Specsavers Optometrists in Woy Woy have thanked locals for supporting them in helping to close the gap in Indigenous eye health, as they celebrated 10 years of supporting The Fred Hollows Foundation.
The local Specsavers operator said residents have helped contribute towards $4.1M in donations to help ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can access high quality, culturally safe and patient centric eye care.
To continue to raise funds, Specsavers and The Fred Hollows Foundation have launched two limited edition frames, featuring the artwork of contemporary Aboriginal artist and proud Yuin woman, Rheanna Lotter.
The artwork featured on the frames is called ‘Unity’ and Lotter said empowering Indigenous communities to look after their eye health is also about rebuilding trust.
She describes the heart of this year’s artwork as, “always guided by our Ancestors and our Elders, we come together as one.”
“By coming together, we enable the acknowledgement of our past, and move towards a more united future.”
Specsavers Woy Woy is encouraging locals to come in-store and purchase the glasses with $25 from each pair sold going to The Fred Hollows Foundation to continue their sight restoring work and the goal is to raise $250,000 through the limited-edition frames.
Woy Woy Optometrist, Stewart Bell, said the store was passionate about the work the Foundation does.
“We’re so grateful to our local community for continuing to support us and The Fred Hollows Foundation,” Bell said.
“We want to continue to close the gap and improving eye health services in Indigenous communities for the next 10 years and beyond, and we want the Woy Woy community to come with us on this journey!”
Source: Media release, Nov 26, 2021 Specsavers