Guide Dogs Central Coast Volunteer Support Group volunteer Angela Allen has a new best friend.
She was recently paired with recently graduated guide dog Jolie, following the retirement of her previous guide dog Piper.
Allen has played a significant role as an active member of the support group, which has made vital fundraising contributions to the organisation over the past 40 years.
She moved to Australia from Ireland with her late husband Norman and her Irish guide dog Hamish in November 2008, to be with their daughter and her family.
Guide Dogs NSW ACT took her under its wing and provided her with the orientation needed to continue to live an independent life on the Central Coast.
Allen has performed numerous PR speaking presentations at Central Coast local schools, Probus and other community senior groups as well joining the Gosford Sing Australia choir group and swimming at the local pool.
In 2018 Hamish retired, and Angela was given her first Australian guide dog Piper, a beautiful golden Labrador.
She continued to be involved with community activities and joined Woy Woy CWA branch, where she and Piper were made very welcome and became full members.
The Guide Dogs Central Coast Volunteer Support Group formed in 1983 and since then volunteers have been active in fundraising from The Entrance to the Peninsula area.
The group continues to be visual in the community, managing a number of fundraising stalls each year at shopping centres across the Central Coast, with volunteers available to share their experiences with visitors and discuss how the organisation provides free services to help people with impaired vision.
The group’s next stalls will be held on Thursday, July 25, at Kincumber Village; Saturday, August 10, at Bunnings West Gosford; and Thursday, August 22, at Bateau Bay Square.