Deafblind Victoria

16/10/2026

HAPPY WHITE CANE DAY

16/10/2026

DBV member Rodney Baskett and his White Cane on White Cane Day!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjjJZEeitYA

Happy white cane day! We celebrate with a white cane walk to the botanic gardens.

My cane has a ball on the end. It's good for blind and deafblind people.

[Rodney shows the ball turning in all directions and rolling on the floor].

Deafblind people have canes like this. Some use the round ball tip and others don’t, depending on their preference.

16/10/2026

A video interview between DBV members Kathy Wise and MIchael Doherty,acknowledging the White Cane on White Cane Day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3Luz85uM6g

KW: Hello, welcome to DBV news. I am Kathy Wise. Here to ask you a few questions about your white cane. How long have you used your white cane?
MD: About 15 or 16 years ago, at RVIB (Royal Victorian Institute of the Blind) a blind hearing school, a teacher Judy taught me how to use a white cane.
They were old fashioned canes, with different tips than we have today. They were very thin tips. Companies are always changing and improving the design.
KW: Thanks Michael, it’s interesting to learn about the changing types of cane tips. How do you feel to use a white cane when you are walking along the streets, park, shops travelling by public transport?
MD: I use it when walking with a support person along the river. I can dip the cane in the water and feel the current. I’m happy that the design of cane tips is improving. They’re bigger now. The old thin ones were weak.
KW: Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview, and congratulations on your lovely white cane.

Michael Doherty talks to DBV News reporter Kathy Wise about his whi...

16/10/2026

Celebrating White Cane Day
A white cane is more than a mobility tool. For DBV members, canes are symbols of freedom and independence. This White Cane Day, we celebrated with creativity, stories and a walk to the Botanic Gardens. Gorgeous weather made it a lovely day to celebrate together.

On Wednesday the 14 October, our craft group, led by Jael and Jasper, decorated their canes with ribbons, beads and bling. Each cane became a way to express its owner’s personality.

In the videos below DBV members talk about different shape tips on the end of their canes. DBV’s news reporter, Kathy Wise, did a great job interviewing cane user Michael, and Rodney expressed his preference for a round ball tip. Heather introduced us to “Nacho”, her cactus cane puppet. Heather and Nacho wished everyone “Happy White Cane Day” in Auslan – see the videos below.

Heather shared a poem she wrote by hand on 23 September 1994, when she became a cane user. It describes travelling by train and finding her way through smell, touch and vibration, with help from her cane, “Golfie”.

The Silent World
For me that cannot see
Not see things clearly just blurry
Day to day of my silence
As I sit on the train
Silent with surrounding me I only know
Smell and moving, feeling but silent
I even smell newspapers that I know people read it
But not for me
Each stops (Trains) I could smell the air, smoke, dust etc
But me sit silent
Wait for getting out
Finally I stepped on platform
Ready for crowds as I always know many things around me
Following my cane, touch for landmarks,
Smell from people, flowers etc
As I walk everywhere as following my cane
Silent world that I cannot hear or cannot see
But the sense of smell, touch, vibrating help me around
And Golfie the cane help me too
Golfie help me out of fear but silent

Poem by: Heather Lawson

Heather Lawson and her white cane Nacho the cactus.Heather signs ...

12/10/2026

Staff member Rodney with an update:
Hello, hello! My name is Rodney Baskett. I work here at DBV. I'd like to say a big thank you to the people who came to the September events. Last week at DBV Café, we had Ambulance Victoria presenting to us about the services they
provide. We shared our experiences and had a lot of discussion. It was a wonderful time.
If you don’t have a commguide or support, please contact us. We are happy to provide commguide or volunteer support. Please contact us before the event.
October 14th, we have Craft Group. Jasper will be making keychains. Also, Jael will be doing cane decorations for White Cane Day. At Ross House, level 3, in the Jenny Florence Room, from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm.
Thursday 15 October, Rec Program, White Cane Walk to the Botanical Gardens. We have two different options. It’s up to you where you prefer to meet. You can meet at Flinders Street Station, under the clocks, at 11:00 am. Alex will meet you there. Also, we have another place to meet at the Botanical Gardens café, Observatory Cafe, at 11:30 am. Please make sure you RSVP to Bec Swansson. We’ll be walking around the gardens and visiting the area. Please make sure you enjoy the day. Hopefully, it’s good weather.
So, the next DBV Café is on 28 October, from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm, level 4, Ross House, Hayden Raysmith Room. The topic will be mental health. It will be a positive discussion, with Paul Tatt sharing his journey through COVID times. Hope to see you there.

Rodney Auslan video translation:Hello, hello! My name is Rodney B...

21/09/2026

Hello everyone. Hope you're all well.

I am Kathy from Deafblind Victoria.

I'd like to announce our next Craft Group on Wednesday, 14 October, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm on the 3rd floor at Ross House.

Jasper will teach us how to make lovely key rings. Jael will teach us how to decorate white canes.

Fruit cake, biscuits and drinks will be provided.

Please come along and join our fun and friendly Craft Group.

See you then.

Bye for now.

Kathy's Auslan video transcript:Hello everyone. Hope you're all w...

21/09/2026

Hello everyone, hope you're all well.

I am Kathy Wise here at DBV, Deafblind Victoria.

I'd like to announce that next Wednesday, 23 September, we'll be having Deafblind Cafe on the 4th floor in Ross House.

We're having a special speaker from Ambulance Victoria, starting from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm.

Please feel welcome to come and listen to what the Ambulance people are talking about.

Food, cake, biscuits, tea, coffee and water will be provided. Auslan interpreters will be provided so you can enjoy the day.

I’ll keep Kathy’s original wording and only correct the grammar and...

04/09/2026

Hello everyone I am Kathy Wise here at DBV Deaf Blind Victoria hope you're all well. I would like to make a special announcement about next Wednesday, 9 September. DBV will be holding a craft group we will have lots and lots of fun so please do come along to join in the fun. I'll be sharing my good idea to make a very exciting AFL footy finals fever fridge magnets will be making them out of wood shapes and foam will be sticking them on so you can put your favourite football team and good luck to all the teams and may the best team win. Thank you.

04/09/2026

Rodney Shares September’s Events in Auslan:

Hello, hello! Good morning from the DBV office.

A really big thank you to everyone who supported our sausage sizzle last month. The money raised will help support Deafblind people living in regional Victoria. Thank you so much to everyone who supported us.

Here are the events planned for September.

Luckily, the beautiful weather is here! The warm days are coming, and the freezing weather is going away. It’s a lovely day today.

September Events

Wednesday 9 September – Craft Group
Where: Ross House, Level 3, Jenny Florence Room
Time: 11:30 am to 3 pm

Kathy Wise will be teaching you how to make crafts to support your favourite footy team!

Thursday 17 September – Recreation Program
Where: Melbourne Holocaust Museum
Address: 13–15 Selwyn Street, Elsternwick VIC 3185
Time: 10:30 am to 2 pm

Please arrive early.

You must RSVP to Bec Swansson at Able Australia by 9 September so tickets and the tour can be organised.

See you there!

Wednesday 23 September – DBV Café
Ambulance Victoria will be coming to present to us. You can also share your stories and experiences with them.

Where: Ross House, Level 4, Hayden Raysmith Room
Time: 11:30 am to 3 pm

If you don't have a commguide or support, please contact us. We are happy to provide volunteer support for the day.

Please contact us early, well before the event, so we can organise this for you.

We look forward to seeing you there!

27/08/2026

Last Thursday the 20th of August DBV in our ongoing partnership with Able Australia to run our Recreation Program, head to PARC Frankston Pool and Gym for a day of relaxation and fun.
Gina has shared her experince of her time there:
I’m here at Frankston Pool is that right? For the first time being here. It seems very nice and it is quite big. There are a lot of things you can do here, first I went to the swimming pool and I did 10 laps with a person pulling a pool noodle as I kicked along. Then I walked over and saw Michael Doherty and we had a chat then went over to the paddling pool, with knee deep water. The water was warm and we found out that there is some a slide and play equipment that sprays water out which was not on. It seems like a lovely place. Next I headed to the spa, which was a good spa with strong jets that massaged my back which was very good. We also walked around, saw that there is some waterslides and a water park where water sprays all around the jets were nice a strong, a good massage and some water play which caught me by surprise, that was fun and good,I enjoyed that. then last we went to the, oh hang on did I get the order of what I did right? Anyway, I went to the sauna which was lovely and warm, soothing and relaxing, so camlming and soothing. I really relaxed… once that was done, I finished up it was time to go, almost 1:00 and I got changed, ate some lunch which I brought with me. I now feel warm, maybe a little bit hot which is nice.
Thanks Gina.
More Photos to come soon