By ALESHA CAPONE
KERRY McGuire has not let life hold him back despite losing his sight, dedicating countless hours to helping other people.
The Sunshine North resident has received an Order of Australia medal (OAM) as part of the Queen’s Birthday 2013 Honours List, for his services to sport, particularly for people who are blind or partially sighted.
Among his many achievements, 84-year-old Mr McGuire has organised the International Blind Bowlers Association World Championships and co-ordinated the Australian Blind Bowls Championships.
He has served as president of both Blind Sports Victoria and Visually Impaired and Blind Bowlers of Victoria.
He has been made a life member of the Australian Blind Bowlers Association, the Sunshine Softball Association and the Sunshine Baseball Club for his decades of service to these groups.
In addition, Mr McGuire was a Victorian representative player at the Australian Blind Bowls Championships for several years across 1981 to 1995.
Mr McGuire, a father of five, grandfather of six and great-grandfather of one, said he was “stunned” to be nominated for an OAM.
“I’ve always been involved in sport in some way, more with the organisation or administration – I like to be involved with the administration,” he said.
“I had to stop playing in my early years because my sight was going and I couldn’t be involved with ball sports.
“I then became involved in blind bowls and I got a lot of success and enjoyment out of that.”
In 2009, Mr McGuire and his wife Betty organised the International Blind Bowlers Association World Championships to be held in Glenroy.
“I did all the phoning and contacting, and she did all the typing, so it was a two-fold effort,” he said.
Mr McGuire said being blind did not stop him from living life to the full.
“If you lose your sight, you lose it – it’s a fact of what has happened. You can sit inside four walls and mope, or you can get on with it,” he said.
“I began losing my sight 30 years ago and I didn’t let that stop me from doing things.
“There are times when things get hard, but you have to persevere.”
