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Back: John Ackermann. Middle from left: Lizelle van Wyk, Avril Davids and Pulcherie Strangway. Front from left: Pat Strydom, Sandra Dreyer and André Vosloo. PHOTO: RICHARD ROBERTS
THE LIGHTHOUSE ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND: 80 YEARS AND STILL GOING STRONG
Light in the darkness
RICHARD ROBERTS @richardjohn_rj
O
ne of the most well-known and longstanding non-profit organisations in South Africa, the Lighthouse Association for the Blind, celebrated a huge milestone this past weekend when it turned 80 years old. What’s more, the association, which is based in Goodwood, is still as strong as it was in its formative years, says chairman André Vosloo (58). “This is an organisation with a long history of serving our visually impaired community and has many firsts behind its name,” says Cassidy da Silva on behalf of the association.
The association celebrated its 80th anniversary at the Italian Club in Rugby, Milnerton, in conjunction with the Blouberg Rotary Club, on Saturday 12 August, where Vosloo delivered the keynote address. “We started in 1937; the founder at the time was a lady by the name of Marjorie Watson, a blind lady from Cape Town. “She said, ‘let us get the blind people out of their rooms’. Blindness can be a very lonely life; one can live a very secluded life and a lot of blind people can actually tell you this. “The Lighthouse Club, as it was called at the time, was established and they started looking at the social needs of blind people. It later branched out to not only the social needs, but also welfare needs – things like trying to help them find employment, taking
them out for shopping and doing home visits and having a cup of coffee,” Vosloo explains. Pulcherie Strangways, secretary and public relations officer who also conducts home visits, says her role is that of a mother. “I take them out once a week for tea, on outings, to doctor visits and sit with them when they are lonely and talk to them and support them. I take them shopping and cut their hair,” she says. She also does all of the fundraising for the association. “I virtually run the Lighthouse,” she says, laughing. Vosloo says that over the years, their beneficiaries have been privileged to visit a number of places – a first for blind organisations – including a visit to Montague Springs and Table Mountain, as well as a helicopter ride.
The Blouberg Rotary Club, which organised Saturday’s big birthday bash, as well as other service organisations like the Lions Club, have been involved as supporters of the association for many years, he says. “We had a good time [at the party]. We had snacks, drinks, and some music and dancing,” says Vosloo, who has been blind since birth. Vosloo, who is also involved with Blind SA, got involved with the association at the age of 18 years. The Lighthouse Association for the Blind meets every month at the Pinelands Town Hall, Strangways says. “On the first Thursday of the month we have a games evening, and on the third Thursday we have a social event,” she says.
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