THE biggest model Guide Dog will be visiting Melbourne on Tuesday 29 March.
At 4.3 metres tall, Goldie – the Giant Guide Dog – has travelled from Sydney to help Guide Dogs Victoria celebrate 50 years of the iconic Collection Dog program.
Collection Dogs not only provide a vital source of funding for Guide Dog training, but have also become a beloved fixture in Victorian retail outlets for 50 years and can be found all over Hobsons Bay including Williamstown’s Coles.
CEO of Guide Dogs Victoria Dr Graeme White said the Collection Dogs have always been a part of the daily lives of Victorians.
“Whether it is a trip to the local grocery store, bank or café – Victorians have always made time to give to our collection dogs,” he said.
Together with the support of retail outlets and businesses that display our iconic dogs, the program has been embraced by Victorians – allowing us to continue the work we do for the vision impaired.
“We started in 1961 with our Collection Dogs – they were made out of fibre glass and were placed in only a handful of sites in the metropolitan area. Today, there are about 2500 sites.”
To help this worthwhile cause, Guide Dogs Victoria is urging residents of Hobsons Bay and the general public to ‘Give Gold for Goldie’ on Tuesday 29 March and donate a gold coin at Coles or Woolworths stores, or come down to Federation Square between 7am and 7pm to see Goldie and the adorable Guide Dog pups.
