Sixty six years of service ends
After 66 years helping people suffering from blindness or low vision, Arthur (Stalky) Law has called it quits.
He announced his retirement at a Christmas function late last year.
Law started out as a volunteer for the Foundation for the Blind in the 1953.
“At the time I was in Young Farmers, I was the chairman of the Mangatoro branch. We had a meeting with Tom Taylor, a welfare officer from the Foundation for the Blind. He wanted us to help organise or to make a donation to help the cause.
“Our members were very keen to do that so we spearheaded a collection in our respective country areas collecting either money or stock.”
Law said from there stock drives became a regular fundraiser for the blind and these continued for many years.
Law and his son John owned a farm in partnership but in 1986 John died from leukemia at the age of 27 so Law sold the farm and moved to a lifestyle block at Umutaoroa.
There followed several jobs working on farms and at the saleyards before Law took a job at Oringi freezing works.
During the 11 years Law was there he organised raffles and other fundraisers.
“These would be totally illegal nowdays but they were sizable raffles. Tickets were $100 each and were limited to 50 tickets. First prize was $2000, second prize was $1000 and third prize was $500. The money raised funded a number of local organisations including the Foundation for the Blind.
“There was no problem selling the tickets because of the massive workforce at Oringi.”
It was while Law was at Oringi that he was asked to join the Southern Hawke’s Bay/Northern Wairarapa Community Committee of the Foundation for the Blind.
“I left Oringi in 1998 when I retired so after that I was able to do more for the blind.”
Law said over the next few years the committee lost its president, its secretary and two other members.
“From there on I was virtually on my own.”
Law said Ian Standevon, based in Wellington, was in charge of volunteers and he would from time to time check on the various community groups.
“He called on me on one occasion and suggested I join the Palmerton North Community Committee which I did.
“Eighteen months later I was elected chairman of the group.
“I was the youngest member of the group, most of the members were in their late 80s and early 90s. They were trying to run the various activities but I could see the way forward was to set up a support group.”
Following a discussion with the Blind Foundation’s chief executive a Tararua support group was established.
“I was excited to come back and look after Tararua.”
He had the help of Kerry Speedy who carried out home visits and who is now president of Tararua Blind and Low Vision New Zealand.
Law said he felt more help was needed so Sue Langridge, who helped out with social functions, was approached to take over the day-to-day servicing of the area while Kerry continued visiting clients and running social events.
Glenys Dawkins looks after the southern part of the region and the donation boxes that are dotted around the district.
Their roles are voluntary and take a big commitment as they cover the whole of Tararua.
Since the Foundation for the Blind changed its name to Blind and Low Vision New Zealand there has been an increase in the number of clients.
“There is a greater number of people joining Blind and Low Vision New Zealand and that means a very much bigger workload unfortunately,” said Law.
“Macular degeneration is the biggest cause of loss of eyesight. It generally affects those over 60 and it is more frequent than you would expect. Cataracts are a pretty close second to macular degeneration in causing loss of eyesight.”
Law said he was saddened to see so many people whose lives had deteriorated because of their eyesight problems.
When a person loses their eyesight they register with Blind and Low Vision New Zealand and are assessed as to what their daily living needs are can be supplied with a CD player on which they can listen to the latest magazine and newspaper articles.
Both the CD player and the CDs are supplied at no cost by Blind and Low Vision New Zealand and postage of the lastest recordings is also taken care of.
“These players provide entertainment when it is no longer possible for a person to watch TV. Blind and low vision people need an alternative to give them some sociability.
Law said he was about to turn 86 so he felt it was time to step away from Tararua Blind and Low Vision New Zealand.
“I will become just an add on and will help out with any technical issues.”