PM Transcripts

F77/ 227
4A U S RL A~
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 14 OCTOBER 1977
WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY
" In the hustle and bustle of daily life, and especially in fast
moving cities, it was all too easy to overlook the difficulties
faced by blind and visually handicapped people in maintaining
their independence of movement", the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon.
Malcolm Fraser, said today.
The Prime Minister said that he had much pleasure in supporting
efforts by the Australian Federation of Blind Citizens to have a
particular day each year recognised throughout Australia as " White
Cane Safety Day". October 15 had been suggested as an appropriate
day and was already recognised in many overseas countries and
some States as-White Cane Safety Day.
Formal recognition of a White Cane Safety Day will provide an
opportunity for all Australians, especially motorists, to give
special consideration to the blind and visually handicapped as
they move about our busy streets.
" The white cane is recognised internationally as a sign of the
determination of the blind and visually handicapped people to live
useful and productive lives in our modern societies", the Prime
Minister said.
The cane would be most useful in drawing to attention the fact
that blind and visually handicapped people were making their own
way. Courtesy demanded that the white cane should be recognised
as the symbol of a need to take particular account of the requirements
of people who were maintaining their independence despite
disability. Mr. Fraser said he hoped there could be a combined effort by all
those concerned with the needs of blind and visually handicapped
people to use the White Cane Safety Day as a focus for increasing
public awareness of the mobility requirements of these people.