From Trees to Seas

Julie Ward, nee Stephenson, was born in Sale and at the age of fifteen was quite suddenly  diagnosed legally blind. After much determination and many specialists, she was fitted with haptic lenses covering the entire surface of each eye, giving good vision for a limited time each day. Then began her adventure with studying music at the University of Melbourne. With a degree and a husband from New Zealand, she returned to Sale to live at Airly on a dairy farm just five minutes from Stratford.  The Principal of Gippsland Grammar School invited Julie to actually come and teach Art, …”..oh and some music!” She soon became the inaugural Director of Music, establishing the department and its fine reputation, teaching there for twenty-five years. Painting was sidelined as a hobby.

During this time her eyes began to deteriorate more, and corneal grafts became the next stage to retain vision. It…