The sound of several white canes tapping the pavement filled Shepparton's Maude St Mall yesterday in celebration of International White Cane Day.
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Shepparton’s Sharon Sellick, along with other visually impaired residents, took part in the cane awareness walk with the helpful guidance of Vision Australia Shepparton staff.
Ms Sellick said the cane kept her connected with the community.
“I think it’s important for us to show the community that we are still able to access our surroundings, but we do it in a different way,” she said.
Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa in 2000, Ms Sellick said she could only see centrally.
“I have dual sensory loss so not only can I not see what is coming from the side, but I also can’t hear it coming,” she said.
“People ask me — 'why do you need a cane, you can see' — but it is because of the cane I have the confidence to tell them exactly why.”
Ms Sellick said losing her sight was a scary transition in her life.
“The disease is actually a slow deteriorating disease but in my mind it’s not, I feel it’s a lot faster than that and at first I didn’t want to use the cane but now I find it helps.”
Vision Australia orientation and mobility specialist Louise Cheong said the cane was the vision impaireds' key to independence.
“The cane allows us to safely leave home and navigate the community without injuring ourselves,” Ms Cheong said.
“It detects objects, hazards and is used to access depth perception.
“Some of us use it all the time, indoors and out, and some only when visiting unfamiliar areas to give that extra guidance.”
The group set off from Queen's Gardens and made its way through the Maude St Mall, concluding at Eastbank Café for a celebratory morning tea.
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