Celebrating 75 years — honouring our past, shaping our future
This year marks an extraordinary milestone for Guide Dogs WA – 75 years since we became Australia’s first Guide Dog organisation in 1951. From those pioneering beginnings to the generations of Guide Dogs, handlers, staff, volunteers and supporters who have followed, our 75th anniversary is a moment to celebrate a remarkable legacy – and the independence, connection and possibility that continues to grow from it.
This November, we’re celebrating our 75th anniversary with a special program of events and experiences at Perron Place in Victoria Park, Western Australia. Bringing together clients, volunteers, supporters and the wider community, the celebrations will honour our history, recognise the people who have shaped our journey and look ahead to the next generation of accessibility and inclusion.
Our story will come to life through immersive displays, treasured archives, an art and craft exhibition, a short documentary and the launch of our Lead the Way book. Alongside a special Guide Dog Graduation, community and volunteer open days will offer opportunities to explore our history, hear first-hand stories and discover our work through dog training, technology, braille and accessibility demonstrations.
More than a celebration of the past, this milestone is an opportunity to help shape what comes next. We look forward to sharing it with the community that has made these 75 years possible.
Thanks to the support of Lotterywest, the community can step inside our world and discover the people, dogs, services and technology helping Western Australians with low or no vision live the life they choose.
Events - Open to the Public
Tuesday 10 November 10am – 5pm (Free Registration)
61 Kitchener Avenue, Victoria Park WA
Drop in any time between 10am and 5pm to meet our people and our dogs, try our services for yourself and learn how we support people with low or no vision to live the life they choose. Come all day, or chose the speaker or tour that suits you:
Talks and live events
- Finding Our Story: how the Guide Dogs WA story began, with original “Kennel Maid” Wendy Morrow and our volunteer archivists. Main stage. 10:00am – 11:00am
- A Dog’s Life: a Guide Dog’s journey from breeding and puppyhood to being matched with a client, with live puppy and Guide Dog demos. Main stage. 12noon – 1:00pm
- Born to Guide: the many careers of our dogs, with client stories and live Assistance Dog, Guide Dog and Facility Dog demos. Main stage. 2:00pm – 3:00pm
- 101 of Accessibility: accessible practice in the digital and physical world, plus a technology showcase. Ideal for businesses and organisations. Theatrette. 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Guided tours
Go behind the scenes at our Sunbury Road dog facility in Victoria Park. Tours at 1:00pm, 1:50pm, 3:00pm and 3:50pm. There are only 20 places on each, so please book a tour time when you register.
Register here: Tickets for EverAbility Group – Community Open Day
All day
- Guide Dogs and Assistance Dogs: chat with our instructors and try a short handle walk
- Assistive Technology Demo Room: try the screen reader challenge and the tactile cane path
- Resource Centre: daily living aids, assistive technology and shop offers
- Accessibility and Braille: audio books, Braille and tactile maps, and a Perkins Brallier
- Client Services: trial equipment, try a human-guide experience and get a vision check
- Community Activity Centre: client artworks for sale and class showcases
- Volunteering: meet our volunteer teams and Puppy Raisers
Wednesday 11 November 9:15am – 1:45pm (Free registration)
61 Kitchener Avenue, Victoria Park WA
Our volunteers have been part of Guide Dogs WA for 75 years. As part of our 75 Year Anniversary, come and find out what volunteering with us looks like, and where you might fit in. Come along for a tour, listen to live chats or drop in between 9:15am – 1:45pm and see what our volunteers do.
Talks and live events
- Why We Show Up: Anna Presser in conversation with volunteers from Guide Dogs, Accessibility and Braille, and the Community Activity Centre about why they volunteer and the difference they make. Main stage. 9:30am – 10:30am
- A Lifetime Starts Here: Puppy Raisers and Bed and Breakfast Boarders share what it’s like to take a Guide Dog puppy home, from first outings to saying goodbye. Main stage. 11:30am – 12:30pm
Guided tours
Go behind the scenes at Perron Place and our Sunbury Road dog facility, from grooming and the breeding room to puppy classes and training. Tours leave Perron Place at 10:45am and 12:45pm. Places are limited, so please book a tour when you register.
Register here for the talks and tours: Tickets for EverAbility Group – Volunteer Open Day
Meet our volunteer teams
Our volunteer teams are on hand from 9:30am to 1:45pm to talk through the roles available. The best times to catch them are between sessions, at 10:30am, 11:15am, 12:30pm and 1:15pm.
- Guide Dogs: volunteer brochures, stories such as “life of a puppy raiser”, and volunteers on the stand to share their experience
- Accessibility and Braille: our team and volunteers, with information on roles such as digital production
- Community Activity Centre: our team, with information on volunteering in our classes and activities
Whether you can give a few hours a month or want to raise a puppy, there’s a way to get involved.
Everyone is welcome. Entry is free, but please register so we can plan for you!
'Lead the Way' - A collection of stories
Some stories deserve to be told, but others exist to be treasured.
Our commemorative book, Lead the Way, brings together a treasure trove of memories from people who imagined a different world for those with low or no vision and devoted their lives to making it possible.
Across 75 years, their stories speak of the courage to challenge convention and the quiet determination to change lives. Woven throughout is the extraordinary bond between people and the remarkable dogs who walk beside them.
Above all, this is a celebration of possibility. Of lives lived without limits and the wonder of these remarkable dogs. Contained within are carefully told stories of independence, determination and the simple freedom to live life on your own terms.
Click here to pre-order your copy.
There is much to discover in the stories of those who led the way. Here are some of the people below who we feature in our commemorative book Lead the Way. Stay tuned for this book availability.
Brian Muhling volunteered at the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in 1956, combining his enthusiasm for cinematography with transport, film projection, public demonstrations, and fundraising.
Henry and Malita Ronchi have a lifelong love of dogs and sustained support for Guide Dogs WA services. Their involvement has included sponsoring dogs, contributing to a Western Australian breeding program, and following the dogs’ development from puppyhood through graduation.
Jane Royle describes volunteering with Guide Dogs WA, beginning as a puppy raiser in 2019 and later helping Janet, a former puppy, participate in the organisation’s breeding program. She speaks about being involved intensive training, animal care, and strong support from staff and volunteers.
Tegan Reder grew up blind with Leber Congenital Amaurosis, developing independence through family and EverAbility programs. She received a Guide Dog at age 16 – the youngest person to receive a Guide Dog in WA. Her account focuses on forming a partnership with Louie, overcoming early challenges, and gaining greater confidence and mobility.
Our Impact
Guide Dogs WA
Guide Dogs WA employs three Guide Dog Mobility Instructors (GDMI) and currently has three Cadet GDMI’s.
Since the breeding program began in 2021, Guide Dogs WA has bred more than 300 puppies.
Working Dogs: 44 Working Guide Dogs, 16 Assistance Dog Partnerships, 3 Therapy Dogs, 16 Breeding Stock, 5 Facility Dogs, 2 Ambassador Dogs, 25 Puppies in Nest
In Training: 17 Guide Dogs, 9 Assistance Dogs, 1 Facility Dog, 73 Puppies in Training
Current Volunteers: 296
(As of September 2026)
Guide Dogs WA is a member of The International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF), a membership body and professional standard-setter for guide dog organisations.
As at 31st December 2025, IGDF Member Organisations had:
- 100 IGDF Members in 34 countries
- 18,978 Guide Dogs currently working
- 2,600 Guide Dogs trained during 2025
- 798 Guide Dog Mobility Instructors
- 229 Apprentice/trainee Guide Dog Mobility Instructors
How We Help
Guide Dog Services
Autism Assistance Dogs
Facility Dogs
Companion Dogs
Our History
For more than a century, our organisation has evolved to meet the changing needs of the community. Today, EverAbility Group brings together services that support people of all ages and abilities to live rewarding, independent lives.
1913 — Our story begins
The Ladies’ Braille Society begins providing Braille transcription, home teaching, social work and advocacy.
1923 — Rest home opens
The Rest Home for the Aged Blind opens in Victoria Park.
1951 — Guide Dogs WA begins
Australia’s first Guide Dog training school opens in Perth, marking the beginning of Guide Dogs WA.
1977 — Services unite
The Braille Society and Guide Dogs for the Blind merge to become the Association for the Blind of WA, expanding services for people with low or no vision.
2007 — The Perron Centre opens
The purpose-built centre opens following the successful Building Our Vision Campaign, which raised $14.5 million.
2013 — VisAbility is introduced
The organisation becomes VisAbility, reflecting a more inclusive approach to supporting people with varying levels of vision loss.
2016 — Expansion into Tasmania
VisAbility merges with Guide Dogs Tasmania and introduces a broader range of therapy, technology and vision services.
2020 — Kites Children’s Therapy launches, Perron Place established, and EverAbility Group is formed.
2026 — Celebrating 75 years
Guide Dogs WA celebrates 75 years of supporting people who are blind or have low vision to live with greater independence, confidence and connection.
Volunteer with Us
Interested in volunteering with Guide Dogs WA?
Explore our current volunteer opportunities and find out how you can get involved.
