Guide Dog ‘Rosie’ and Mike set to play 18 holes - October

Mike Maurice cannot see but with the assistance of his Guide Dog ‘Rosie’ and directions from a friend, he will play 18 holes in support of charity at the Townsville Golf Club next Friday, 29 October.

The Rotary Club of Mundingburra’s Charity Golf Day will raise vital funds for Guide Dogs Queensland – an organisation that Mr Maurice knows well.

Diagnosed with Macular Degeneration about eight years ago, Mr Maurice has lost his sight and now relies on ‘Rosie’ to keep him active and independent.

A keen golfer, Mr Maurice will team up with Townsville Councillor Ray Gartrell and two others for the Medley Ambrose event over 18 holes.

Registration costs $50 per person and includes green fees, a BBQ breakfast, lunch, and a golf ball. To register your team, contact the Townsville Golf Club on 4779 0133.

Guide Dogs Queensland Community Relations Manager Hilary Jones Rowan said 14 teams of four had already registered for the event and she encouraged others to get in quickly to snare the remaining spots.

“This is a great opportunity to play golf, network, win a prize, and most importantly, make a positive difference in the lives of local people who are blind or vision impaired,” Ms Jones-Rowan said.

Guide Dogs Queensland’s association with the Rotary Club of Mundingburra goes back 50 years to GDQ’s inception, when the Rotary Club helped Townsville man Hubie Morris become the first man in North Queensland to receive a Guide Dog.

Since then, Guide Dogs Queensland has rapidly grown and now has almost 80 working Guide Dog teams in Queensland.

GDQ also provides Orientation and Mobility training, and counselling to Queenslanders who are blind or vision impaired.

The organisation receives less than seven per cent in government funding for specific Orientation and Mobility services and no government funding for its Guide Dogs.

“We rely heavily on the support of the community to enable us to continue to provide these vital services at no cost to our clients,” Ms Jones-Rowan.

For further information or to arrange an interview or photo opportunity with Mike Maurice please contact GDQ Media Coordinator Jessica Chad by phone: 3500 9019 or email: j.chad@guidedogsqld.com.au