Guide Dogs ambassador wins Access Award

04 December 2017

2017 winners crowned at Tweed Heads ceremony

Author and Guide Dogs Australia community advocate Bev Larsson has won the overall prize at this year’s Tweed Shire Access and Inclusion Awards.

“I’m extremely delighted to receive the award. It’s been a fantastic experience touring around the shire, visiting primary schools and talking to the kids,” the Hastings Point resident told last Wednesday’s presentation dinner for the 2017 Awards.

Ms Larsson was unable to attend the function, held at Twin Towns in Tweed Heads, because she was at a Guide Dogs Australia event in Sydney. In a video acceptance speech screened at the awards night, she said hadn’t looked back since receiving her guide dog Henry.

“It’s been absolutely fantastic having him in my life - the independence, the freedom - and it’s motivated me to spread the word about the organisation,” she said.

Ms Larsson visits schools with her book Along Came Henry and was recently appointed as an inspirational speaker for Guide Dogs Australia.

“When we go to the schools it’s a lot of fun. The kids really enjoy understanding more about his ability, his limitations and how we met,” she said.

“It that sense I hope I’m dispelling the myth about disability and brining people closer to understanding that visual impairment is just something you learn to live with. It might limit your ability but it doesn’t create too many barriers.”

Pottsville Beach Neighbourhood Centre, a previous overall winner, and South Tweed Touch Footy were also finalists for the top honour.

This year’s awards featured a new Dementia Friendly Community category, as the annual awards sought to turn greater attention to the condition.

The Dementia Action Group was the inaugural recipient on the new category, for providing community education to businesses to register as Dementia Friendly Community supporters.

Guest speaker and Dementia Australia spokesperson Trevor Crosby said dementia is a “natural disaster running unchecked, out of control in Australia”.

“I liken this situation to a bushfire raging out of control, which would be declared a natural disaster and the appropriate funding allocated,” he said.

This year’s Belonging Award was won by Cudgen Surf Life Saving Club for its inclusive Nippers Program.

Kingscliff’s Mockingbird Café and its hospitality employment training was presented with the Advocacy Award.

Visit www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/AccessInclusionAwards to see a full list of honoured businesses.

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Caption: 2017 Tweed Shire Access and Inclusion Award winner Bev Larsson and her guide dog Henry, in a scene from her acceptance speech video.