S1: From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's
S1: your host Sam Colley.
S2: Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And
S2: for the next half hour, we talk matters of blindness
S2: and low vision.
S3: When it comes to human rights. Firstly, I my personal
S3: beliefs are that we need to put human rights front
S3: and centre at all times for those most marginalised and community.
S3: When it comes to the disability, I do have my
S3: own disability, not just because I have my own disability.
S3: I don't want to be biased, but without. Human rights
S3: are not only just for Australians, it's an international issue.
S2: Welcome to the program. This week we speak with Cameron
S2: Albanese from Goulburn Valley Health, one of the organizers of
S2: a Harmony day event in Shepparton to highlight the need
S2: for greater mental health services and awareness in the Australian community,
S2: especially for those with disabilities and the mental health challenges
S2: they face every day. That conversation is coming up very shortly,
S2: so make sure to stick around to hear more from Cameron. Then,
S2: after we chat with Cameron, I'm joined by Liz Dalakouras,
S2: the editor of Foyer Information, otherwise known as FYI, and
S2: we finish up with a reader recommended from Frances. I
S2: hope you enjoy this week's episode of Talking Vision. On
S2: the 21st of March, voices for Harmony Shepparton will be
S2: celebrating Australia's diversity by coming together for an event to
S2: mark Harmony day, where they believe change will only be
S2: possible when. Australians from every walk of life, from every
S2: corner of the continent, come together to insist on better
S2: mental health for everyone, including members of the blind and
S2: low vision community or people with disabilities more broadly. And
S2: to speak with me further about the event. It's my
S2: great pleasure to welcome one of the organisers, Cameron Albinoi,
S2: from Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton. Cameron, welcome back to
S2: Talking Vision. Always great to have you.
S3: Great to be on the radio again. Same. I'm absolutely
S3: delighted to be again on Vision Australia Radio.
S2: Let's start off with Harmony day. Cameron tell us about that.
S3: Yeah. On a Harmony day since 1990 nine inches Australia
S3: is celebrated on 21st of March, we come together to
S3: celebrate Australia's rich cultural diversity and the benefits and strengths
S3: it brings to the nation. However, the background of Harmony
S3: day is in fact the United Nations International Day for
S3: the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which through UN resolution 20142,
S3: session 21, it was decided to be observed 21st of
S3: March as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
S3: And the history tells us that on the day on
S3: 21st of March 1960, police opened fire and killed 69
S3: students at a peaceful demonstration in the Sharpeville in South
S3: Africa against the apartheid pass laws adopted by the South
S3: African government, a brutal regime that applied the theory of
S3: inequality between the races, regardless of humanity's moral and ethical advances.
S3: Proclaiming the International Day, the United Nations General Assembly in
S3: 1966 called upon the international community to redouble its efforts
S3: to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination. Same in Australia
S3: since 1999. As I mentioned before, the International Day for
S3: the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is referred to as Harmony day,
S3: and it symbolizes by the orange awareness ribbon worn or
S3: displayed by those associating with the day, ideals and morals.
S3: Now the living in harmony everyone Belongs initiative, which is
S3: every year, is designed to highlight the cultural issues and
S3: celebrate our cultural diversity. It's about inclusiveness, respect and sense
S3: of belonging for everyone. As Australians, we all have collective
S3: goals such as help build a peaceful, cohesive and productive
S3: future for our children by setting an example of how
S3: to live in harmony, making the most of our racial, cultural,
S3: social and religious diversity, and to put into practice the
S3: best of traditional values, which is massive fairness, justice and equality.
S3: At the same time, same celebrate Australia's many successes as diverse,
S3: inclusive and harmonious multicultural society and to recommit to our
S3: common values of respect and goodwill towards our fellow Australians
S3: of all backgrounds. Now this is very interesting. At the end,
S3: I'm saying that it's about the goodwill towards our fellow Australians,
S3: same as you may know. United Nations Universal Declaration article one.
S3: It goes to say all human beings are born free
S3: and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with
S3: reason and conscience, and should act towards one another in
S3: a spirit of brotherhood that enforces that statement. In Australia
S3: with U.N. Declaration of Human Rights.
S2: And I think this can go quite a bit further
S2: than just talking about people of different races and different cultures.
S2: We're talking about diversity and inclusion. We're talking about dignity
S2: and human rights. And those are super core values that
S2: people with disabilities also have the right to exist within.
S2: And it's interesting that Harmony day has extended beyond being
S2: a day of fighting against racial discrimination. It's gone towards,
S2: you know, the whole community, as you've mentioned. And I'd
S2: love to get your perspective on where this comes in
S2: and where this is applicable in your perspective to the
S2: human rights and dignity of persons with disabilities living in Australia.
S3: Thank you very much. That's a very powerful statement you made,
S3: and I agree with all of them. When it comes
S3: to human rights, firstly, I my personal beliefs are that
S3: we need to put human rights front and centre at
S3: all times for those most marginalised and community. When it
S3: comes to the disability, I do have my own disability.
S3: Not just because I have my own disability. I don't
S3: want to be a bias, but without human rights are
S3: not only just for Australians, it's an international issue. And
S3: by lodging the foundation of human rights on 10th of
S3: December 1948, it was decided that the international community was
S3: the signators most of the countries of signatories, among them Australia,
S3: to they envisage a world universal respect for human rights
S3: and human dignity, the rule of law, justice, equality and
S3: non-discrimination of respect for race, ethnicity, cultural diversity, ability or disability,
S3: and giving equal opportunities to people to full realization of
S3: human potential and contributing to shared prosperity. The issue with
S3: Harmony Day and human rights is attached to this one
S3: when it comes by shared sense of belonging, all of
S3: which are essential to positive mental and physical well-being of
S3: the person. I may say that Australia is one of
S3: few countries who doesn't have National Human Rights Act. So politicians,
S3: when they make decision, if we had that perspective, then
S3: they need by law every decision they made or they
S3: will make in the future. They have to go by
S3: respecting the human rights to fellow Australians. Now same also.
S3: I would like briefly to respond. You mentioned that about.
S3: It's about the diversity, equity and inclusion. These are the
S3: three closely linked values held by many. I'm referring in
S3: organization settings, by many organizations that are working to be
S3: supportive of different groups of individuals, including people of different races, ethnicities,
S3: disabilities or disabilities, religious genders, and sexual orientation. Diversity, equity
S3: and inclusion brings. I think it's so important. More we
S3: embrace it, more we will progress. It brings unique experiences.
S3: In my opinion, perspectives and knowledge brings innovative ideas to
S3: the table same. They are often grouped together because they
S3: are interconnected and it is only in combination that are
S3: The true impact emerges. So this is my modest response,
S3: but please feel free to ask me further in regard of.
S2: I think I'd be quite interested to hear about the
S2: Harmony day celebrations that you'll be involved with coming up
S2: on the 21st of March in Shepparton.
S3: Thank you very much. And firstly, absolutely, I'm excited that
S3: we are having a guest speaker from Sydney, but in
S3: a moment I will talk about it. But I'm also
S3: excited that we are not only in Australia worldwide. This
S3: day 21st of March is celebrated and it's a great feeling.
S3: It's a great feeling that we are joining the international community.
S3: After all, we share each other regardless of our differences.
S3: We share each other's humanity and human dignity anyway. Voices
S3: for Harmony Shepparton. In partnership with Australians for Mental Health,
S3: we are celebrating Harmony day On 21st of March, which
S3: is Friday this year, 25 at the Quality Hotel Parkway
S3: in Shepparton. The doors are open 1:00. Same for 130
S3: to start and it will go till 330. It's a
S3: every single event we have been organising for the last
S3: 18 years. They've been three public events. The speakers will
S3: include Kim O'Keefe. She's our local member of Parliament and
S3: at the same time shadow assistant minister for Regional multicultural Affairs.
S3: She will be speaking for 15 minutes on diversity and acceptance.
S3: Then our special keynote speaker from Sydney, Executive Director of
S3: Australians for Mental Health, Chris Gambian. He will be presenting
S3: between 45 to 1 hour on the theme of mental
S3: health in Australia as it is. You might like to
S3: know Sam and the listeners to that. Chris Gambian is
S3: a prominent national mental health leader with over 25 years
S3: experience as a community organizer and public interest advocate, as
S3: well as a deep passion for fair government and social justice.
S3: If you'd like to know the same about. Australians for
S3: Mental Health is an advocacy organisation entirely philanthropically funded, focused
S3: on mental health reform. Founded by Professor Patrick McGorry. As
S3: you remember Sam, he was Australian of the year in 2010.
S2: Yeah. Yes. Name does ring a bell. That does sound familiar?
S3: Yes. They are in the same group. Their goal is
S3: this is. That's what resonates with me. The goal and
S3: the vision and mission. But their goal is to build
S3: grassroots support for mental health reforms. Bring together an alliance
S3: of organisations who share the goals of transforming the way
S3: Australia thinks on this issue, and to influence decision makers
S3: to make it a national priority. That's in a nutshell.
S3: If you'd like me to talk about that vision, I
S3: can say that it's a system where anyone with mental
S3: illness gets the care they need when they need it.
S3: And our mission is to campaign for a future where
S3: every mind matters. It's a collective of prominent Australians and
S3: experts who believe that change will only be possible when
S3: all Australians, from every walk of life, from every corner
S3: of the continent, come together to insist on better mental
S3: health for everyone.
S2: Sam, I'm sure that's a sentiment that a lot of
S2: people can agree with. And if people are around in
S2: the Shepparton area and they would like to head along Cameron,
S2: how can they register to head along to the event?
S2: What's the process there?
S3: The process some people they prefer by email, which we've
S3: got the email address and phone number, mobile phone number.
S3: But I say if anyone who is listening to the
S3: program or their friends they want to bring along, they
S3: are most welcome on the day. I would appreciate if
S3: they can call me. I can give you the mobile
S3: number which is for the event. It's all 421743699. Or
S3: if they can make that phone call, that's fine. They
S3: can come on the day. I can assure you, saying
S3: that they won't be disappointed. I will welcome special. And
S3: I made sure a week ago I took the invitation
S3: to Vision Australia Radio in Nixon Street, in Pryor Street
S3: in Shepparton, and I left the invitation there. So people
S3: are most welcome to come. It is a respectful and
S3: inclusive environment. What we do. Yeah. And what we do
S3: for the last 18 years. Same voices for harmony. We
S3: share information. We share knowledge and nurture relationships in a
S3: spirit of Australian mateship. This is what we do. Sam.
S2: And before we jump off Cameron, I'll just get that
S2: email from you as well. If that is the way
S2: that people would like to get in touch. If they'd
S2: like to send an email.
S3: Sure, sure. The email goes V for Victor, F for Fred,
S3: H for Harry Shepparton. One word at gmail.com.
S2: Perfect. So that's v f h Shepparton at gmail.com. If
S2: you'd like to get in touch and express your interest
S2: in heading along to the Harmony day celebrations on the
S2: 21st of March. I've been speaking today with Cameron Albinoi,
S2: Team Leader High priority discharge program at Adult Community Mental
S2: Health at Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton, but he's also
S2: one of the organisers for the Harmony day celebrations to
S2: be held at Quality Hotel, Park Lake on the 21st
S2: of March 2025, in Shepparton. Cameron, thank you very much
S2: for your time as always. It's been great to chat
S2: to you and hear about Harmony day.
S3: Likewise. Thank you very much. And my I may say
S3: I'm so grateful that I do listen to regional Australia radio.
S3: It has changed my life, my views, my opinions. I
S3: see things differently mentally. I see things that it's the way,
S3: how I haven't been seeing like seven years ago since
S3: I started listening to the radio. It's absolutely jam radio program.
S3: Thank you Sam for this.
S2: I'm Sam Coley, and you're listening to a talking vision
S2: on Vision Australia Radio, Associated Stations of Reading Radio and
S2: the Community Radio Network. I hope you enjoyed that conversation
S2: there with Cameron Albinoi. If you missed any part of
S2: that chat with Cameron or you'd love to hear it again.
S2: Talking vision is available on the podcast app of your
S2: choice or through the Vision Australia library. You can also
S2: find the program on the Vision Australia Radio website VA radio.org.
S2: That's VA radio all one word.org. And now it's time
S2: to have a chat with the editor of For Your Information,
S2: otherwise known as FYI Liz Dalakouras, who joins me for
S2: our monthly FYI chat. Liz, welcome back to Talking Vision.
S2: Great to have you as always.
S4: As always, it's great to be here. Thanks, Sam.
S2: Now to start off with this week, we've got a
S2: bit of an exciting record to have a chat about
S2: a speed record that's just been set.
S4: It is very, very exciting. We have a Vision Australia client.
S4: His name is Jamie who absolutely loves cars and has
S4: done since he was a little kid. He holds the
S4: title for the world's fastest blind person on a quarter
S4: mile drag strip. Incredibly exciting for him.
S2: Yeah. Super exciting. Great to hear that. So many people
S2: out there are doing really cool things, and that's just
S2: one of them. But some other cool stuff that's happening
S2: in the research space is a disability Centre of excellence
S2: that's being set up through Swinburne.
S4: Yeah, exactly. Sam Swinburne University of Technology is set to
S4: host Australia's very first disability employment centre of Excellence. It's
S4: being funded by the Commonwealth Government, and the centre will
S4: aim to improve economic participation and employment opportunities for people
S4: with disabilities, and it will offer online resources focused on
S4: lived experiences. So that's a really, really cool initiative that's
S4: coming our way, certainly.
S2: And well, watch this space because there's a lot more
S2: to come from there. It's just kicking off, but they've
S2: got a lot of really exciting projects and research to
S2: get stuck into. So we are going to follow that
S2: with great interest and hopefully have a chat with a
S2: few of them down the track. But staying in the
S2: realm of research, Liz, the centre for Eye Research Australia,
S2: is also gotten involved with Vision Australia recently and a
S2: collaboration to launch a series of resources.
S4: Yeah, you've absolutely said it, Sam. In this edition of FYI,
S4: we announced that we have teamed up with the centre
S4: for Eye Research Australia in a digital collaboration to help
S4: better support the blind and low vision community. So together
S4: in each other's client newsletters will be sharing important news,
S4: resources and research that can help people better understand their
S4: vision loss and learn new ways to remain confident and independent.
S4: So we all know here at Vision Australia, we're here
S4: to offer you the service and support that you need
S4: to thrive. And Sierra are dedicated to developing innovative resources
S4: and conducting research to improve your diagnosis and overall wellbeing.
S4: So we are just the 18 combined.
S2: We certainly.
S4: Are. For more updates.
S2: Yes, absolutely. Do know it's a lot of exciting resources
S2: for people to check out. Now in terms of audio description,
S2: we love our ad offerings at Vision Australia. So Michael
S2: Ward's been quite busy with quite a few exciting new
S2: plays and things like that. So one of those is
S2: La Traviata. For people who can head along to the
S2: opera house and check that one out.
S4: Absolutely. So on the 15th of March, at 1230, just
S4: after lunch, head on down to the Sydney Opera House.
S4: If you're local and you can see a sparkling encore
S4: of La Traviata. It will be audio described for you
S4: on that date, and it's just such a classic show.
S4: It is not one to be missed.
S2: And Liz, just finally 100 K's coming up. 100 K
S2: your way. The challenge over the month of April, and
S2: as people may have heard earlier in the program, I
S2: had the great pleasure of catching up with one of
S2: our 100 K ambassadors, Jess Gallagher, to talk all about it. But,
S2: you know, let's have a little bit of a chat
S2: about 100 K and all the details that people can
S2: find in this month's issue of FYI.
S4: Yeah, absolutely. Jess is amazing, isn't she?
S2: Oh she's wonderful.
S4: So, yeah, this April, join us and just have some fun,
S4: stay active and in the process, raised some money for
S4: Vision Australia. So you just need to take on the
S4: challenge to move 100km in the month however you want
S4: to move. You can run, you can jog, you can walk, ride, swim,
S4: roll whatever you like to make every kilometre count. That's right,
S4: every dollar you raise will help Vision Australia support the
S4: blind low vision community.
S2: You can even row or ski or snowboard if you
S2: find any snow up in the mountains. Or there's somebody
S2: who danced their way to 100 K, you can get
S2: super creative and do it any way you like. It's very,
S2: really cool. A lot of different ways to do it.
S2: So yeah, 100 K your way. Oh that's amazing. Now
S2: before we jump off, Liz, let's get some details for
S2: people in case they'd love to sign up to receive
S2: their issue of FYI. They're thinking, oh wow, this sounds amazing.
S2: I'd love to join the mailing list. What's the best
S2: way for them to do that?
S4: Just visit our website. Vision Australia. Org slash. FYI pop
S4: in your details and every Thursday fortnight you will get
S4: the straight to your inbox.
S2: That's Vision Australia. Dot org slash FYI. Liz thank you
S2: so much as always, it's been great to catch up
S2: with you and chat about the latest issue of FYI.
S4: Thanks, Sam. Agreed. Pleasure as always.
S2: That was Liz Dalakouras, their editor of for your Information.
S2: Otherwise known as FYI. And now here's Frances Kelland with
S2: her radar recommended.
S5: Thank you Sam. The book today was the first book
S5: in an incredibly successful series, the Outlander series, which went
S5: on to become a successful television series as well. The
S5: first book in the series is called Cross Stitch, and
S5: for those of you who like a good historical fiction,
S5: read with a little bit of a time slip happening.
S5: You'll enjoy this series and Scottish history as well. Cross
S5: stitch is by Diana Gabaldon. In 1945, a Claire Randall,
S5: a former combat nurse, is back from the war and
S5: reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon. Their blissful
S5: reunion is shattered when she touches a boulder in one
S5: of the ancient stone ruins, and is instantly transported to
S5: a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in 1743.
S5: Will Claire find her way back to her own time,
S5: or is her destiny forever linked with Clan Mackenzie and
S5: the gallant James Fraser? Let's hear a sample of Cross Stitch.
S5: Part one in the Diana Gabaldon Outlander series. It's narrated
S5: by Denise Kirby.
S1: It wasn't a very likely place for disappearances, at least
S1: at first glance. Mrs. Baird's was like a thousand other
S1: Highland bed and breakfast establishments in 1946. Clean and quiet
S1: with fading floral wallpaper, gleaming floors and a coin operated
S1: water heater in the bathroom. Mrs. bed herself was squat
S1: and easygoing, and made no objection to Frank lining her
S1: tiny Rose Sprigged parlor with the dozens of books and
S1: papers with which he always travelled. I met Mrs. Baird
S1: in the front hall. On my way out. She stopped
S1: me with a pudgy hand on my arm and patted
S1: at my hair. Dear me, Mrs. Randall, you cannot go
S1: out like that. Here, just let me tuck that bit
S1: in for you. There. That's better. You know, my cousin
S1: was telling me about a new perm. She tried, comes
S1: out beautiful and holds like a dream. Perhaps you should
S1: try that kind next time. I hadn't the heart to
S1: tell her that the waywardness of my light brown curls
S1: was strictly the fault of nature, and not due to
S1: any dereliction on the part of the permanent wave manufacturers.
S1: Her own tightly marcelled waves suffered from no such perversity. Yes,
S1: I'll do that, Mrs. Baird, I lied. I'm just going
S1: down to meet Frank. We'll be back for tea.
S5: And that was Cross-stitch, part one in the Outlander series
S5: by Diana Gabaldon. And there are all of the books
S5: in the series in the collection. It's quite a long
S5: series and it has so many fans. So if you
S5: would like to get that book or any other of
S5: the wonderfully long series that we have in the collection,
S5: or short books, short stories, anything you're after, give the
S5: library a call on 1300 654 656. That's 1300 654 656. Or you can
S5: email the library at Vision Australia. Org that's library at
S5: Vision australia.org.
S2: And that's all the time we have for today. You've
S2: been listening to Talking Vision. Talking vision is a Vision
S2: Australia radio production. Thanks to all involved with putting the
S2: show together every week. And remember, we love hearing from you.
S2: So please get in touch any time on our email
S2: at Talking Vision. At Vision australia.org. That's talking vision all
S2: one word at Vision australia.org. But until next week it's
S2: Sam Coley saying bye for now.
S6: You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during
S6: business hours on 1300 847 406. That's 1300 847 406. Or by visiting Vision
S6: australia.org that's Vision australia.org.