Peter Vance has a long relationship with the Queensland Eye Institute Foundation (QEIF), dating back to 1996 when Professor Lawrence Hirst removed Peter’s cataract at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. In 1983, Peter was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a condition he inherited from his Mother. RP is a genetic condition that causes cells in the retina – the light sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye – to degenerate. Growing up Peter experienced night blindness, gradual loss of peripheral vision and now has only a small tunnel of central vision left.
A passionate singer and songwriter, Peter has not let his vision impairment hold him back. Regularly performing at jazz venues, festivals and community events, he even performed an original song ‘Torch of Life’ at the 2000 Summer Olympics torch relay celebrations at Mount Coot-tha.
As a regular supporter of QEIF, Peter was involved in the Last Seen Exhibition to save sight in 2019. It was at the Last Seen Cocktail Party & Auction that he performed his song ‘Last Seen’ written as a tribute to the Exhibition and fellow participants. You can read more about Peter’s story here.