A diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa at just 13 years of age shattered a teenage Thara Pech.
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It shook her confidence and Mrs Pech admits she became daunted at the prospect of losing her sight.
Now, almost 30 years later, she is an unstoppable force who has since been declared legally blind.
But that diagnosis has just made her “feisty” and determined to live a fulfilling life.
“My next mission is to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge,” she said.
Mrs Pech completed normal schooling through primary and high school in Singapore.
It was not until 2002 that she could no longer read print but an unwavering Mrs Pech still managed to graduate with a Bachelor of Ministry in 2012.
Mrs Pech cannot see colours and sees mostly in shades of light and dark.
“I have an advantage that I could see before so that when people described things to me, I can picture them in my mind,” she said.
Her approachable personality and spark for life made her the ideal Wagga ambassador for Canberra’s Radio 1RPH.
The radio station reads print publications, such as magazines and newspapers, on air for vision impaired residents.
The Daily Advertiser is read every morning from 8.30am to 9pm.
Mrs Pech is the radio station’s contact in Wagga and helps with everything from promotions to technical assistance.
“A lot of other blind people who are not as mobile as I am are stuck at home all day,” she said.
“While libraries can give you audio books, you don’t get a lot of magazines and printed material.”
The radio station celebrated their 30th anniversary by having Governor-General Peter Cosgrove come on air and read The Daily Advertiser.
“Never in my life did I think I would be shaking hands with the Governor-General let alone having him read my local newspaper,” Mrs Pech said.
“I think he sounded really good, very natural.”
Radio 1RPH’s president, Lorraine Litster, is proud of the radio station’s presence in Wagga and Junee and said Mrs Pech is the perfect ambassador. “She’s an inspiration,” she said.