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About Us - History
Guide Dogs SA was formed in 1957 by the Adelaide and Unley Apex who issued an invitation to attend meeting to form State Association. The meeting was held at the home of Mr Frank Beauchamp. On 5th Dec the first committee meeting was held in Bevan Rutt's Architectural Rooms. A committee was formed and consisted of: President: Frank Beauchamp Frank Beauchamp attended the inaugural meeting of Guide Dogs for the Blind Association of Australia in Perth on the 8th Dec. A National Association was formed and agreed that the National Training centre would be established and financed by combined State Associations on population basis. A decision was made that Guide Dogs Head Office would be located in Vic. In 1957 - 1958 The Adelaide Unley and Apex Clubs paid for training of Miss Lillian Ewart of Glenelg with Guide Dog Faye and Miss Ruby Belleli with Guide Dog Roxy, a Kelpie/Lab cross, until fundraising was able to begin. A Public Appeal was launched in 1958 by Lord Mayor Mr LMS Hargrave in the Adelaide Town Hall, and 12,000 pounds - 15,000 pounds was raised. Jack Davey passed away on October 14th 1958 and in July 1959 a Memorial was established in his memory. Mr Harold Cumming, a close friend of Jack Davey suggested the Kew Training Centre should be dedicated as recognition of Mr Davey's charity work. This was approved by National Council. In June 1960 Bevan Rutt Hon National Secretary was chosen as Chairman and Organiser of a sub committee to launch the Jack Davey Memorial Guide Dog Training Centre Appeal. The Appeal raised 16,800 pounds which enabled the signing of 63,000 pound contract for centre. The Inurgural Ladies Auxiliary was formed and Ms Peg Ballantyne was elected as the first President, while in the same year Max Brinsley succeeded Bevan Rutt as Hon Sec after 2 years of service.
1960 - 1970 1960 saw nine working Guide Dogs in SA and the first Guide Dog was assigned to a country area and the Northern Territory join South Australia and Guide dogs SA and NT was established and long cane training commenced. Ted Graham is first client in the Northern Territory to receive a Guide Dog, and Auxiliaries were formed in Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek to help raise funds for Guide Dogs. The first Australian Junior Auxiliary was formed in Adelaide in July 1961 with Phillipa Rutt as the first President. Guide Dogs first Public Relations Officer/Secretary , Mr RL Abbot was appointed in 1962 and worked from Steamship Building, Currie Street Adelaide. National Annual General Meeting was held in Adelaide in 1964 and David Bell from Adelaide Apex was elected to National Honorary Secretary and remained until 1967. The Association was the only School in the world to 1965 1965 also saw Bevan Rutt succeed Frank Beauchamp as President and the second major appeal for funds was launched at the Adelaide Town Hall by Lord Mayor Mr JC Irwin, OBE ED. The Appeal raised almost $30,000. In 1966 State Government passes amendments to The 'Registration
of Dogs Act' giving access to Guide Dogs when accompanying their
owners and Bevan Rutt was elected National Vice President and South
Australia was represented with two of four national officers. Bevan Rutt became the first South Australian to be elected as National President in 1967 and held this position for 5 years. Later Mr Rutt became the Associationís Executive officer. Mr Rutt was a prominent member of Apex movement, holding positions of National President and President of the World Council of Young Men's Clubs. He became foundation member of Lions International when he reached Apex statutory retiring age and served as District Governor in 1964-65. In 1968 Clive Thelning and Guide Dog King joined the Guide Dog Team in the position of Public Relations Officer for the Association. The first mobile display unit was designed and built in Adelaide and was extensively used at many Agricultural Shows from Mount Gambier to Darwin. Vehicle used as headquarters to promote guide dogs. Original destroyed in 1974 during Cyclone Tracy. The Association became a beneficiary of Telethon in 1968 and received $21 455 and in 1969 at the National Conference in Sydney, National Director, Keith Holdsworth and Dr Bruce Ford recommended that the National Association should begin providing approved aids and training vision impaired applicants in their use. Guide Dogs SA and NT began selling tea towels at the Royal Adelaide Show in 1970 with great success and as a direct result SA moved into larger offices at Aston House, Leigh Street, Adelaide.
1970 - 1980 Ian Shepherd, with Guide Dog Butch returns from Kew as the first South Australian to be trained in the use of binaural spectacles. Yvonne Thelning became SA's first Orientation and Mobility Instructor and arranges a seminar at School of Occupational Therapy to introduce mobility services to South Australia. Bevan and Paula Rutt took mobile unit to Darwin, via Alice Springs, Barrow Creek, Tennant Creek, Katherine and Gove. Mrs Rutt collected recipes along the way and produced a cooking book called 'Up the Track' which sold nationally and provided considerable funds for the Association JN Tummell succeeds HB Gray as SA President in 1975 and the National Council launches an appeal for two million dollars to finance extensions of Kew Training Centre and meet rising expenses. Bevan Rutt attends 1975 Lions Convention in Brisbane and saw the passing of a motion that all Lions Clubs would support Royal Guide Dogs for the Blind Associations of Australia. At the death of Mr WR Tresise MBE (founder of Lions Clubs in Aust) Bevan Rutt suggested that a fitting memorial to his work would be a new extension at Kew Training centre. Mr Rutt appointed coordinator of appeal and traveled extensively through Australia addressing Lion District Conventions raising $186,000. Mr JN Tummel, Mr HB Gray, JF Burnett appointed Trustees for appeal on 15th October. SA section of National appeal inaugurated by His Excellency the Governor, Sir Mark Oliphant, KBE, K.St.J. contributed $50,000. 1976 In 1977 five full time O&M staff on board and Hans Pieters appointed Senior Instructor (1980). 1978 Pilot telephone sales promotion selling guide dog pens selling
502 513 pens with net profit of $100 503. Miss Jane Archibald graduate in occupational therapy and mobility instruction. 1979 Sales of pens, tea towels and xmas cards commenced in November 1979 and sales of $592 353 were reached. Hans Pieter takes over as senior Orientation and Mobility instructor Russell Harris, former Zone 8 President of Apex appointed Development Officer in February.
1980 - 1982 1980 HB Gray second SA to be elected National President of Association. Jenny Brown and Gayle Clarke began as Orientation & Mobility Instructors in Adelaide. 1981 HB Gray re-elected as National President. Mrs Eve Jamieson elected Honorary Life Member of Association at the AGM in May 1981. Bevan Rutt retires from Association and then reappointed to Executive Committee to continue 24 years unbroken service. Bevan Rutt reinstated as Vice Patron at AGM ehls in Brisbane in April. Mr Russell Harris succeeds Bevan Rutt as SA Executive Officer. 1982 The Guide Dogs Association of SA and NT are in the process of continuing to document their important history. As details are documented we will ensure this page is updated.
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