slog lightened only by the famous Noosa hill where I descended at the speed of 71km/h. Finally, we pedaled along Noosa Parade, waved to the family again with their tiny child-scale signs of encouragement.
Then the run into ‘Fry Alley’, it was a struggle from the first step off the bike. After pounding the road for 10km there in my sights was the finish line crossing it in a total time of 2hours 33 minutes and running on empty.
September OCA conference
OGS was represented at the Optometry Congress Australia 2006, the 12th Australian international optometric congress held in Brisbane in September.
The conference was attended by more than 250 optometrists, many of whom are already OGS supporters and many more of whom gave their financial commitment throughout the weekend.
Australian sponsors Essilor, AMO, ProVision, and General Optical, as well as Global Sponsor CIBA Vision, all attended the trade show and displayed their support for OGS.
Tasmania Lifestyle Congress
August has seen a great leap forward for OGS in Australia. It started with the Tasmania Lifestyle Congress on 12th and 13th of August in Hobart. Dr. Reich Madonna was the main guest lecturer who had travelled all the way from New York for the occasion, and who expressed great interest in the OGS program. A presentation was given by Madeleine Whiting about OGS which led to several new donations and a lot of discussion about the OGS program amongst delegates.
Western Australia’s WAVE conference
OGS was also represented at the Western Australia conference on 25th- 27th August. This was a great success with a lot of positive feedback about the OGS program and the newly designed materials. AMO as the main sponsor for the dinner and Dorothy McDiarmid gave OGS a good plug. The end result saw five practices committing to Practice Giving, and a potential new corporate sponsor on the horizon.
General Optical becomes Gold National Sponsor, OGS Australia
We are very proud to announce the generous support of General Optical as a Gold National Sponsor of Optometry Giving Sight in Australia. General Optical, one of the largest frame manufacturers in the world, has thrown their support behind this great initiative and are very keen to help support OGS at any turn. Colette Kinsella, National Sales Manager has just returned from visiting Sri Lanka with ICEE teams and is extremely passionate about the cause. General Optical joins our Patron National Sponsor Essilor, Platinum National Sponsor AMO and Global Corporate Founding Partron CIBA Vision in supporting OGS.
ProVision Conference: A great success for OGS
ProVision was an excellent conference for the trade and optometrists and Pauline Powell, and her team did a superb job putting it all together.
The ProVision conference was firmly centered on the patient experience discussing customer service, merchandising, store design, selling techniques, and behavioral trends. One of Australia’s greatest swimming legends, Kieran Perkins, winner of the 1500-metre gold medal at Barcelona and Atlanta closed the conference with a great motivational speech.
Ita Buttrose, one of the most famous publishers and media identities in Australia, was the guest speaker at the gala dinner where she talked about her involvement with OGS through our Patron National Sponsor, Essilor. At the dinner we had donation cards at every seat and managed to raise $8,000. There was a lot of corporate interest in the program and OGS received two corporate donations of $2,000 each from Eyes Right Optical and Mondottica.
Oakley Sponsored Golf Day. Oakley sponsored a golf day which was a huge success and there were three charity holes where all participants made a donation to OGS. This included beat the pro and longest drive competitions. The event raised $2000.
