George back again to do his bit

CONSTANT COMPANIONS: George Phiskie will be with guide dog Georgie at New World Regent today, collecting for Blind Week. PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM

George Phiskie will turn 92 in December, but that's not stopping him fundraising for Blind Week.

The Waipu man was to be collecting at New World Regent today with guide dog Georgie as part of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind's national appeal week this week. "I believe in the organisation," said Mr Phiskie. "I think they do they most good for the most people.

"I went to school there [at the RNZFB] when I was 12. They've helped me from 12 to 92," he said.

Mr Phiskie was born with severely impaired sight after his mother had rubella during her pregnancy. Glaucoma finished off the little sight he had at the age of 45.

Despite that Mr Phiskie farmed and led guided tours of the Waipu Caves system until he was in his 70s.

He has been a Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind member since 1933 and has volunteered for Blind Week right from the beginning. "I was there right back in the 1950s when they first started Braille Week, way back when. I've always done my bit," he said.

His community work and advocacy for the blind have seen him named a Northland Local Hero and one of three national finalists in the New Zealander of the Year Awards.

Last year he was made a life member of the RNZFB Whangarei community committee after stepping down as chairman due to "old age and getting doddery", he joked.

But he says he'll stay involved for as long as he can. "I've got a lot of friends there; sighted, partially sighted and totally blind."

Mr Phiskie will be shaking a bucket outside New World Regent from 12pm to 2pm today accompanied by his guide dog, 13-year-old black lab Georgie.

"He's always there. He's quite used to this sort of thing."

The pair will be driven from the Phiskie Waipu farm to Whangarei by Ruakaka volunteer Tom Hutchinson. "I'm very fortunate," Mr Phiskie said.

And fundraising is something he thoroughly enjoys. "I like meeting the people, and I think it's good to get out an about and into the community."

He also wants to thank in advance the people that make a donation. "Without the public and their donations, the foundation wouldn't exist."

RNZFB's Blind Week started on October 29 and goes until November 4.