Canine Connections Making a Difference

BGS Old Boy Richard Anderson OAM ‘63 has dedicated more than four decades to changing the lives of blind and visually impaired people through the help of guide dogs.

When Anderson joined the Board of Guide Dogs Queensland in 1980 and began serving as President in 1990, he never expected his involvement with the charity to be a lifelong passion.

Anderson, who is a former member of the Board of Trustees of Brisbane Grammar School, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to Guide Dogs for the Blind Association of Queensland and the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation, in 1997.

“I don’t think it ever occurred to me that I was entering into a commitment that would last 40 years,” Anderson said.

Once

“Then again, I don’t think that thought would have stopped me.

“Once you stumble into something you find enjoyment in, there is no reason to stop.”

His ambition to provide blind and visually impaired people with more freedom and independence has helped the organisation expand, despite the rising costs of living, increasing demands and dwindling resources associated with running a charity.

Demand is high, Anderson said, with around 300,000 Australians living with vision impairment of which 90,000 are classified as legally blind.

Guide dogs cost $50,000 to raise and two years to train. The charity is run by volunteers, and 85 per cent of its funding comes from donations.

“The working life of a guide dog is between eight and 10 years, so some people have to be matched with up to six replacement dogs throughout their lifetime.”

When Anderson first worked at the charity, fundraising was done at an individual state level; however, the service provider itself, Guide Dogs Australia, was based in Melbourne.

“It was a flawed system because it meant costs were higher than they needed to be, and services were not readily available in states outside Victoria.”

Anderson and his team pushed for Queensland to become the first state to separate from the national organisation in a bid to make the service more accessible to people outside of Victoria. In the early 1990s, Guide Dogs Queensland purchased land to build its own breeding and training centre at Bald Hills. At the time, around 50 dogs per year trained at the facility – this has jumped to some 150 dogs per year.

Anderson pointed out many other members of the BGS community provide crucial support to Guide Dogs Queensland. Past parents Guy and Wendy Mauger have been strong supporters for many years. They volunteer as puppy walkers, which is an instrumental phase in guide dog training.

A fight for hope

“Guide dogs has been one of the boys’ favourite causes,” said Crystal Thompson, the Director of the Public Purpose Program.

Last year, through bake sales, spider stalls and an excursion to the training centre at Bald Hills, Brisbane Grammar School students raised more than $16,000 to train a puppy who they named Hope.

Much to their delight, Hope paid a visit to the School as part of the students’ continued campaign to pay for her education.

The students hosted around 90 guests for a Dining in the Dark event –one of the charity’s biggest fundraisers –where guests are challenged to eat their meals while blindfolded to simulate the experience of low vision.

Anderson, who has a son who attended BGS and two daughters, is delighted his old alma mater continues to be involved in the cause closest to his heart.

“It is important for young people to get involved,” he said.

“My three children were all involved as volunteers when they were still in school and have continued their association in one way or another.

“I’m hoping organisations like ours can maintain the charitable ethos.

“These services can truly be life changing.”