Skip to main content
Macular Disease Foundation Australia
  • My Cart
  • Text Only
  • Listen
  • Print Page
  • Language
    • English
    • Arabic
    • Chinese
    • Greek
    • Italian
    • Portuguese
    • Spanish
    • Vietnamese
  • Search form

Check My Macula Check My Macula Join the Community Join the Community Order Free Information Order Free Information Call our helpline at 1800111709 Helpline
1800 111 709
Donate Donate
  • Home
  • Macular Disease
    • Macular Degeneration
      • About Macular Degeneration
      • Check My Macula
      • What Happens?
      • Risk Factors
      • Prevention
      • Detection
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
      • Cataracts and Macular Degeneration
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Diabetic Retinopathy
      • About Diabetic Retinopathy
      • About Diabetes
      • What Happens?
      • Risk Factors
      • Prevention
      • Detection
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Low Vision
      • Living with Low Vision
      • Carer and Family
      • Aids and Technology
      • Slips, Trips and Falls
      • Legal blindness
    • Other Macular Diseases
      • Best Disease
      • Macular Hole
      • Macular Pucker
      • Macular Telangiectasia
      • Myopic Macular Degeneration
      • Retinal Detachment
      • Retinitis Pigmentosa
      • Retinal Vein Occlusion
      • Stargardt Disease
      • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC)
      • Posterior Vitreous Detachment and Floaters
      • Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome
    • Visit Eye Health Professional
      • Eye Injection Costs and Rebates
    • Macular Disease
      • Anti-VEGF injections for macular disease
  • Research
    • Research Grants Program
      • Research Grants Awarded
      • Research Grant Recipients
      • Apply for the 2021 MDFA Research Grants Program
      • Research Grants Panel
    • Support Research
    • Latest Research
      • Research News
      • MDFA Research
      • Macular Diseases
      • Understanding Research
      • Social Impact
    • Research Updates
      • Annual Research Update
      • Weekly Research Updates for Professionals
    • Research studies
      • Research participants needed in the Canberra region who enjoy art and have vision loss
  • Resources
    • Order Publications and Resources
    • Find a Healthcare Provider
    • Audio and Video
      • Audio
      • Podcasts
      • Patient Voices
      • Videos
    • Macula Menus
    • Check My Macula toolkits
    • Aged care resources
  • News & Events
    • Newsletters
      • Vision Voice Newsletters
      • Subscribe to Newsletters
      • Archive
    • News
      • 2021 news
      • 2020 news
      • 2019 News
      • 2018 News
      • 2017 News
      • 2016 News
      • Archived News
    • Events & Activities
      • Community Events
      • Education Sessions
      • Events Calendar
      • Watch past webinars
    • Media Centre
      • Media Releases
  • Foundation
    • Organisation
      • History
      • Objectives
      • Guiding Principles
      • Annual Reports
      • Whistleblower Policy
      • Financial Statements
    • People
      • Patron
      • State Patrons / Representatives
      • Ambassadors
      • Foundation Board
      • Committees
      • State Chairs
      • National Research Advisor
    • Our Work
      • Awareness
      • Education
      • Support Services
      • Research
      • Representation
    • Support Us
      • Donate
      • Bequests
      • Fundraise
      • Volunteer
      • Friends of the Foundation
      • Sponsors and Supporters
      • Professional Friends
    • Contact Us
Listen
Macular Disease Foundation Australia
Check My Macula Macula Join the Community Join Us Order Free Information Free Info Donate Donate
Menu
  • My Cart
    • Language
      • English
      • Arabic
      • Chinese
      • Greek
      • Italian
      • Portuguese
      • Spanish
      • Vietnamese
    • Home
    • Macular Disease
      • Macular Degeneration
        • About Macular Degeneration
        • Check My Macula
        • What Happens?
        • Risk Factors
        • Prevention
        • Detection
        • Diagnosis
        • Treatment
        • Charles Bonnet Syndrome
        • Cataracts and Macular Degeneration
        • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Diabetic Retinopathy
        • About Diabetic Retinopathy
        • About Diabetes
        • What Happens?
        • Risk Factors
        • Prevention
        • Detection
        • Diagnosis
        • Treatment
        • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Low Vision
        • Living with Low Vision
        • Carer and Family
        • Aids and Technology
        • Slips, Trips and Falls
        • Legal blindness
      • Other Macular Diseases
        • Best Disease
        • Macular Hole
        • Macular Pucker
        • Macular Telangiectasia
        • Myopic Macular Degeneration
        • Retinal Detachment
        • Retinitis Pigmentosa
        • Retinal Vein Occlusion
        • Stargardt Disease
        • Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSC)
        • Posterior Vitreous Detachment and Floaters
        • Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome
      • Visit Eye Health Professional
        • Eye Injection Costs and Rebates
      • Macular Disease
        • Anti-VEGF injections for macular disease
    • Research
      • Research Grants Program
        • Research Grants Awarded
        • Research Grant Recipients
        • Apply for the 2021 MDFA Research Grants Program
        • Research Grants Panel
      • Support Research
      • Latest Research
        • Research News
        • MDFA Research
        • Macular Diseases
        • Understanding Research
        • Social Impact
      • Research Updates
        • Annual Research Update
        • Weekly Research Updates for Professionals
      • Research studies
        • Research participants needed in the Canberra region who enjoy art and have vision loss
    • Resources
      • Order Publications and Resources
      • Find a Healthcare Provider
      • Audio and Video
        • Audio
        • Podcasts
        • Patient Voices
        • Videos
      • Macula Menus
      • Check My Macula toolkits
      • Aged care resources
    • News & Events
      • Newsletters
        • Vision Voice Newsletters
        • Subscribe to Newsletters
        • Archive
      • News
        • 2021 news
        • 2020 news
        • 2019 News
        • 2018 News
        • 2017 News
        • 2016 News
        • Archived News
      • Events & Activities
        • Community Events
        • Education Sessions
        • Events Calendar
        • Watch past webinars
      • Media Centre
        • Media Releases
    • Foundation
      • Organisation
        • History
        • Objectives
        • Guiding Principles
        • Annual Reports
        • Whistleblower Policy
        • Financial Statements
      • People
        • Patron
        • State Patrons / Representatives
        • Ambassadors
        • Foundation Board
        • Committees
        • State Chairs
        • National Research Advisor
      • Our Work
        • Awareness
        • Education
        • Support Services
        • Research
        • Representation
      • Support Us
        • Donate
        • Bequests
        • Fundraise
        • Volunteer
        • Friends of the Foundation
        • Sponsors and Supporters
        • Professional Friends
      • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Foundation
  • People
  • Ambassadors
Back

Foundation

  • Organisation
    • History
    • Objectives
    • Guiding Principles
    • Whistleblower Policy
    • Annual Reports
    • Financial Statements
  • People
    • Patron
    • State Patrons / Representatives
      • Western Australian State Patron
      • Victorian State Patron
      • Tasmanian State Patron
      • South Australian Custodian of Vision
    • Ambassadors
      • Jean Kittson
      • Jan Utzon
    • Foundation Board
      • Robert Kaye
      • Associate Professor Alex Hunyor
      • Brigadier John Fenwick
      • Richard Grills
      • Lisa Lusthaus
      • Imelda Lynch
      • Neil Wykes
    • Committees
    • State Chairs
    • National Research Advisor
  • Our Work
    • Awareness
      • Macula Month
        • mEYE World Photographic Competition
          • Winners
          • Categories
          • Prizes
          • Judges
          • Sponsors and Supporters
          • Frequently Asked Questions
          • Terms and Conditions
          • 2016 mEYE World Photographic Competition
          • 2015 mEYE World Photographic Competition
          • 2014 mEYE World Photographic Competition
          • 2013 mEYE World Photographic Competition
          • 2012 mEYE World Photographic Competition
        • Meet Mac De Gen
        • Television and radio
          • 2014 Macular Degeneration Advertising Campaign
        • Keep on Driving Safely campaign
        • World Sight Day
        • Vision Van
      • Education
      • Support Services
      • Research
      • Representation
        • Submissions
          • Archived submissions
        • Reports
          • Low Vision, quality of life and independence: Aids and Technologies review (2016)
          • Economic Impact of Diabetic Macular Oedema (2015)
          • Client Services Evaluation (Annual)
          • Ripple Effect of Vision Loss (2013)
          • Global Ageing & Vision Summit (2013)
          • Angiogenesis Foundation Paper (2012)
          • Eyes on the Future (2011)
          • Archived reports
        • Campaigns
          • Federal Election 2016
          • NDIS & Aged Care Reform
          • Commonwealth Home Support
          • Archived Campaigns
            • Diabetic macular edema
            • Pin-only credit cards
            • South Australian hospital crisis
            • Sight for Seniors
    • Support Us
      • Donate
      • Bequests
        • Enquire about Leaving a Bequest
      • Fundraise
        • Larapinta Challenge 2018
        • 50 Good Reasons to support Macular Degeneration
        • Enquire About Fundraising
      • Volunteer
        • Become a volunteer
      • Friends of the Foundation
        • Val Nicholson
        • Shane Dunbar-Reid
        • Helen Siemering
        • Life in lockdown: Nancy
        • Susan Harvey
        • Mel Byrnes
        • Denis Sutton
        • Alicia Thompson
        • The earlier the better: Jessica Falon
        • Life in lockdown: Jim
        • Life in lockdown: Val
        • Through Her Eyes: A Tribute
        • Generational blindness from AMD
        • AMD: Know your family risk
        • A life changing, art changing diagnosis of AMD
        • Erin Philpot
        • Jean and Elaine Kittson
        • Nancy Little
        • Amanda Little
        • Cheryl O’Reilly
        • Anne Ness
        • Become a Friend of the Foundation
      • Sponsors and Supporters
        • Enquire About Supporting the Foundation
      • Professional Friends
        • Become a Professional Friend - Ophthalmologists
        • Become a Professional Friend - Optometrists
    • Contact Us

    Ambassador, Jean Kittson

    Jean Kittson is a performer, writer and proud Ambassador of Macular Disease Foundation Australia. Jean is an engaging speaker and willingly shares her personal insight into the impact of macular degeneration on her family.
     
    Macular Disease Foundation Australia is very grateful to Jean for her ambassadorial work over the last 10 years and for her dedication in promoting the Foundation’s important messages.
     

    Jean's Story

    I remember the day my mother Elaine told the family she was losing her sight. She was in her early forties and had been to an ophthalmologist because she was having trouble with her vision. In particular the white lines on the road had become wavy.
     
    She wasn’t told what her vision problem was, only that she would go blind one day and there was nothing she could do about it. Then she was sent home. Without an understanding of her eye condition it was impossible to know how we could help or prepare for the future.
     
    Nearly fifty years later mum is legally blind and many of the pleasures of her life have been greatly restricted; seeing movies,reading books, watching television. She now relies on her remaining senses. It is sad that mum can no longer read, drive or go to the movies – things she loved doing. She does have talking books, and a really big TV screen.
     
    I have an uncle who also has macular degeneration so I am keenly aware that along with age, genetics puts you at risk. I care deeply about the eye health of my family and the possibility of my children getting the disease. I hope that one day, with enough support for research, we will have a cure for this disease.
     
    At the moment, early diagnosis is imperative for treatment so my key message for everyone is get your macula checked, and if you have someone in your family with macular degeneration, contact the Foundation. They are warm, friendly and give invaluable information and great support. They make a huge difference.

    Select Your Type?
     
     
     
    • Home
    • Macular Disease
    • Research
    • Resources
    • News & Events
    • Foundation

    Contact Us

    1800 111 709
    [email protected]
    Suite 902, Level 9, 447 Kent Street, Sydney 2000

    Follow Us

    acnc_logo_reverse.png


    Helpline 1800 111 709

    Donate

    Macular Disease Foundation Australia ABN 52096255177
    • Privacy Policy
    • Site Map
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Disclaimer