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Gullivers Travels

Paul has been a volunteer with Guide Dogs for 12 years and Gully’s personal chauffeur for 10 of them.

“I got involved with Guide Dogs when I saw an advertisement on TV and then I became a Puppy Raiser,” says Paul. From then on, Paul’s been volunteering his time selling merchandise at events, talking to people about Puppy Raising and becoming a Puppy Pal. When Paul was asked to drive Gulliver to an event 10 years ago, he fell in love with it.

“It was so much fun driving him around. I have an immense feeling of joy when I drive Gulliver and see the smiles on people’s faces when he passes by. Everyone loves to take photos of him too, so it takes me three times as long to get anywhere with Gully on my trailer because we get stopped all the time.”

This year Gulliver led our Mardi Gras float entitled ‘Leading the Charge’ in an amazing multicoloured sparkly progress flag created by George Roppingly-Goode, winner of Making it Australia.

Paul described his experience driving Gulliver at Mardi Gras as “incredible.” He said, “I was so excited for Gully to be in the parade. It was such a special moment.”

He was also spotted on Bondi Beach to raise awareness for International Dog Day, and at our St Leonards office for International Guide Dog Day celebrations.

Paul drives Gully around because he “loves it so much. Everything about Guide Dogs manifests in Gulliver and I love to educate people about low vision or blindness when they ask me about him.”