Wreck Bay is located on the South Coast of NSW. The crystal clear waters of the bay lap against white sandy shores and border pristine bushland south of Jervis Bay in Booderee National Park. It’s been home to local Aboriginal communities for generations.

George Brown, 56, first visited an ICEE Eye Care Clinic some years ago. George’s family has lived in Wreck Bay for four generations.

George, like so many Aboriginal people, suffers from diabetes. A serious complication of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy this may lead to severely impaired vision and even blindness. The tragedy is that 90% of cases can be prevented. Control of blood sugar levels and regular eye examinations are critical in detecting and preventing advancement of the disease.

Professor Brian Layland, ICEE Director of Aboriginal Programmes for NSW, has been visiting the Aboriginal Medical Service at Wreck Bay to deliver eye care for 8 years.

“Coming to Wreck Bay has resulted in me getting to know the people and their challenges. Having eye care services available here means I see them regularly for check ups which is essential for the diabetic patients – unfortunately that wouldn’t happen if it were not for the Aboriginal Vision Programme and ICEE,” said Professor Layland.

ICEE currently visits 89 remote Aboriginal communities in NSW and regularly visits 28 locations in the Northern Territory

* Prevention of blindness from diabetes mellitus: report of a WHO consultation in Geneva, Switzerland, 9-11 November 2005.