Archive
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® MoisturePLUS ™ 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.
