YOUNG Dan Duffy stole the show at the opening of Vision Australia’s new headquarters in Warrnambool yesterday.
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The seven-year-old provided the musical entertainment including multiple encores to mark the opening of the new Koroit Street office as clients inspected the new facilities.
Dan has a condition known as occulo-cutaneous albinism which affects his eyesight and has been a Vision Australia client since he was three months old.
His parents, Jane and Jonathan Duffy, said the not-for-profit organisation had been an invaluable source of assistance over the past seven years.
“There are so many areas where Vision Australia and MPower have assisted us since Dan’s diagnosis,” Mrs Duffy said. “Things like tinted windows, accessibility, changes in technology when it comes to eyesight. They’re always keeping us up-to-date in so many areas.”
Premier Denis Napthine inspected the new site yesterday opposite Warrnambool’s Uniting Church, located in the former electoral office used by his predecessors John McGrath and John Vogels.
Vision Australia representatives joined more than 40 other people at the ceremony with some taking the option to tour the site.
The new offices include a radio studio for the region’s vision-impaired broadcast service alongside meeting rooms and administrative facilities.
Dr Napthine, who also serves as South West Coast MP, said the site was ideally located, only metres away from Liebig Street as well as the Koroit Street bus exchange.
“Having a walk around just before, there’s no doubt that it’s an excellent facility that will be well used by the community,” the Premier said.
“What Vision Australia is focused on is providing people with options and the technology to live their lives to the full. The choices and options presented to people facing low vision are far higher now than they’ve ever been due to technological advances.”