Blackwoods, through PROSAFE, is proud to partner with The Fred Hollows Foundation to support Fred’s vision to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People can always exercise their right to sight and good health. Through this partnership we are able to support The Foundations various teams and help enable them to treat and care for patients.
Jeffrey has worked as a ranger on Wurumungu Country in the Northern Territory for almost 10 years.
He says it’s the best job he’s had.
The Muru-Warinyi Ankkul ranger’s office stretches 100km from Tennant Creek in the Barkly region. From there Jeffrey takes Traditional Owners out on Warumungu Country, protects sacred sites, native plants and animals including the vulnerable bilby population and helps manage traditional burns.
“It makes me feel proud of my Country. Looking after Country is what we do.”
But a few years ago, Jeffrey noticed a change in his vision after smoke entered his eyes after a backburn. Over time, his vision became cloudy.
“I washed my eyes with water and used eye drops but that didn’t work either.
While he wasn’t sure if smoke or damage from a welding accident was causing his poor vison, Jeffrey knew he needed to fix his eyesight to continue working.
“It’s very important to have good vision because you don’t what you might walk on. You might step on something that’s no good like a snake. It’s also hard to see the burning and the flame is too hot for your eyes. During the night-time, when we knock off, that’s when my eyes get sore because of the smoke.”
When Jeffrey attended an eye clinic at Tennant Creek, he was told he needed surgery to remove a cataract that was causing the cloudy vision.
Jeffrey was one of seven patients who travelled five hours from Tennant Creek to Alice Springs Hospital for surgery at an Eye Intensive supported by The Fred Hollows Foundation in partnership with Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation.
The Foundation, Anyinginyi and the Hospital work together to deliver culturally safe eye care that includes transport, accommodation and a care plan for each patient. The partnership approach helps close the eye health gap for First Nations people who are 12 times more likely to have blinding cataract than other Australians yet wait 40 per cent longer for surgery.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE FRED HOLLOWS FOUNDATION AND BLACKWOODS PARTNERSHIP