About the Queensland Braille Writing Association
The Queensland Braille Writing Association (QBWA) is a voluntary association producing Braille and Moon books for children and adults, school and university students.
History of the QBWA and Braille House
Learn all about the history of the Queensland Braille Writing Association from 1897 to 1997 by obtaining a copy of The First 100 Years, available in both print and braille. You can purchase a print copy, or the braille copy can be borrowed from the library.
At a small meeting in the Telegraph Chambers in March 1897 a group of women including Mrs Sharp, Head Teacher of the School for the Blind, and Lady Lamington, wife of the Queensland governor formed the Queensland Braille Writing Association. Seven members, including the governor's wife, undertook the task of brailling twelve texts each. Thus the work of building a library and teaching sighted and blind to read and write Braille.
On 22nd March 1899 a free lending library consisting of 54 books was officially opened. The number of texts grew considerably over the years, with some members of the Association brailling over 1000 volumes each, often by hand.
Braille House Braille and Moon libraries
The Queensland Braille Writing Association produces and maintains Braille reading matter for the Braille House Library, and maintains the only library in Australasia of Moon (a raised-letter system based on the Roman alphabet), both libraries being free of charge to users.
Education and special requests Braille production
Through the Education and Special Requests section, whose members liaise with the resource officers of the Department of Education, textbooks and library books are produced for students in primary and secondary schools. Textbooks, tutorial notes and the like for university students are produced on request, as are 'special requests' for any information a Braille reader might require, such as bank statements, bus and rail timetables, religious courses, greeting cards, lists of telephone numbers and instructions for using equipment.
Braille magazine
Our own magazine is compiled and issued free of charge to approximately 150 readers. When these magazines are returned, they go out to readers in many countries, including Papua New Guinea, Canada, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, Russia and various parts of Africa.
Braille tactile calendar
Each year a tactile calendar is produced in Braille on a particular theme (e.g. Australian birds, animals and plants, geographical features etc), complete with a tactile picture on each page.
Teaching Braille and Moon
Other facilities offered to people who are blind or have low vision include teaching Braille writing and reading, as well as reading using the Moon system. A Braille Reading and Writing Competition for children and a Christmas party are held each year.
QBWA Council
The Association is managed by an elected Council which meets regularly and comprises an Executive and Committee members. Current office bearers are: Mrs Y Herbert CBE (President), Mrs O McAllister and Mrs V Barber (Vice-presidents), Dr B Deacon (Treasurer) and Ms Linda Triasmono (Secretary). The Administrative Coordinator is Ms Pat Hagenlocher, ably assisted by Mrs Lynne Petie.