Palmwoods
District News

May 13,
1999

Page 4

Low vision clinic opens
by Joanna Jones

Palmwoods-Woombye Lions president Doug Montagu (left) and District Governor
of Lions Clubs International, District 201Q4, Arnold Heidrich join Selangor
Director of Nursing Coral Brown to celebrate the opening of the low vision clinic.

IN 1925 Helen Keller challenged the Lions to become knights of the blind and vision impaired, and 74 years later they are still honouring her challenge with the opening of the first Sunshine Coast low vision clinic at Selangor hospital in Nambour.

In partnership with Selangor Hospital and Guide Dogs for the Blind, the fifth clinic in Queensland was officially opened on April 16 by District 201Q4 Governor Arnold Heidrich.

Local co-ordinator of the Low Vision Clinic and Palmwoods-Woombye Lions president Doug Montagu, welcomed the hundred strong crowd, including Member for Nicklin Peter Wellington, and spoke of the importance of providing this service to visually impaired people.

"The aim of the clinic is to help people who are blind or visually impaired to function more independently," he said.

"The clinic will assist people to make the best use of their remaining sight, and will develop the use of their other senses such as hearing."

The Sunshine Coast clinic at Selangor has cost Lions approximately $20,000 to set up, with their Low Vision Clinic Trust Fund financing the day to day operations of the clinic.

Initially the clinic will operate one day each month with plans to increase the frequency as the need arises. Consultations are by appointment only through your Ophthalmologist or Optometrist.

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