Northland blind advocate George Phiskie of Waipu dies

George Phiskie, seen here celebrating 125 years of the Blind Foundation at a special morning tea in 2015, died on Sunday night.

The blind community of Northland, and the country, has lost one of its greatest advocates with the death of Waipū man George Phiskie.

Phiskie died on Sunday night, his daughter Sue Matthews told the Northern Advocate, with a funeral likely to be on Thursday.

Phiskie began to lose his sight in childhood, was educated and then worked at the then live-in facility in Auckland and then successfully farmed, raised a family and became deeply involved in many service capacities in Waipū and beyond.

He was 96 when he died and Matthews said he will be remembered for his jokes, quick wit, sense of humour and the inspiration he gave to countless others over his long life. He was a regular at the Blind Foundation collection days, often with his beloved guide dog, Gemma.

Back in 2015, to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Blind Foundation - of which Phiskie is a life member - he told the Northern Advocate he began to lose his sight in childhood.

''I was a child of the foundation since I was 9 years old,'' he said at the time.

Matthews said her father was a life-long member of St John, always there to help out and inspiring all who met him.

''He was always telling his corny jokes and making people laugh,'' she said.

''The reason why he was able to achieve so much in his life was because he was such a very determined person. To us as a family he was a great example and his attitude was you will never do it if you don't give it a try, you've got to try it.''

Phiskie had two daughters, Sue and Ina Phiskie and his son Leslie (deceased). He has five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

A service for George Phiskie will be held in Waipū on Thursday and the Advocate will publish the details when finalised.