Arnold Cook
Encyclopedia
Dr Arnold Charles Cook (1922–1981) was a blind
academic and senior economics
lecturer at the University of Western Australia
. He is noted for, in 1950, bringing the first guide dog
to Australia
and for being instrumental in establishing the first guide dog training centre in the country.
on 5 May 1922, the first son of Charles Ernest Stanley Cook and Grace Florence Bell. He later lived in Geraldton
and was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa
at the age of 15; he was totally blind by the age of 18.
In 1944 he commenced his Bachelor of Arts
majoring in Economics
, at the University of Western Australia
and graduated with first-class honours in 1947. While at University he met Enid Doreen Fuller and they were married in December 1946. Between 1948 and 1950 he studied at the London School of Economics
after winning a UWA Hackett Research Studentship for study abroad valued at £800. A public appeal raised another £600 to assist him and his wife's living expenses.
Whilst in the United Kingdom
Cook made contact with the British Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
at Leamington Spa
from whom he acquired a black labrador
guide dog
"Dreena" which he brought back to Perth
in August 1950. UWA offered him a position as economics lecturer and Cook and Dreena became familiar, if not novel, sights around the city as they caught public transport between his home in Belmont
and the campus at Nedlands
. Alexandra Hasluck
described Dreena as "... the most famous dog in all Western Australia for a while."
In 1951 Cook helped establish the first guide dog school in Australia in Perth as part of the local Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. In 1957 the organisation expanded into Victoria
and ultimately became Guide Dogs Australia.
Cook travelled to the United States
on a sabbatical to study in 1957 and again in 1965, earning a a doctorate
at Harvard University
in 1967.
As well as being the founder of the Guide Dog Movement in Australia, Cook was the foundation president of the Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation of Western Australia; and patron and foundation president of the W.A. Guild of Blind Citizens.
He died of a heart attack at his home in Kardinya
on 30 June 1981.
In 1985, Cook's contribution to society was recognised by the unveiling a bronze statue, together with his guide dog Dreena, at the entrance to the Ivy Watson Playground in Kings Park
. The statue was a commission from the W.A. Guild of Blind Citizens. Another statue of the pair was unveiled in 2007 at the offices of the Association for the Blind of Western Australia in Victoria Park
. There is another statue at Guide Dogs Victoria.
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
academic and senior economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
lecturer at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
. He is noted for, in 1950, bringing the first guide dog
Guide dog
Guide dogs are assistance dogs trained to lead blind and visually impaired people around obstacles.Although the dogs can be trained to navigate various obstacles, they are partially color blind and are not capable of interpreting street signs...
to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and for being instrumental in establishing the first guide dog training centre in the country.
Biography
Cook was born in NarroginNarrogin, Western Australia
Narrogin is a large town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, southeast of Perth on the Great Southern Highway between Pingelly and Wagin...
on 5 May 1922, the first son of Charles Ernest Stanley Cook and Grace Florence Bell. He later lived in Geraldton
Geraldton, Western Australia
Geraldton is a city and port in Western Australia located north of Perth in the Mid West region. Geraldton has an estimated population at June 2010 of 36,958...
and was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of genetic eye conditions that leads to incurable blindness. In the progression of symptoms for RP, night blindness generally precedes tunnel vision by years or even decades. Many people with RP do not become legally blind until their 40s or 50s and retain some...
at the age of 15; he was totally blind by the age of 18.
In 1944 he commenced his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
majoring in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
and graduated with first-class honours in 1947. While at University he met Enid Doreen Fuller and they were married in December 1946. Between 1948 and 1950 he studied at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
after winning a UWA Hackett Research Studentship for study abroad valued at £800. A public appeal raised another £600 to assist him and his wife's living expenses.
Whilst in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Cook made contact with the British Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is a British charitable organisation founded in 1934.Guide Dogs provides independence and freedom to thousands of blind and partially-sighted people across the UK through the provision of guide dogs, mobility and other rehabilitation services...
at Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa
Royal Leamington Spa, commonly known as Leamington Spa or Leamington or Leam to locals, is a spa town in central Warwickshire, England. Formerly known as Leamington Priors, its expansion began following the popularisation of the medicinal qualities of its water by Dr Kerr in 1784, and by Dr Lambe...
from whom he acquired a black labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
guide dog
Guide dog
Guide dogs are assistance dogs trained to lead blind and visually impaired people around obstacles.Although the dogs can be trained to navigate various obstacles, they are partially color blind and are not capable of interpreting street signs...
"Dreena" which he brought back to Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
in August 1950. UWA offered him a position as economics lecturer and Cook and Dreena became familiar, if not novel, sights around the city as they caught public transport between his home in Belmont
Belmont, Western Australia
The City of Belmont is a Local Government Area in the inner eastern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, located about east of Perth's central business district on the south bank of the Swan River...
and the campus at Nedlands
Nedlands, Western Australia
The City of Nedlands is a Local Government Area in the inner western suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, located about west of Perth's central business district...
. Alexandra Hasluck
Alexandra Hasluck
Dame Alexandra Hasluck, AD, alternatively named Lady Hasluck , was an author and social historian in Western Australia...
described Dreena as "... the most famous dog in all Western Australia for a while."
In 1951 Cook helped establish the first guide dog school in Australia in Perth as part of the local Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. In 1957 the organisation expanded into Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and ultimately became Guide Dogs Australia.
Cook travelled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on a sabbatical to study in 1957 and again in 1965, earning a a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1967.
As well as being the founder of the Guide Dog Movement in Australia, Cook was the foundation president of the Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation of Western Australia; and patron and foundation president of the W.A. Guild of Blind Citizens.
He died of a heart attack at his home in Kardinya
Kardinya, Western Australia
Kardinya is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Melville. The suburb is home to under 10,000 people, including international students and locals rent residences due to its proximity to Murdoch University and Murdoch College....
on 30 June 1981.
In 1985, Cook's contribution to society was recognised by the unveiling a bronze statue, together with his guide dog Dreena, at the entrance to the Ivy Watson Playground in Kings Park
Kings Park, Western Australia
Kings Park is a park located on the western edge of Perth, Western Australia central business district. The park is a mixture of grassed parkland, botanical gardens and natural bushland on Mount Eliza with two thirds of the grounds conserved as native bushland. With panoramic views of the Swan...
. The statue was a commission from the W.A. Guild of Blind Citizens. Another statue of the pair was unveiled in 2007 at the offices of the Association for the Blind of Western Australia in Victoria Park
Victoria Park, Western Australia
The Town of Victoria Park is a Local Government Area of Western Australia. It covers an area of 17.62 km² in metropolitan Perth, the capital of Western Australia. The Town of Victoria Park maintains 154.55 km of roads, a little over 1 km² of parks and gardens and has a...
. There is another statue at Guide Dogs Victoria.