An avid violin player, 85 year old Patrick, lost his hearing when he was just 10 years old and developed Glaucoma later in life, but that hasn’t stopped him.

Having played the violin since he was five years old, Patrick, who lives in Maylands, has also continued to entertain people with his violin in residential facilities, at seniors’ concerts and at his local church each week playing the violin and singing in the choir.

Patrick says he enjoys playing the violin and practising each afternoon.

“I like to practice each day, accompanying music playing on the radio.  It’s relaxing, it makes me happy and through my music I like to make people feel happy too,” says Patrick.

Patrick was taught to play the violin by his father and was born and raised in Burma.

“My father taught us all to play an instrument, my nine brothers and sisters and me.  We formed a band and played for our family and friends as well as the British and American Embassies,” says Patrick.

Having lost his hearing due to the bombings in Burma and then losing most of his vision later in life when he was working, Patrick continues to live independently in his own home with the help of Senses Australia’s Deafblind Services, Community Living Services and Adult Therapy Services.

Matthew Wittorff Senses Australia’s Manager, Deafblind Services says Patrick is a true inspiration to everyone that knows him.

“Despite losing his hearing and most of his sight, Patrick has not let anything stand in his way.  His passion lies in playing his violin and entertaining those around him.  He really is a remarkable person,” says Matthew.

Senses Australia is celebrating Deafblind Awareness Week 2014 from Monday, 23 June 2014 to Sunday, 29 June 2014.  The 2014 theme for this international week is ‘we don’t need to see or hear in order to touch the world around us’.

To find out more about how Senses Australia supports the Western Australian community and provides support services to people of all ages with disability or to people who are deafblind, visit www.senses.org.au.