I wish to express appreciation for another year of dedicated service and commitment by SEDA’s staff led by Leigh Garwood.  We value our staff and appreciate their commitment and professionalism.  The difficult decisions of the previous year are bearing fruit. Re-organisation of the Operations and Marketing Departments has begun to pay dividends through reduced operating costs and increased revenue.

SEDA provided a record 33 Seeing Eye dogs to blind and vision impaired people throughout Australia last year, up from 29 in the previous year and 21 in the year before that.  This brings the number of people with working Seeing Eye dogs at year’s end to a record 101, up from 81 in the previous year and 69 in the year before that. This indicates a strong growth trend and clearly stamps SEDA as the second highest provider of dog guides in Australia.  Gone forever are the days when this organisation could be described as a boutique service catering to dissatisfaction with mainstream guide dog services.

I wish to acknowledge our volunteers, especially our Puppy Carers on whom we are so reliant.  Caring for puppies from eight weeks to twelve months is challenging for families—both physically and emotionally.  Puppy Carers are an integral part of the SEDA community, and we appreciate their ongoing support.  This year has seen the introduction of volunteer Breeder Carers who also manage the care of new-born puppies.  This decentralised approach to the whelping of puppies and care in their earliest days saves costs and helps with infection control, but is dependent on the support of very special volunteers.  I also wish to acknowledge those SEDA clients who have helped SEDA’s marketing by showing the general public how they work with their Seeing Eye Dog and answering questions.  This support is much appreciated.

I warmly thank our generous SEDA donors.  Their ongoing support is vital for the sustainability of SEDA, enabling us to provide much needed services to Australians who are blind.  During 2006–07 there was continued strong growth in SEDA’s fundraising.  Income from fundraising was $1.485 million this year, almost double the amount of $769 thousand in the previous year.  SEDA’s fundraising has grown strongly and consistently - almost doubling each year over the past eight years - and with further growth anticipated it is now possible to see SEDA in the black with income supporting service growth and high standards being maintained.  It has been a long haul, and the Board has kept its nerve.  I thank all staff for their efforts.  Particularly I acknowledge Leigh Garwood for careful planning of fundraising programs, and I congratulate him for meeting ambitious fundraising targets.

I wish to thank my colleagues on the SEDA Board for another year of strong leadership and good governance.  All members of the Board have contributed throughout the year and I thank each of them for their efforts.

In June 2007 Aaron Steley resigned from the Board.  I thank Aaron for his contribution and wish him well; and I look forward to his ongoing involvement with SEDA as a client and contributor in other ways to the SEDA community.

In November 2006 Peter Walsh retired from the SEDA Board.  In April 2007 Peter was awarded life membership of SEDA in recognition of his outstanding contribution to SEDA over 27 years as a director.  In addition to his role as a Director, Peter facilitated first mortgage investments for the organisation which for many years were the mainstay of its investment portfolio.  In saluting Peter, we wish him good health and happiness in his retirement.

SEDA’s future has both opportunities and challenges.  Our major opportunities are to continue providing top quality Seeing Eye dogs to people who are blind and to work in partnership with like-minded organisations.  Our challenges are to maintain SEDA’s growth and increased recognition, and to raise the necessary funds to ensure SEDA’s sustainability.

During the year SEDA had separate discussions with Vision Australia and Guide Dogs Victoria, with a view to developing collaborative working arrangements to benefit blind people through improved and seamless services.  Regrettably, the SEDA Board terminated the preliminary discussions with Guide Dogs Victoria in October, following public statements by Guide Dogs Victoria that undermined SEDA’s trust.  On the other hand, I am pleased to report that discussions with Vision Australia have progressed well, and I look forward to the development of long-term service-based partnership between our organisations so that blind people with Seeing Eye dogs will come to know and attest that ‘they’ve never had it so good’.

I am proud to lead SEDA as we sustain growth and maintain excellence in the provision of Seeing Eye Dogs for Australians who are blind; and I thank all members of the SEDA community - directors, staff, volunteers, supporters and clients for your ongoing support and participation.