The vision-impaired resident from Mossy Point and her 2-year-old Labrador made a big impression on the school children at Central Tilba Public School on Wednesday.

The students had lots of questions about being blind and how guide dogs are trained and function as helpers.

Joining them on tour was Gulliver, a 4.3-metre-tall fibreglass Labrador and the world’s biggest guide dog, as well as a team from Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, who delivered a very important message about the free services offered by the organisation.

At each school, Elaine and Darcy also educated the students about guide dog etiquette such as not patting or distracting a guide dog with items such as food when it is in harness. The message included stepping out of the way of guide dog, or offering to help.

The students asked questions such as what happens when two guide dogs met on the street, what type of dogs are used a guide dogs, what guide dogs ate.

She said Labradors were used because they “displayed the right temperament, are friendly and not aggressive, loyal and very intelligent.

Ms Heskett explained how Darcy, and previous to that her other dog Evelyn, knew the shops she regularly visited at Moruya and Batemans Bay, and could direct her along the footpath.

She said she enjoyed the tour and spreading the message about guide dogs.

“Kids in the country may not be as aware of what guide dogs can do and how they can help,” she said. “I have really enjoyed visiting all the students.”

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT orientation and mobility specialist Andrew Doyle spoke to the students about the other services offered by Guide Dogs and invite participants to undertake a blindfold walk using a “long cane”.

There are an estimated 300,000 Australians with uncorrectable vision loss in 2016, 100,000 of whom live in NSW and the ACT.  These figures are predicted to increase by more than 50 per cent by 2030.

For more information about local services contact the Guide Dogs on 6652 7424 or visit guidedogs.com.au