She saw clearly as her sight faded

LOUISA RUST

After going through the trauma of losing her sight 17 years ago, Shellharbour resident Jean Feeney turned her attention to helping those in a similar situation.

Ms Feeney, who has no sight in one eye and very limited vision in the other, would spend time in the waiting room of a low-vision clinic, whose aim was to help those who had just been diagnosed with a vision impairment or blindness come to terms with the news.

“(Going to the clinic) is when people often have to contemplate blindness for the first time,” she said.

“They are often in a very nervous state and a bit shocked. I would go in and sit in the waiting room area and talk to people and make them cups of tea.

“I wouldn’t say counsel, because I am not qualified in that way, but when I talked to people they would realise that life goes on.”

Ms Feeney has been heavily involved with Vision Australia since she became vision-impaired and currently makes soft toys for the organisation’s children’s services toy library, to be used by blind and vision-impaired children.

The toys are tailored to the needs of the children, made with a variety of textiles, using bold and contrasting colours and fitted with bells.

While Ms Feeney devotes hours of her time making the toys, she said she enjoys creating them as it “kept her busy”.

“I get a lot of joy out of it,” she said. “I’ve always been a very active person – I can’t just sit with my hands folded.”

Ms Feeney was honoured for her years of dedication to Vision Australia last Friday, by receiving one of the organisation’s Making a Difference Awards at a ceremony in Wollongong.

Ms Feeney received an award in the individual/community group category, which recognises organisations, community groups and individuals who help ensure blind and vision-impaired people are able to live life to the fullest.

“Jean’s hard work and dedication is a real inspiration,” Vision Australia team manager Illawarra, Nicolle Anderson Browne, said.

“She has made such a difference to so many people in her local community – she really deserves this recognition.”

Winner of the small business category of the awards was Wollongong Radio Doctor, while the large business award went to TAFE Illawarra Institute.