What: International Guide Dog Day Graduation Ceremony: 11 Guide Dog teams graduate new working partnership.
Where: 1978 Gympie Rd, Bald Hills, QLD
When: Wednesday, 28 April 2pm (Clients and CEO available for interviews and photos at 1.15pm).

The joy of finding independence through the eyes of a Guide Dog will be celebrated on International Guide Dog Day, Wednesday, April 28 when 11 Queenslanders and their canine friends ‘graduate’ as a team.

Guide Dogs Queensland will mark the important international day with a special Guide Dog Team Graduation ceremony at their Breeding and Training Centre in Bald Hills.

Graduates will travel from as far as Cairns with their Guide Dogs to share their achievement with family and friends, sponsors and puppy raisers of their Guide Dogs.

They will be presented with a medallion and Cairns Barrister Barry Murray will speak of life with his Guide Dog ‘Ike’ and maintaining an independent life through his eyes.

Guide Dogs Queensland CEO Chris Laine said the event was particularly auspicious as this year the iconic brand marked 50 years of providing services to Queenslanders who were blind or vision impaired.

“International Guide Dog Day is a chance for us to highlight the important role Guide Dogs play in the lives of Queenslanders and the fact that Guide Dogs and pups in training have the right to enter public places and business premises” Ms Laine said.

She said new laws introduced last year had increased the penalty to $10,000 for anyone refusing access to a Guide Dog or Guide Dog-in-training.

“To deny Guide Dog handlers access to public places such as restaurants, hotels and taxis is discrimination and against the law in Queensland,” she said.

Ms Laine said Guide Dogs Queensland wished to thank Queensland for supporting the association for 50 years.

“We receive no funding for our Guide Dogs yet they cost $30,000 to produce. Thanks to community support, we are able to provide them free of charge to Queenslanders who are blind,” she said.

See below for details of event:

What: International Guide Dog Day Graduation Ceremony: 11 Guide Dog teams graduate new working partnership.

Who: Guide Dog client and Barrister Barry Murray of Cairns will be available for interviews from 1.15pm. Mr Murray and his Guide Dog ‘Ike’ are well known in legal circles and in the court house where ‘Ike’ enjoys access to all areas.

Please note Ceremony begins at 2pm sharp

Attending the ceremony, will be the Qld Minister for Disability Services and Multicultural Affairs Annastacia Palaszczuk and 120 guests.

Where: 1978 Gympie Rd, Bald Hills, QLD. The Breeding and Training Centre, is located adjacent to the Carseldine Homemakers Centre, and Bunnings Complex, at the junction of Linkfield and Gympie roads.

When: Clients and staff will only be available for interviews and photos between 1.15pm and 1.45pm or after the ceremony at 3pm.

Contact: GDQ Communications and Marketing Manager Dona Hurley on Mob: 0419 409 538 or email: d.hurley@guidedogsqld.com.au