Kirsten and Kimba Take on the Big Stage Together

“I’ve watched Kimba and Kirsten grow together on stage; she gives Kirsten a sense of confidence. Together, they share a powerful message - that having a disability does not mean Kirsten lacks ability,” Kirsten’s mother, Sue, explains.

Kirsten is a natural on stage. A talented soprano singer whose passion is music, she has performed in numerous operas and is currently preparing for a lead role in The Mikado later this year. This journey is not one she has been through alone, instead, she has her Seeing Eye Dog, Kimba, by her side through it all.

Born with septo-optic dysplasia, Kirsten has been blind since birth, with the limited vision she does have being unusable due to severe migraines. Moving from Darwin to New South Wales when she was five years old, Kirsten began accessing services at a young age, and was originally matched with her first dog guide, Violet. Now at 27-years-old, Kirsten is matched with Kimba, a soft-natured girl who takes her role of protecting Kirsten very seriously.

Wherever Kirsten goes, Kimba goes with her, including on stage. “When I’m on stage with Kimba, I often think she’s completely in tune with the atmosphere,” Kirsten says. “I feel she understands that this is where we’re meant to be. There’s a deep sense of reassurance knowing she’s there, that I’m not alone in such a vulnerable and exposed space. She gives me the confidence and freedom to focus entirely on my voice and the story I’m telling, knowing she’s quietly holding everything else together.”

In some shows, Kimba will sit under Kirsten’s chair, while in others, she’s part of the action on stage. Kimba always prioritises Kirsten’s safety and will refuse on-stage actions if she deems them unsafe. She’s also a tough critic, often tilting her head if someone sings off key.

Without Kimba, Kirsten imagines life would be very different. “I would not be doing what I’m doing today. I’d be constantly relying on support workers or other people to get me places. If they couldn’t make it, I wouldn’t be able to make performances, and that puts my professional identity at risk.”

"I remember when I started with a new company and everything felt a bit overwhelming. The space was unfamiliar and I could feel myself getting anxious. Kimba moved a little bit, reminding me she was near. She didn’t need a command, she read me completely. Something shifted in that moment. She wasn’t just doing her job, she completely understood me,” Kirsten explains.

Kirsten and her mother Sue are grateful to the supporters of the Petbarn Foundation Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal, with Sue sharing “the independence and freedom that a Seeing Eye Dog gives somebody is just unparallel to anything else. They give the freedom that we take for granted.”

“They also give our families peace of mind,” Kirsten says. “My family now know that I won’t be isolated, alone or pushed out of the community thanks to Kimba.”

“As a parent, you always carry a level of worry, especially when your child is putting themselves out into the world in such a visible and demanding way,” Sue says.