A BLIND woman has been named one of Hobsons Bay’s most inspirational women for “single handedly taking on rail operator Metro”.
Ann Marie Kelly, a disability rights advocate (pictured with her Seeing Eye dog Ouzo), was one of the 35 residents recognised by the council at Thursday’s Hobsons Bay Inspirational Women awards.
She is in mediation with Metro at the Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission over complaints about the lack of announcements advising of train changes at Newport junction on the Werribee line.
Her complaint also centres on infrequent or inaudible announcements by drivers about whether inbound and outbound Altona Loop passengers have to change trains at Newport.
“I’m just taking on Metro to stand up for the rights of people,” Ms Kelly said. “I think there are certain areas that need improvement now, like Altona station. There’s no yellow tactile tiles to tell you where the edge of the train station is.”
Asked about disability compliance on the Werribee line, Public Transport Victoria spokeswoman Andrea Duckworth said full compliance was not required until 2022.
She said while Altona had no tactile paving for blind people at the edge of the platform, there were ramps, handrails, and audio passenger information. “Across the network, existing infrastructure is progressively being upgraded or replaced to be more accessible for a wide range of passengers.”
Hobsons Bay 2013 Inspirational Women Awards winners:
■ Lorraine Bedella
■ Nyssa Bradsworth
■ Rhonda Collins
■ Lor Davis
■ Julie Enright
■ Edith Grinham
■ Jill Hennessy
■ Jenny Hickinbotham
■ Barb Johnson
■ Ann Marie Kelly
■ Margaret Kidd
■ Wendy Kostraby
■ May Kotsakis
■ Nikki Kotzagiannidis
■ Kate Leslie
■ Jennifer Lund
■ Samantha Martin
■ Rebecca Nikau-Biddle
■ Tracy O’Hare
■ Cathy Paleologoudias
■ Milly Parker
■ Angelique Petrac
■ Kim Reilly
■ Julie Richards
■ Elisabeth Ridder
■ Wilma Robarts
■ Elizabeth Ryan
■ Fatoum Souki
■ Jacqueline Travaglia
■ Grace Vanilau
■ Fiona Ward
■ Clara Westhorpe
■ Jennifer Williams
■ Carol Willis
■ Nancy Winder
