Tea break for a cause

The Oak Flats Progress Society will host a morning tea on April 17 to raise funds for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.

Samantha Noonan has grown in confidence after working with her guide dog, Sheba, for six months.

"Some people love canes, but I just found that really wasn't enough - it was holding my independence back," she said.

"I don't really go to new places entirely on my own, but I can get her to find things like lifts, so even if I don't quite know where they are, she'll suss them out for me.

"She enables me to move a lot quicker, which is nice."

Every guide dog costs $30,000 to train and 50 to 60 per cent of puppies graduate, depending on their temperament.

Progress Society president Helen Stewart said the society put aside $500 annually for worthy causes and chose Guide Dogs NSW/ACT because it does not receive government support.

"They play a very important part in these people's lives - you give them a quality life, they can participate in family activities, and once they receive a dog, it becomes part of the family," she said.

"To actually see how they bond together and the complete trust that the client puts in the animal itself, it's really rewarding."

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT orientation and mobility instructor Matthew Walker, who is working with Ms Noonan and Sheba to navigate shops unassisted, said it was great to see their results.

"To see the outcome with somebody increasing their independence or increasing their speed of travel and fluency of travel, I'm lucky that I get to see that," Mr Walker said.

The morning tea will be held at the Oak Flats Neighbourhood Centre, 44 Fisher Street, from 10am until noon.

Entry is $5 and there will be a lucky door prize, a raffle, guest speakers and a video showing the development of the dogs.

To book a place, call 0418 380 139 or 0420 323 788.