THE iconic Carols by Candlelight at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl may seem a bit of a distance from Cardinia but that event has a lot of significance for one local family.
The carols as well as the annual Christmas gift wrapping service at Dandenong Plaza, Casey Central and Southland shopping centres are major fundraisers for Vision Australia.
“Vision Australia has been incredible for our family,” Cardinia shire mother of four Tenila Grant said.
“Tricia Izzard, early childhood educator, has been the most wonderful support and teacher for us.”
Tenila’s youngest daughter – Brooklyn, a happy bubbly three-year-old – was born with primary congenital glaucoma.
“If you ask her what’s wrong with her eyes she will tell you I’m vision impaired,” Tenila said.
The family also includes siblings nine-year-old Tayah, seven-year-old Ella and six-year-old Lacey.
Brooklyn’s range of vision is about three metres but it’s very cloudy due to the increased pressure in her eye and she has no depth perception.
This means that she finds it difficult to move from different surfaces while walking.
Brooklyn received a cornea transplant last year as her cornea was very cloudy due to having so many surgeries in her first year of life. Brooklyn’s right eye is stronger than her left.
“Two of Brooklyn’s older sisters were born with the same condition,” Tenila said
“However neither of them have a vision impairment. We knew Brooklyn had glaucoma the very first time we held her. Those gorgeous big eyes!!
“Brooklyn had her first eye surgery at exactly one week old – the first of many.
“When Brooklyn was around six months old, her ophthalmologist referred us to Vision Australia.
“At the time we didn’t think much of it, it wasn’t a big deal – just another lot of appointments for us to attend.
“But once I spoke to Tricia from Vision Australia on the phone we realised how serious her condition was.
“We had lots of questions, feeling confused and sad, lots of tears, mostly all mine, and we were frightened for her future.
“Tricia visited us in our home once a week for the first few weeks, then she came every four weeks and she is always available to call and chat – even if it’s just a silly question from me!
“Brooklyn loves her visits with Tricia and we love that she is able to visit with us in our home!”
Tenila said the family “would be lost without this organisation”.
“We wouldn’t know how to deal with or help Brooklyn without the guidance of Tricia and other staff at VA,” she said.
Vision Australia is hoping to raise a million dollars from this year’s carols but it is also calling for volunteers for its annual Christmas gift wrapping service at Dandenong Plaza, Casey Central and Southland Shopping Centre.
All funds raised go back to the community by providing vital services for people who are blind or have low vision so they can live the life they choose.
Rose Cartwright, a Noble Park resident and long-term Vision Australia volunteer, has been offering her gift-wrapping services at shopping centres across Melbourne for a decade and is gearing up for another busy year of wrapping, decorating and labelling gifts for local shoppers.
“I started volunteering with Vision Australia about 10 years ago and I’ve kept it up every year,” Rose said.
Vision Australia’s gift wrapping services start from Friday 9 December and run until Saturday 24 December.
Those interested in volunteering should email volunteer@visionaustralia.org or call 8791 0201.
