Congratulations to our graduating and retiring Guide Dogs… and meet our new puppies!

It has been a big year at Guide Dogs SA/NT, with five graduating Guide Dogs beginning their life of service in South Australia, a further two being placed in Queensland, one match underway and a new Ambassadog. And don’t forget the arrival of a new training group…

Each of these, along with the acknowledgment of recent retirees, will be celebrated at the Guide Dogs SA/NT Graduation Event at the Adelaide Convention Centre tonight.

Tonight’s event will celebrate Darcy becoming a new Ambassadog; Gladdie, Grant, Jervis, Puzzle and Topaz becoming Guide Dogs; Fletch and Flint moving to Queensland to begin their working lives; and Kira’s matching journey, as they make a difference to the community and the people they will be supporting.

Guide Dogs SA/NT will also acknowledge Guide Dog Corrie’s retirement, as he begins his life of leisure as a beloved family pet.

Guide Dogs SA/NT CEO Aaron Chia said this year’s graduating class was embarking on a life-changing career, where they would be making their new handlers feel safe with a greater sense of independence, and giving them more confidence to navigate their community to live the life they want to lead.

He said this year, Guide Dogs Fletch and Flint had been matched to people living in Queensland, as finding the right person living with low vision or bindness was an exacting process.

“Our Guide Dogs are trained to be an incredible support for the person they will be matched to, no matter where they are. They need to form an incredibly close bond, which relies on trust, whether they’re in South Australia or elsewhere,” Mr Chia said.

“We’re incredibly proud of the training our Dog Services team has supported them through and we are thrilled to see them enter their working years as service dogs, no matter where they are placed.”

“Every time we match someone with a new Guide Dog we see them flourish, gaining greater confidence and independence, and helping them break misconceptions about what they can do. Our Guide Dogs provide an important step forward for many people.”

Mr Chia said Darcy had also joined Esky as an Ambassadog for Guide Dogs SA/NT, helping to spread the message in the community about the role Guide Dogs played and how they could help people living with blindness or low vision.

Guide Dogs SA/NT client Lilyana McPhee has just been matched with Puzzle, and will take part in tonight’s graduation.

“With Puzzle guiding my way, every step I take feels confident, every journey feels possible, and every day is brighter,” Ms McPhee said.

The 2025 Guide Dogs Graduation will celebrate their journey, and acknowledge other successes and matches in the Guide and Assistance Dog programs. The event will also welcome Guide Dogs’newest puppies in training, along with those that have retired and those that have passed away.