Mt Perry Farmer Pat Walsh

Pat Walsh lost his vision in January 2011 but this has not stopped this father-of-three from forging ahead with an independent life on his farm west of Bundaberg.

Pat was using chemicals on his Mt Perry property and had to be choppered out to Bundaberg Hospital where he was declared legally blind as a result of methanol poisoning.  

 He has been left with the ability to distinguish between light and dark, and can make out some shapes but he relies on the White Cane, MiniGuide and more recently a GPS Trekker to safely get about his 90-acre farm. Pat has a carer but contacted GDQ soon after realising he would need help to stay living on the farm.

"I know my way around but I'm a bit dubious about where I actually am," Pat says. "I'm still getting used to where I am and which direction I'm pointing."

The 42-year-old declares he's "still as fit as a mallee bull" and is raising three daughters while caring for the family's herd of Charolais/Droughtmaster cattle, Dorper Sheep and pet animals.

 He has spent a total of four weeks at Guide Dogs Queensland's Training Centre in Brisbane and more recently our team travelled to his property to help plot points of interest with a hand held GPS unit offered as one of our free training options.

In a first for GDQ, the Orientation and Mobility instructors mapped the farm and points such as the pump at the bore, gates, sheds and the all important route to his mail box. 

"Being the kind of person I am, I had walked down and tried to check the mail on my own but I veered off the road and basically sat there waiting for someone to come find me," he said. Fortunately Pat's carer heard his "cooee's" but the incident left him rattled.  

"I know the farm like the back of my hand but I didn't know what direction I was pointing in," he said. "This training has given me back my independence."

Pat now uses the GPS in conjunction with the cane and MiniGuide which is fixed to his Acubra.

"I've attached it to my hat because it only looks in front of where its pointed and I've been sconed a couple of times by branches!" 

Despite medical advice to the contrary, Pat is hopeful of regaining some of his vision in the long term.

"My biggest hope is to walk my girls down the aisle without assistance," he said.  

"In the meantime I have found Guide Dogs to be incredibly helpful and I'm just happy to be able to stay on my farm.