Home
About us
News
Services
Guide Dogs
Vision Loss Resources
Discovery Centre
Conferences & Courses
Shop
Support Us
Contact Us
Dr Arnold Charles Cook
The Association for the Blind of Western Australia
Aimee Tolomei
2005
public affairs intern
Back to School
Born and brought up in Western Australia
Diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa
Completely blind at age 18
Embarked on his education
Fell in Love
Introduced the Guide Dog Movement to Australia
Encouraged many vision impaired and blind people to work for their dreams
Left a legacy on four paws and paved the way for thousands of vision impaired people
۰ PASSIONATE ۰ DETERMINED ۰ BRAVE ۰ UNSTOPPABLE ۰
The Early Years
Arnold Charles Cook was born on the 5th May 1922 in rural Western Australia, in the wheat belt country town of Narrogin. At the age of four, his mother and father divorced. Arnold’s father, a local school teacher, continued to live and work in Geraldton but his mother moved to Kalgoorlie. Arnold began his education in the nearby town of Geraldton.
Teenage years
Arnold’s vision was perfect, as clear as most of his friends at 14 years of age. At 15, Arnold passed his junior exams from Geraldton High School. Research has not confirmed if Arnold then accepted a post in a bank or began working at a timber mill. However, it was a physical test at one of these jobs which confirmed his suspicions; there was something wrong with his eyes. In seeking medical advice, Arnold was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa in 1940 which meant rapid deterioration of his eyesight would leave him totally blind at age 18.
The train ride of direction
Although the activities at the Industrial School for the Blind were keeping Arnold busy, he was growing bored. Returning home from holidays, on the train, Arnold sat next to a school teacher named Mrs Flo Harrison. The pair began talking and Flo encouraged Arnold to continue with his education to not let his disability deter him. She offered him help by arranging for his text books to be transcribed into Braille, and as transcribing is a long process, the books and articles that he would only need in reference would be read to him by a group of readers.
Blind at 18
With his father still teaching in the vicinity of Geraldton and his mother now living in Kalgoorlie, Arnold was about to embark on a huge challenge, a new way of life, life with vision impairment. During this time, Arnold attended the Western Australia Industrial School for the Blind where he made prams and various wicker articles by day. However his desire to continue learning had him learning Braille and typing by night.
The train ride of direction
Although the activities at the Industrial School for the Blind were keeping Arnold busy, he was growing bored. Returning home from holidays, on the train, Arnold sat next to a school teacher named Mrs Flo Harrison. The pair began talking and Flo encouraged Arnold to continue with his education to not let his disability deter him. She offered him help by arranging for his text books to be transcribed into Braille, and as transcribing is a long process, the books and articles that he would only need in reference would be read to him by a group of readers.
Back to School
Motivated by his conversation with Flo Harrison, Arnold returned to school to study for his final leaving certificate, which would allow him to continue his studies at university.
At this time The West Australian Braille Society for the Blind (now the Association for the Blind of WA) transcribed his text books and lecture notes into Braille.
The usual period between completing junior exams and leaving exams is two years however Arnold pleaded with the university to allow him to be eligible.
He began studying in March 1943 and sat his exams at age 21, nine months later. He obtained outstanding results, 3 distinctions out of his four subjects. He was then granted Commonwealth Financial Assistance to attend university.
As exciting as the prospect of going to university was, Arnold had to overcome much hardship with many people being unsupportive of his endeavours.
University and Love
Wanting to attain a Bachelor of Arts, Arnold (21) attended the University of Western Australia, where he decided to major in Economics. Having to move from the country to the city, Arnold took up residency at St George’s College across from the university’s Crawley campus.
‘Arnold Cook has the most engaging grin ever,
designed to catch a woman’s eye’
Commencing his first year of study in 1944, he found he shared three of his classes with Enid Fuller. Enid was four years younger and also studying to attain a Bachelor of Arts. They soon became friends and spent time studying together.
At the end of his first year of study, Arnold was the top first year Arts student in the state.
As the years passed, both Enid and Arnold branched off into their different fields of study, Arnold’s being Economics and Enid’s being Psychology. This meant the time they spent together was less study oriented, and their friendship grew.
Their second year of study, Enid, 18, Arnold, 22, saw their friendship blossom into an engagement in May 1945.
During his time at UWA, Arnold became an active member of the University Labor Club, in this role he was often invited to talk to fellow blind students and workers. In one such speech, at the Maylands Blind School he represented the Labor candidate for Perth, T.P. Burke MHR. Arnold was a representative for the Metropolitan Council ALP, a position which developed his public speaking skills.
The Wedding
In 1946, two weeks after their final examinations and after three years of courting, Arnold and Enid wed. Arnold chose a fellow university student, Ron Gray, as his best man. Enid chose Pat Wass as her bridesmaid, who wore blue. Enid’s dress was described as ‘a short, white, crepe frock’ (unknown) which she complimented with a white hat and gloves. They were married at St. George’s Chapel by the Reverend W. Graham. They celebrated the marriage with a wedding breakfast at the bride’s house and they left for the country for their honeymoon soon after.
The graduate
After Enid and Arnold wed and completed their undergraduate degrees they were both eager to continue with their studies. So in 1947, Arnold continued his studies as an honours student. His thesis based on the topic of Union Structures in Western Australia. During this time, Arnold was also working as a graduate assistant in the Economics department. His job allowed him to take tutorials and mark examination papers. Exam papers were read to him and he would allocate marks for the appropriate sections accordingly.
Upon graduating, Arnold’s academic record reflected 8 A Passes (distinctions) and one B Major Pass.
Meanwhile, Enid was also furthering her studies as a research student working on social science grants. Arnold completed his degree at the age of 26, attaining a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Economics in 1947.
Heading to London
In 1948, at the age of 26, Arnold’s academic achievement won him the Hackett Scholarship to continue his studies as a postgraduate for two years in London at the School of Economics. The scholarship was valued at £1000 but first, a further £600 was needed to support himself and his wife’s journey. Enid needed to accompany Arnold, as she would read his texts for him. The Braille Society coordinated a campaign to raise funds. Funds were sourced from a local beauty salon, the Trotting Breeders Owners and Trainers Association and the local community.
‘What Arnold would really like to do, but does not know how he can, is help the other blind in Australia’
In London
A Guide Dog could provide the mobility and independence that Arnold dreamed of so Arnold contacted the British Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Director of Training, Captain Liakoff, an ex-Cossack officer of the Great War, assumed that Arnold was a ‘rugged, six foot Australian’ and paired him with a German Shepard. However upon meeting Arnold it was decided that the dog was unsuitable. Disheartened and upset, Arnold continued with his studies.
Before long, the British Association opened a new centre at Exeter, the first female guide dog trainer was appointed, Miss Betty Bridge. Betty was aware of Arnold’s situation. Having recently completed training for a black Labrador, Dreena, Betty decided she would take her to London so that Arnold could be partnered with her.
Enid and Arnold’s two year stay in London also saw the birth of their first child, a daughter named Susan.
Home Sweet Home
In 1950, Arnold and Enid returned home to Perth, Western Australia with their new baby daughter, Susan and Dreena. However Dreena and Arnold were quickly separated because of quarantine policies and procedures. Dreena was kept in the Quarantine Depot in Bickley. However, after the six month separation period Arnold and Dreena became a ‘familiar and inseparable pair in Perth and on the UWA campus’. Being the first Guide Dog in Australia, Dreena’s presence in Perth created enormous interest, with many blind Western Australians anxious to have a Guide Dog for themselves.
“genuine shift in thinking can be observed regarding the potential of the blind to participate in everyday occupations”
Arnold was determined to establish a Guide Dog school in Perth, so that blind people in Australia could also reap the benefits of a Guide Dog. He believed that there was an increase in vocational opportunities for the blind when they have the aid of a Guide Dog.
A year later in 1951, Betty Bridge, who had trained Dreena, resigned from her position at the British Guide Dog Training Centre to join her parents in New Zealand. Once aware of Miss Bridge’s plans, Arnold organised a group of people to meet Miss Bridge in Fremantle as her ship stopped over. They proposed that once Miss Bridge had visited her parents in New Zealand, she would return to Western Australia and ‘establish the first Guide Dog training centre in the Southern hemisphere’.
“pioneered the foundation of the great Guide Dogs for the blind movement in Australia, in the southern hemisphere’
Miss Bridge agreed to the proposal and soon enough a committee was formed, the mission of this committee was to raise funds and establish a headquarters and it would be known as the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (now the Association for the Blind of WA) Arnold was a member of this foundation committee.
The committee aimed to have Miss Bridge train 12 dogs a year for the first three years, meanwhile also passing on her training techniques to others. The organisation would be based upon the same principles used at the schools Arnold and Betty were involved with in England.
In time, enough funds were raised to purchase ‘two old tramcars’ and relocate to a site in Shenton Park, near a Dog’s Refuge Home. In 1952 the first Guide Dog Training Centre began operations. Miss Bridge used a variety of dogs that were available and established the first Guide Dog Training program in Australia. Her first success stories were Beau, a Kelpie/ Border Collie cross, and Terry, a a Border Collie cross, both were partnered with blind individuals a year later in 1953.
During this time Arnold also continued his lecturing at UWA. His role was a temporary appointment, however he applied for a permanent position on the condition he received no special privileges.
Late 1950’s
In 1957 the organisation became a national association known as the Royal Guide Dog Association, with several other Guide Dog associations being established in other states to raise funds for clients to fly to Perth to for Guide Dog. At this time, the Association gained a new trainer Mr Keith Holdsworth.
Western Australians were excited about the movement and gave generously, eventually enabling the Association to purchase two acres of land in Belmont. The land allowed for the building of kennels and exercise yards, staff accommodation and living quarters for four blind students.
Branching Out
The idea of a Guide Dog was exciting, and the Guide Dog movement was alive and well in Western Australia, however it was becoming an inconvenience for those in the Eastern States to travel so far, so that they could benefit from the service. To help this situation the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia was established in 1962 in Kew, Victoria.
In 1965 a controlled breeding program was introduced. The golden retriever puppies were donated from Guide Dogs for the Blind Inc. of California and a stud Labrador was donated by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in the United Kingdom.
With a successful breeding program established, the next stage, the puppy raising program, was launched in 1967. This program encouraged young pups to be socialised by volunteer families before they begin the formal training process.
From the outset, as the programs and schools were established and promoted, Arnold was also changing the attitude and mentalities of many individuals towards the capabilities of the blind or vision impaired.
Forever learning
The early 1960s saw Arnold establish the Western Australian Branch of the Australian Guild of Business and Professional Blind, later the Western Australian Guild of Blind citizens.
Arnold returned to Harvard University and obtained a doctorate in 1967. In the same year, Arnold’s alma mater provided a private secretary to assist his research ventures. Meanwhile, back in Australia Dreena, Arnold’s Guide Dog had died and Enid continued her career as a clinical psychologist.
In 1970 Arnold’s doctorate qualification took him to Japan.
In 1973 Arnold took up a management position on the committee of the Braille Society for the Blind of WA Inc and contributed his talent and thinking up until 1977. The Braille Society and Guide Dogs Association amalgamated to form the Association for the Blind – Guide Dogs WA.
In the first half of 1981, Arnold founded the Research Foundation for Retinitis Pigmentosa.
Family Matters
According to his wife, Enid, Arnold was “quite good on polishing the floors and washing-up” when at home, going on to describe her husband as “an ardent listener to football broadcasts in winter, and cricket in summer”. (Jacoby 1947)
After the birth of their first daughter Susan, they had two other daughters Diana and Frances. Arnold was also grandfather to Naomi and John.
The final chapter
Dr Arnold Charles Cook passed away on 30th June 1981 after having a heart attack. At this time he was accompanied by his fourth Guide Dog, Dorna. His death preceded his retirement at age 59. In the days after his death, the West Australian newspaper published the messages of those who were touched by Arnold in some way. Research has found that there were several errors in the printing of the time and day of his funeral, however the funeral went ahead, taking place at Karrakatta Cemetery on Friday 3rd July.
His Memory
Today the memory of Arnold and his beloved Dreena can be found near the entrance of the Ivy Watson Playground in Kings Park where a bronze statue of the pair stands. The statue was sculpted by Perth sculptor Greg James. On its proposed unveiling more than 100 people were in attendance to pay tribute. The ceremony was even attended by the governor at the time, Professor Gordon Reid. Unfortunately, the statue could not be officially unveiled because of a casting problem, hence a bust of the great man was used. The area in which it stands was donated by the Kings Park board
Nearby Arnold and Dreena sits a fragrance garden specifically aimed at children who are blind or vision impaired. Arnold and Dreena’s statue was the first statue of an individual to be set in the park for a generation.
Arnold is remembered as a man of many achievements, a senior lecturer in Economics, the foundation president of the Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation of Western Australia, an active committee member of the Association for the Blind of Western Australia and the patron of the Western Australian Guild of Blind Citizens, where he was foundation president, and the founder of the Guide Dog Movement in Australia. However it has been said, his greatest achievement “was his own example to young blind people that they can help themselves to a far richer life than that provided by a sheltered workshop.”
Back to Kid's Corner Gude Dogs