WEBVTT - Talking Vision 743 Week Beginning 26th of August 2024 0:00:13.158 --> 0:00:18.948 From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's 0:00:18.948 --> 0:00:20.988 your host Sam Colley. 0:00:23.538 --> 0:00:26.748 Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And 0:00:26.748 --> 0:00:29.748 for the next half hour we talk matters of blindness 0:00:29.748 --> 0:00:33.138 and low vision. This is something that we called attention 0:00:33.138 --> 0:00:35.748 to a couple of weeks ago. No b-1s, no totally 0:00:35.748 --> 0:00:39.468 blind athletes selected from Australia. And that's. I think that's 0:00:39.468 --> 0:00:42.918 a crying shame considering we are blind athletes then. So yeah, 0:00:42.948 --> 0:00:44.688 if you are listening out there, you're young enough and 0:00:44.688 --> 0:00:47.298 you feel inspired, then get out there, find yourself a 0:00:47.328 --> 0:00:50.478 guide runner and you know, give it a red hot go. 0:00:50.508 --> 0:00:54.948 Welcome to the program. This week we're gearing up for 0:00:54.948 --> 0:00:59.298 the Paralympics on Talking Vision as I catch up with 0:00:59.298 --> 0:01:04.038 Sam Rickard, the host of studio One and four time 0:01:04.048 --> 0:01:09.088 Paralympian to have a chat with me about the upcoming games. 0:01:09.118 --> 0:01:13.408 That conversation is coming up very shortly, so make sure 0:01:13.408 --> 0:01:17.128 to stay tuned. Then after you hear from Sam, I'll 0:01:17.128 --> 0:01:21.448 catch up with Belinda Wilson from the Children and Young 0:01:21.448 --> 0:01:26.248 People Programs team at Vision Australia to tell us about 0:01:26.248 --> 0:01:30.988 the Leap program and a bunch of other programs available 0:01:30.988 --> 0:01:34.288 for children and young people who are blind or have 0:01:34.288 --> 0:01:38.458 low vision. And then we wrap up with a reader 0:01:38.458 --> 0:01:42.958 recommended and a little bit of news and information. I 0:01:42.958 --> 0:01:50.818 hope you enjoy this week's episode of Talking Vision. Over 0:01:50.818 --> 0:01:54.118 the next two weeks, from the 28th of August to 0:01:54.148 --> 0:01:58.558 the 8th of September, the Paralympics will be taking place 0:01:58.558 --> 0:02:02.518 over in Paris and to have a chat with me 0:02:02.518 --> 0:02:08.068 all about them. I'm joined today by our resident Paralympian 0:02:08.068 --> 0:02:14.308 and athletics expert, Sam Rickard, a voice quite familiar to 0:02:14.338 --> 0:02:17.398 quite a lot of you, as well as one of 0:02:17.398 --> 0:02:22.918 the hosts of Studio One. Sam, welcome back to Talking Vision. 0:02:22.918 --> 0:02:26.788 Great to have you again. Oh, nice to be back. Now, 0:02:26.788 --> 0:02:30.898 we had you earlier in the year around April time with, um, 0:02:30.928 --> 0:02:34.168 100 K your way as you were making your way 0:02:34.168 --> 0:02:39.628 to 100km in your own time and in your own way, running, 0:02:39.658 --> 0:02:42.748 ambling along. Yes, yes. And now we're back on a 0:02:42.748 --> 0:02:46.978 bit of an athletic theme as well as the Paralympics 0:02:46.978 --> 0:02:50.638 are coming up very, very shortly. In fact, as this 0:02:50.638 --> 0:02:54.838 goes to where it's kicking off overnight, our time. So. Yeah. 0:02:55.168 --> 0:02:57.898 How are you feeling you bit excited. Bit nervous to 0:02:57.928 --> 0:03:00.628 see how everyone goes. The funny thing is, I mean 0:03:00.628 --> 0:03:03.038 because it was a part of my life for so long. 0:03:03.038 --> 0:03:05.108 I always get this nagging feeling I should be somewhere 0:03:05.108 --> 0:03:06.938 else when I'm sort of sitting at home, sort of 0:03:06.968 --> 0:03:09.248 doing all this, even to this day. I mean, I've 0:03:09.248 --> 0:03:13.118 been retired for longer than I've been competing, but it's 0:03:13.118 --> 0:03:15.608 still there's this sort of like nagging thing of should 0:03:15.608 --> 0:03:18.968 I be overseas or something? And that probably, I guess 0:03:18.968 --> 0:03:21.848 that never goes away. And it's sort of you feel like, oh, 0:03:21.848 --> 0:03:23.678 I should be out there, I should be running, I 0:03:23.678 --> 0:03:26.618 should be training, I should be practicing. Then I go 0:03:26.618 --> 0:03:28.328 and do it. And then I think to myself, no, 0:03:28.328 --> 0:03:32.408 I shouldn't be out there. Ouch. Yeah. Oh my God. 0:03:32.438 --> 0:03:35.168 But let's go back to that. Tell us a few 0:03:35.168 --> 0:03:38.828 of those stories from your time as a Paralympian. There's 0:03:38.828 --> 0:03:42.098 quite a bit to tell, quite a few achievements in there, 0:03:42.098 --> 0:03:45.368 but what sort of sticks out for you? What stuck 0:03:45.368 --> 0:03:48.488 out to me really is for something extraordinary that the 0:03:48.488 --> 0:03:51.518 Paralympics in general are. It is just full of such 0:03:51.548 --> 0:03:55.208 ordinary people. You've got people all throughout the time they're there, 0:03:55.208 --> 0:03:57.548 just like you or me, who have just been, for 0:03:57.548 --> 0:04:00.158 whatever reason, decided to give this thing a red hot 0:04:00.158 --> 0:04:03.018 go and train a little bit harder than everybody else. 0:04:03.198 --> 0:04:05.748 And if you have a disability, it's not necessarily easy 0:04:05.748 --> 0:04:08.268 to do a lot of things, but I've always noticed 0:04:08.268 --> 0:04:11.628 that those that do make it in the sport make 0:04:11.628 --> 0:04:15.078 it in inverted commas. They've just tried a little bit harder. 0:04:15.078 --> 0:04:19.698 And in terms of perseverance and trying and getting over 0:04:19.728 --> 0:04:23.208 the line and making those little improvements and hitting that 0:04:23.208 --> 0:04:27.918 ultimate achievement. You yourself are a Paralympic medallist. So if 0:04:27.918 --> 0:04:30.828 you don't mind going into a bit of detail, what 0:04:30.828 --> 0:04:35.658 was that like? That experience in 1992, in Barcelona, in 0:04:35.658 --> 0:04:39.558 the 800m and all the lead up and the feelings 0:04:39.558 --> 0:04:42.828 around that and how it all sort of panned out. Well, 0:04:42.858 --> 0:04:45.648 back then I was sponsored by Cheap Foods, which was 0:04:45.678 --> 0:04:48.648 a shopping chain in South Australia and the Northern Territory. 0:04:48.648 --> 0:04:51.648 And they had said, if you get a medal, then 0:04:51.648 --> 0:04:54.648 we will increase your sponsorship. And it was the last 0:04:54.648 --> 0:04:57.138 day of competition, pretty much, and I'd made the final 0:04:57.138 --> 0:05:00.088 of the 800m and that was the one thing that 0:05:00.088 --> 0:05:03.238 actually finally stuck in my head, as I'd given everything 0:05:03.238 --> 0:05:05.338 in the first 600m of that race, I'd run the 0:05:05.338 --> 0:05:09.058 first 400 way too fast. The adrenaline had pumped me up. 0:05:09.088 --> 0:05:12.238 I'd gone through in 52 seconds, and I'd never run 0:05:12.238 --> 0:05:14.908 under two minutes before in my life in the 800. 0:05:14.938 --> 0:05:18.538 At that stage, and, well, I'm a low B3, so 0:05:18.538 --> 0:05:20.458 I couldn't actually see what the time was when I 0:05:20.458 --> 0:05:22.168 went past, but the guy that was on my shoulder 0:05:22.168 --> 0:05:24.328 had and he'd sort of dropped way off. So by 0:05:24.328 --> 0:05:26.788 the time I got around to the 600m, I was 0:05:26.818 --> 0:05:32.188 absolutely spent completely and utterly exhausted. And so Christophe, the Frenchman, 0:05:32.218 --> 0:05:35.668 the Panamanian guy and the English guy all passed me 0:05:35.668 --> 0:05:39.328 in short succession. And I was thinking, oh, that's it, fourth. 0:05:39.328 --> 0:05:42.478 But then, yes, seeking extra sponsorship came into my head 0:05:42.478 --> 0:05:44.758 and I thought, no, no, I'm not going to this 0:05:44.758 --> 0:05:46.708 is not going to happen. So I don't think I 0:05:46.708 --> 0:05:49.408 looked particularly good as I was going in the next 0:05:49.408 --> 0:05:53.218 200m or so. But I pushed through it. And because 0:05:53.248 --> 0:05:56.278 the poor Englishman had been stupid enough to follow me 0:05:56.278 --> 0:05:57.898 in the first lap, he was just that little bit 0:05:57.898 --> 0:06:00.748 more spent. So I actually went past him and I 0:06:00.748 --> 0:06:02.488 was that exhausted. I actually gave him a mouthful of 0:06:02.488 --> 0:06:04.858 abuse as I went past him, but still managed to 0:06:04.888 --> 0:06:08.068 continue on and hold on for that bronze medal. And 0:06:08.068 --> 0:06:10.468 as it was, there was a new Australian record by 0:06:10.498 --> 0:06:13.348 a lot. And yeah, and it was good enough for 0:06:13.348 --> 0:06:15.658 a bronze medal. And as far as I'm aware, to 0:06:15.688 --> 0:06:17.848 this day, I'm still the only blind athlete in this 0:06:17.848 --> 0:06:20.338 country to have broken two minutes. So I'm sure it's 0:06:20.338 --> 0:06:24.058 been done outside competition or outside the official competition, as 0:06:24.058 --> 0:06:26.608 it were. But I still hold that Australian record, which 0:06:26.638 --> 0:06:28.678 I want someone to break, that it's been sitting there 0:06:28.678 --> 0:06:32.008 for God knows how long now. Well, it might happen 0:06:32.008 --> 0:06:35.788 in 2024. Well, I'll have to wait and see. Is 0:06:35.788 --> 0:06:38.698 that your pet event? The one you sort of gear 0:06:38.698 --> 0:06:42.118 up to watching every four years when it comes around, 0:06:42.118 --> 0:06:45.508 or every two years in the Commonwealth Games in that 0:06:45.508 --> 0:06:48.148 respect as well. But is that the event you're sort 0:06:48.148 --> 0:06:51.748 of really looking forward to, or there's others that peak 0:06:51.748 --> 0:06:54.388 your interest as well over the years? Well, unfortunately, the 0:06:54.418 --> 0:06:57.728 800m is not included for blind athletes at the moment. Oh, 0:06:57.728 --> 0:07:00.038 that's a shame. I think I think it's a B1 event, 0:07:00.308 --> 0:07:05.258 but the vagaries of international sports rules state that if 0:07:05.258 --> 0:07:08.828 there are less than six qualifiers in the event, then 0:07:08.828 --> 0:07:13.358 the event gets scrapped. So this means that modern Paralympians 0:07:13.358 --> 0:07:16.328 can't specialise in a single event because their event may disappear. 0:07:16.328 --> 0:07:18.668 And this is exactly what happened to me in 1996. 0:07:18.758 --> 0:07:21.848 I was all geared up to absolutely blitz the 800m, 0:07:21.848 --> 0:07:24.728 and the 800m just suddenly disappeared, owing to a whole 0:07:24.728 --> 0:07:28.328 bunch of athletes being injured back in 1990s, which had 0:07:28.328 --> 0:07:30.878 this sort of rock on thing to the 1996 Paralympics. 0:07:30.878 --> 0:07:33.008 So that's something that you've got to bear in mind 0:07:33.038 --> 0:07:35.678 is sometimes you've got athletes competing in events that they 0:07:35.678 --> 0:07:38.078 haven't trained for all their lives, and you've got to 0:07:38.078 --> 0:07:40.928 be flexible. And that's why you're having this exodus to triathlon, 0:07:40.928 --> 0:07:44.528 for example, by certain other athletes. And that's why my 0:07:44.528 --> 0:07:47.648 friend Sam Harding is switched over to triathlon, because at 0:07:47.678 --> 0:07:48.998 least it's going to be there. At least you can 0:07:48.998 --> 0:07:51.368 train for it and it won't suddenly disappear on you. 0:07:51.398 --> 0:07:55.298 That's also an interesting sort of dynamics there for people 0:07:55.308 --> 0:07:59.478 who are totally blind, swimming and riding and how they'd 0:07:59.478 --> 0:08:02.418 get guided through and training and all that sort of thing. 0:08:02.418 --> 0:08:05.388 And that added element to it for people out there 0:08:05.388 --> 0:08:08.238 who might be wondering, how would that sort of work 0:08:08.238 --> 0:08:12.408 in a Paralympic context? Do people still have guides or 0:08:12.408 --> 0:08:17.838 tandems alongside them if they are 100% B1? Absolutely no 0:08:17.838 --> 0:08:21.888 vision at all. What's your understanding there? Uh, guide riding 0:08:21.888 --> 0:08:24.858 has not changed since the year dot. One thing that 0:08:24.858 --> 0:08:27.168 has changed. So back in my day. God, I sound 0:08:27.198 --> 0:08:31.128 old when I'm saying that. But prior to the 1996 Paralympics. 0:08:31.158 --> 0:08:34.968 B1 runners in the 100m actually ran them in time trials. 0:08:34.968 --> 0:08:37.378 You'd have someone standing at the end of the 100 0:08:37.378 --> 0:08:40.698 meter straight and yelling out four four as they were 0:08:40.698 --> 0:08:42.618 running in lane four, and if they veered off to 0:08:42.648 --> 0:08:45.408 either side, they'd either yell out 3 or 5, and 0:08:45.408 --> 0:08:50.088 that would allow the runner to correct themselves. In the 1990s, 0:08:50.118 --> 0:08:52.788 that changed to the same as everything else, with a 0:08:52.818 --> 0:08:55.158 with a guide runner actually running the event and having 0:08:55.158 --> 0:08:57.168 to synchronize block starts and all that sort of stuff. 0:08:57.168 --> 0:09:00.528 So it still exists. And you do see B1 events, alas. 0:09:00.528 --> 0:09:02.958 And this is something that we called attention to a 0:09:02.958 --> 0:09:05.838 couple of weeks ago. No B1, no totally blind athletes 0:09:05.838 --> 0:09:09.018 selected it from Australia. And that's I think that's a 0:09:09.018 --> 0:09:12.408 crying shame considering we are blind athletes. And so yeah, 0:09:12.438 --> 0:09:14.178 if you are listening out there, you're young enough and 0:09:14.178 --> 0:09:16.758 you feel inspired, then get out there, find yourself a 0:09:16.788 --> 0:09:19.968 guide runner and, you know, give it a red hot go. 0:09:19.998 --> 0:09:23.718 There is a future for all of that as well, obviously. 0:09:23.718 --> 0:09:26.508 So we do want to say a lot of people 0:09:26.508 --> 0:09:30.618 getting involved. So that's super important. And you know, what's 0:09:30.618 --> 0:09:34.008 the best way for people out there to get involved 0:09:34.008 --> 0:09:37.938 and join a running club or perhaps an Achilles branch, 0:09:37.938 --> 0:09:41.808 or join an athletics club that's accessible for them? Well, 0:09:41.838 --> 0:09:45.048 Blind Sports Australia still exists out there, and it's their 0:09:45.048 --> 0:09:49.248 job to look after athletes with a vision impairment. So 0:09:49.248 --> 0:09:51.228 you can go onto their website. They will give you 0:09:51.228 --> 0:09:54.358 a potted guide onto to what things are available. But 0:09:54.568 --> 0:09:58.738 in theory all athletics clubs, all sports clubs nowadays should 0:09:58.738 --> 0:10:02.548 be accessible. So if it's up to you, if you want, 0:10:02.578 --> 0:10:04.438 if you feel confident enough to get out there and say, hey, 0:10:04.438 --> 0:10:08.158 I'd like to run. And yes, you have Achilles branches now. 0:10:08.158 --> 0:10:11.518 And Achilles is a I've only just recently learned about this. 0:10:11.548 --> 0:10:14.848 We're trying to open up one in in Adelaide as well. Uh, 0:10:14.848 --> 0:10:18.448 it works at developing able bodied athletes into guide runners. 0:10:18.448 --> 0:10:20.398 So if you feel like getting out and going for 0:10:20.398 --> 0:10:22.408 a run or something like that, you can contact your 0:10:22.408 --> 0:10:25.138 local Achilles branch. They can find you someone who can 0:10:25.138 --> 0:10:27.778 run with you. And I mean, the whole point is, well, 0:10:27.778 --> 0:10:30.628 is that person has to be just that little bit faster, 0:10:30.658 --> 0:10:32.908 a little bit fitter, so that all you need to 0:10:32.908 --> 0:10:35.398 do is sit back and run. They're the ones, they're 0:10:35.398 --> 0:10:38.938 your eyes. That's the whole general principle of it. Finally, Sam, 0:10:38.968 --> 0:10:41.518 we'll get in a little bit of an opportunity for 0:10:41.518 --> 0:10:46.108 some cross promotion. You've got a special coming up on 0:10:46.108 --> 0:10:50.518 Studio One shortly, all about the Paralympics. I'll let you 0:10:50.518 --> 0:10:53.858 fill the listeners in with as many of the details 0:10:53.858 --> 0:10:57.128 as you like. But yeah, that's coming up soon. We 0:10:57.128 --> 0:11:00.128 were actually considering just ignoring the things altogether, but the 0:11:00.128 --> 0:11:02.678 opportunity came up to actually present a slightly different spin 0:11:02.678 --> 0:11:05.198 on things. So what we are looking at are the 0:11:05.198 --> 0:11:07.418 athletes that came through the system over the years, might 0:11:07.448 --> 0:11:10.658 have competed at one Paralympics and then sort of disappeared again. 0:11:10.658 --> 0:11:14.348 So we are talking to three blind athletes who, yes, 0:11:14.348 --> 0:11:18.218 three blind athletes, three blind mice who started out at 0:11:18.248 --> 0:11:20.528 the well. One of them started out at the Seoul 0:11:20.528 --> 0:11:23.588 Paralympics and then went on to bigger and better things, 0:11:23.588 --> 0:11:25.808 as it were, as in marriage and a life which 0:11:25.808 --> 0:11:29.288 is all good for him. My friend Shane, who competed 0:11:29.288 --> 0:11:33.038 in the Sydney Paralympics and that was as a thrower 0:11:33.038 --> 0:11:35.768 and again went on to life and marriage and things 0:11:35.768 --> 0:11:39.038 like that. And yes, my friend Ed, who went on 0:11:39.068 --> 0:11:42.218 to be quite a successful public servant, so we're looking 0:11:42.218 --> 0:11:45.008 at how sport has actually treated them over the years 0:11:45.008 --> 0:11:48.788 and how it's actually influenced their choices and what went 0:11:48.788 --> 0:11:52.858 on afterwards, As I said, it's a slightly different, different 0:11:52.858 --> 0:11:55.888 approach because it's easy to look at elite athletes as 0:11:55.888 --> 0:11:59.638 some sort of superman, but, well, none of them are. 0:11:59.668 --> 0:12:02.278 We are we? We have the same issues and sometimes 0:12:02.278 --> 0:12:05.098 it doesn't quite work out. So I thought this would 0:12:05.098 --> 0:12:07.348 be like a twist on on things that would give 0:12:07.348 --> 0:12:09.748 the listener out there an idea that of what makes 0:12:09.748 --> 0:12:13.108 us actually tick properly. Yeah, all of this sort of 0:12:13.138 --> 0:12:17.458 thing isn't necessarily a guaranteed income, as you've mentioned. It's, 0:12:17.488 --> 0:12:21.118 you know, not 100% guaranteed. You can sort of make 0:12:21.148 --> 0:12:25.318 a living off sport. Unfortunately, there's a lot of people 0:12:25.318 --> 0:12:27.988 out there and all that blood, sweat and tears and 0:12:27.988 --> 0:12:30.748 hard work behind the scenes that some a lot of 0:12:30.748 --> 0:12:33.418 the stuff, all the, you know, people don't really see 0:12:33.448 --> 0:12:37.228 on TV. So it's great to, you know, get those stories. 0:12:37.228 --> 0:12:40.648 Not only do times change, but people change as well. So, um, 0:12:40.648 --> 0:12:45.208 it's not an easy thing to qualify for international competition, 0:12:45.208 --> 0:12:49.308 let alone for, for a Paralympic Games. Certainly not. Okay. Well, 0:12:49.338 --> 0:12:54.078 I've been speaking today with Sam Rickard, host of studio 0:12:54.108 --> 0:12:57.888 one and four time Paralympian. Here to chat to me 0:12:57.888 --> 0:13:03.618 all about the upcoming Paralympics taking place in Paris over 0:13:03.618 --> 0:13:07.518 the next couple of weeks. Sam. Great to catch up 0:13:07.518 --> 0:13:10.488 with you again. Thanks so much for your time and 0:13:10.698 --> 0:13:19.578 hope you enjoy the Paralympics. I'll be watching. On Sam, 0:13:19.578 --> 0:13:24.528 Cully and Joe listening to Talking Vision on Vision Australia Radio, 0:13:24.558 --> 0:13:29.928 associated stations of the Radio Reading Network and the Community 0:13:29.928 --> 0:13:34.878 Radio Network. I hope you enjoyed that conversation there with 0:13:34.878 --> 0:13:39.768 Sam Rickard, four time Olympian and host of Studio One 0:13:39.798 --> 0:13:44.688 alongside Lizzie Eastham. If you missed any part of that 0:13:44.688 --> 0:13:48.568 conversation with Sam or you'd love to hear it again. 0:13:48.598 --> 0:13:53.488 Talking vision will be available on the Vision Australia Radio 0:13:53.488 --> 0:14:01.438 website at VA radio.org. That's VA radio.org. You can also 0:14:01.438 --> 0:14:06.328 find the program and interview highlights from the shows on 0:14:06.328 --> 0:14:09.688 the podcast app of your choice, or through the Vision 0:14:09.688 --> 0:14:14.098 Australia library as we head into the month of September. 0:14:14.128 --> 0:14:19.228 The Children and Young People team at Vision Australia have 0:14:19.228 --> 0:14:25.018 a range of programs which are just opening for expressions 0:14:25.018 --> 0:14:30.088 of interest in 2025. But there's also quite a few 0:14:30.118 --> 0:14:34.708 other initiatives going on and to tell us all about them. 0:14:34.708 --> 0:14:40.168 I'm joined by Belinda Wilson, coordinator of the programs for 0:14:40.168 --> 0:14:45.268 children and young people at Vision Australia. Belinda, welcome back 0:14:45.268 --> 0:14:47.558 to Talking vision. Thanks for your time. 0:14:47.558 --> 0:14:48.308 Thanks for having. 0:14:48.308 --> 0:14:51.098 Me. Now we're here to have a little bit of 0:14:51.098 --> 0:14:55.418 an update on children and young people and what that 0:14:55.418 --> 0:14:59.198 part of the organization's getting up to. Why don't you 0:14:59.228 --> 0:15:02.078 give us a bit of an overview of some exciting 0:15:02.078 --> 0:15:03.818 things that have been going on? 0:15:03.818 --> 0:15:06.698 Well, there's a lot of things that have been happening 0:15:06.698 --> 0:15:10.238 in the children and young people's space over a lot 0:15:10.268 --> 0:15:12.248 of different things that have been happening in the area 0:15:12.278 --> 0:15:16.898 over the last, well, couple of years. But more, more recently, 0:15:16.898 --> 0:15:20.018 there's been some exciting stuff with with young adults and 0:15:20.018 --> 0:15:22.688 particularly with one of the programs that I run called 0:15:22.688 --> 0:15:26.078 the Leap program. One of the things that we have, 0:15:26.078 --> 0:15:29.288 which is wonderful, is the Life Ready Hub. And have 0:15:29.288 --> 0:15:30.668 you heard about that before, Sam? 0:15:30.668 --> 0:15:33.158 I have heard about it a little bit, but fill 0:15:33.158 --> 0:15:34.928 our listeners in on that a bit. 0:15:34.928 --> 0:15:39.068 So the Life Ready Hub is a wonderful online resources 0:15:39.068 --> 0:15:42.578 for clients and their parents, and they have a lot 0:15:42.608 --> 0:15:46.238 of different modules on different areas. So that could be 0:15:46.238 --> 0:15:50.918 anything from little games that you can play to explore 0:15:50.948 --> 0:15:54.428 different careers, to podcasts that you can listen to about 0:15:54.428 --> 0:15:59.918 different subjects. Just all things relating to children and to 0:15:59.948 --> 0:16:05.048 blindness and low vision. We have recently done a podcast 0:16:05.048 --> 0:16:08.228 that will be available on it, a mindfulness podcast that 0:16:08.228 --> 0:16:11.318 will be available on it soon. And it also is 0:16:11.318 --> 0:16:16.028 the house of a lot of resources and information relating 0:16:16.058 --> 0:16:21.998 to employment, education, inclusivity, daily skills, all those sorts of things. 0:16:22.028 --> 0:16:26.738 Okay, and if people would like to check out Life Ready, 0:16:26.768 --> 0:16:29.378 what's the best way for them to do that? Where 0:16:29.378 --> 0:16:29.768 should they. 0:16:29.768 --> 0:16:32.258 Go? Well, there's a lot of different ways that you 0:16:32.258 --> 0:16:34.178 can go through and get signed up for the Life 0:16:34.178 --> 0:16:38.108 Ready Hub. I would recommend if you are already involved 0:16:38.108 --> 0:16:41.798 with Vision Australia and you have a primary service provider 0:16:41.798 --> 0:16:44.958 to let them know if you're not already involved with 0:16:44.958 --> 0:16:49.038 Vision Australia, I would really recommend going through an intake first. 0:16:49.038 --> 0:16:52.818 In an intake, they discuss what type of goals that 0:16:52.818 --> 0:16:55.578 you and your child have and how you want to 0:16:55.578 --> 0:16:58.728 reach those goals, and through that, one of those options 0:16:58.728 --> 0:17:01.908 may be resources through the Life Ready Hub. And the 0:17:01.908 --> 0:17:04.068 great thing about the Life Ready Hub is it can 0:17:04.068 --> 0:17:06.618 be a flat resource, which is something you can read 0:17:06.618 --> 0:17:09.018 and do on your own time, or it's something you 0:17:09.018 --> 0:17:11.838 can do in tandem with a service provider. 0:17:11.838 --> 0:17:15.858 And Belinda, you mentioned earlier, they're just a little bit 0:17:15.858 --> 0:17:19.578 about the Leap program, and this is quite an exciting 0:17:19.608 --> 0:17:24.138 time of the year as applications have just opened up 0:17:24.138 --> 0:17:29.058 for 2025. So tell us a bit about leap and 0:17:29.268 --> 0:17:30.858 all the details there. 0:17:30.888 --> 0:17:35.118 Leap is exciting right now for several reasons. There are 0:17:35.118 --> 0:17:38.238 a lot of things happening in leap all at once, 0:17:38.238 --> 0:17:41.928 so it's a very busy but very exciting time. So 0:17:41.928 --> 0:17:44.698 the first thing that's happening is that we have opened 0:17:44.728 --> 0:17:50.248 applications for Leap 2025, and Leap is a ten month program. 0:17:50.248 --> 0:17:54.568 It runs from February to November. It's an after school 0:17:54.568 --> 0:17:59.008 extracurricular program for young people aged 14 to 18 who 0:17:59.038 --> 0:18:02.608 have low vision or blindness. What I really love about 0:18:02.608 --> 0:18:05.908 the program is that you can join it from anywhere 0:18:05.908 --> 0:18:09.598 in Australia. So if you are in a remote area 0:18:09.598 --> 0:18:12.538 or if you're in an urban area, you join it 0:18:12.538 --> 0:18:15.898 all by Microsoft Teams and that's where you have all 0:18:15.898 --> 0:18:20.428 the meetings. The meetings are broken down into different subjects, 0:18:20.428 --> 0:18:23.698 and I really think it's just about being life ready 0:18:23.698 --> 0:18:27.178 and about developing those life skills that you need in 0:18:27.178 --> 0:18:31.828 order to either go into education, employment or even just 0:18:31.828 --> 0:18:34.408 to live your daily life. So a lot of the 0:18:34.408 --> 0:18:40.828 focus is on organization, writing emails, technology skills, doing some 0:18:40.838 --> 0:18:46.478 career exploration, building up your organizational skills through running a fundraiser. 0:18:46.838 --> 0:18:50.918 There's employability part of it where people look for jobs 0:18:50.918 --> 0:18:55.568 online and write resumes and attend mock interviews. And then 0:18:55.568 --> 0:19:00.518 it finishes with a presentation and graduation ceremony in November. 0:19:00.548 --> 0:19:03.698 The reason why I'm so excited right now is because 0:19:03.698 --> 0:19:07.598 there are two things that are happening in September, in 0:19:07.598 --> 0:19:11.438 addition to the applications being open, which are we are 0:19:11.438 --> 0:19:15.548 running a leap camp, which is when the leap participants 0:19:15.578 --> 0:19:19.448 can come to our Kensington Seeing Eye dog houses and 0:19:19.448 --> 0:19:22.898 stay there for three days. And also we are running 0:19:22.898 --> 0:19:26.618 the mock interviews. So all of the leap participants will 0:19:26.618 --> 0:19:30.638 be having mock interviews with different members of our leadership team. 0:19:30.638 --> 0:19:33.608 And this is an experience that I think is so 0:19:33.608 --> 0:19:38.588 important for young people to have that first mock interview experience, 0:19:38.588 --> 0:19:41.708 or even if they've had an interview before, to hone 0:19:41.738 --> 0:19:46.538 their interview skills, to create an application, to tailor their 0:19:46.538 --> 0:19:49.508 resume and their cover letter to the application, and to 0:19:49.508 --> 0:19:54.008 get honest feedback on how they're interviewing, their presentation skills, 0:19:54.008 --> 0:19:57.008 how they approach a job, how they researched a job, 0:19:57.038 --> 0:19:59.468 how they've learnt about a job. All those sorts of 0:19:59.468 --> 0:20:02.828 things are so important. And I really love this time 0:20:02.828 --> 0:20:05.678 of year with leap. It's very busy, but it's very, 0:20:05.678 --> 0:20:06.578 very fun. 0:20:06.668 --> 0:20:10.628 Well, it certainly sounds fun and if people would love 0:20:10.628 --> 0:20:14.138 to sign up for leap, they perhaps may have a 0:20:14.138 --> 0:20:16.748 son or a daughter or niece or nephew who would 0:20:16.748 --> 0:20:21.488 really greatly benefit from taking part in Leap, what's the 0:20:21.488 --> 0:20:24.878 best way for them to sign up? Or a few 0:20:24.878 --> 0:20:28.508 places to just perhaps find out more before they make 0:20:28.508 --> 0:20:29.528 that final choice? 0:20:29.558 --> 0:20:32.258 Yeah, so there's a lot of different ways to learn 0:20:32.258 --> 0:20:35.888 about Leap. One is to just email me at Leap 0:20:35.918 --> 0:20:40.188 at Vision Australia. Org that is just the loop mailbox. 0:20:40.188 --> 0:20:43.188 There's also the loop website, which is if you go 0:20:43.188 --> 0:20:45.918 to the Vision Australia website and just type in leap. 0:20:45.948 --> 0:20:50.328 It'll pop up. The website is really detailed. It has 0:20:50.328 --> 0:20:54.978 everything down to the monthly activities. What happens when the 0:20:54.978 --> 0:21:00.558 program details the application process, the costing, everything is just 0:21:00.588 --> 0:21:04.098 outlined there. Also, just so you know, if you do 0:21:04.098 --> 0:21:06.858 submit an expression of interest on the website, it will 0:21:06.858 --> 0:21:09.858 also go to me at the leap mailbox. So either way, 0:21:09.858 --> 0:21:12.168 you're going to get in contact with me and I 0:21:12.168 --> 0:21:14.448 can always give you a call and just discuss the 0:21:14.448 --> 0:21:17.718 program and whether the program is a good fit. 0:21:17.808 --> 0:21:25.668 Okay. And that program is open for applications until November. Belinda. Yes. Yep. 0:21:25.698 --> 0:21:28.758 Earlier the better. But quite a few weeks and months 0:21:28.758 --> 0:21:32.028 for people to have a look and decide if leap 0:21:32.028 --> 0:21:34.968 is for them. But sounds like a lot of great 0:21:34.998 --> 0:21:38.738 things for people to get involved with, so look forward 0:21:38.738 --> 0:21:42.218 to seeing how that goes and hearing from quite a 0:21:42.218 --> 0:21:43.418 few people out there. 0:21:43.448 --> 0:21:46.658 Yeah, the reason why we recommend applying early is because 0:21:46.658 --> 0:21:49.748 we are aware that sometimes there are some steps that 0:21:49.748 --> 0:21:52.988 need to be done before leap starts. So one of 0:21:52.988 --> 0:21:57.428 those things may be connecting you with a primary service provider, 0:21:57.428 --> 0:22:00.878 who will be the person who will coordinate your child's services, 0:22:00.878 --> 0:22:03.818 and will also be the one to facilitate the program. 0:22:03.818 --> 0:22:06.908 There may be some discussions around NDIS funding that you 0:22:06.908 --> 0:22:10.838 need support in. There may be situations where the person 0:22:10.838 --> 0:22:15.518 may also need additional services outside of Leap. Or maybe 0:22:15.518 --> 0:22:18.788 leap isn't exactly the right program they're looking for. So 0:22:18.788 --> 0:22:21.008 the earlier that you get in contact with us, the 0:22:21.008 --> 0:22:22.958 better and the more that we can go through and 0:22:22.958 --> 0:22:24.578 answer any of your questions. 0:22:24.608 --> 0:22:29.708 Perfect. Well, I've been speaking today with Belinda Wilson from 0:22:29.708 --> 0:22:34.298 the Children and Young People team at Vision Australia about 0:22:34.298 --> 0:22:37.678 not only Leap, lip, but a few other things that 0:22:37.678 --> 0:22:41.608 children and young people can get involved with through Vision 0:22:41.608 --> 0:22:46.768 Australia and their programs. Belinda, thank you so much for 0:22:46.768 --> 0:22:49.678 your time today. Great to catch up with you and 0:22:49.678 --> 0:22:51.418 hear all about what's going on. 0:22:51.448 --> 0:22:53.518 Yeah, always a pleasure to see you, Sam. 0:22:55.948 --> 0:22:59.938 And now here's Frances Kelland with her radar recommended. 0:22:59.968 --> 0:23:04.078 Thanks, Sam. Today's reader, recommended from the Vision Australia Library 0:23:04.108 --> 0:23:08.818 is killing for Country by David Marr. David Marr was 0:23:08.818 --> 0:23:12.178 shocked to discover forebears who served with the brutal native 0:23:12.178 --> 0:23:15.478 police in the bloodiest years on the frontier. Killing for 0:23:15.478 --> 0:23:19.048 country is the result of a soul searching Australian history. 0:23:19.078 --> 0:23:23.038 This is a richly detailed saga of politics and power 0:23:23.038 --> 0:23:27.508 in the colonial world of land seized, fortunes made and lost, 0:23:27.508 --> 0:23:30.778 and the violence let loose as squatters and their allies 0:23:30.778 --> 0:23:34.228 fought for possession of the country. A war still unresolved 0:23:34.228 --> 0:23:37.748 in today's Australia. Let's hear a sample of killing for 0:23:37.748 --> 0:23:42.578 Country by David Maher. It's narrated by the author David Maher. 0:23:42.608 --> 0:23:48.068 It was spring 1835. Is it not a good place? Asked. 0:23:48.098 --> 0:23:51.008 You're his guide? Agreed. But I should not like to 0:23:51.008 --> 0:23:53.108 put my sheep on it and drive away the cattle 0:23:53.108 --> 0:23:56.768 of those who have set down here. Two huts could 0:23:56.768 --> 0:23:58.898 be seen standing on the far side of the river. 0:23:58.928 --> 0:24:02.918 You didn't care. They are a set of cattle stealing rascals. 0:24:02.918 --> 0:24:06.248 And I should have no compunction. His guide agreed that 0:24:06.248 --> 0:24:09.788 they were rascals. But I should not trouble myself about that. 0:24:09.788 --> 0:24:13.088 I should go farther and look out for myself. They 0:24:13.088 --> 0:24:18.218 are here. You was not persuaded. This quarrelsome 21 year 0:24:18.218 --> 0:24:21.158 old had crossed the range with orders to seize a 0:24:21.158 --> 0:24:24.998 swathe of the finest land in New South Wales. My sheep, 0:24:24.998 --> 0:24:29.198 he said, will soon scatter the cattle. The two men 0:24:29.198 --> 0:24:34.188 rode 12 miles along the mokai, claiming 150,000 acres of 0:24:34.188 --> 0:24:38.298 the Liverpool Plains for the merchant Richard Jones. The soil 0:24:38.298 --> 0:24:42.468 was deep and black. This is Kamilaroi country, but neither 0:24:42.468 --> 0:24:46.098 Jones nor Edmund Ure doubted for a moment the land 0:24:46.098 --> 0:24:50.298 was theirs for the taking. Jones paid nothing for these acres. 0:24:50.298 --> 0:24:54.048 His only obligation was to stock them. His young brother 0:24:54.078 --> 0:24:58.038 in law would soon be running 30,000 sheep along the river. 0:24:58.068 --> 0:25:02.688 The colony was perfecting a unique form of conquest, invasion 0:25:02.688 --> 0:25:03.528 by sheep. 0:25:03.528 --> 0:25:06.138 And that was a sample of killing for Country by 0:25:06.138 --> 0:25:10.098 David Marr, available from the Vision Australia Library. To join 0:25:10.098 --> 0:25:12.078 the library or to find out more about how the 0:25:12.078 --> 0:25:21.228 library works, there is a phone number 1300 654 656. That's 1300 654 656 0:25:21.228 --> 0:25:26.628 or email library at Vision Australia. Org. That's library at 0:25:26.628 --> 0:25:28.758 Vision Australia. Org. 0:25:34.558 --> 0:25:39.208 For the 16th consecutive year. The Focus on Ability Short 0:25:39.208 --> 0:25:44.638 Film Festival is back in action. Over the month of September. 0:25:44.638 --> 0:25:49.108 There will be a variety of screenings where you can 0:25:49.138 --> 0:25:55.948 celebrate the remarkable talents and stories of individual filmmakers with disability. 0:25:55.978 --> 0:26:01.378 Come and experience the power of perseverance, creativity and resilience. 0:26:01.408 --> 0:26:06.088 Your presence will make these events truly unforgettable. These are 0:26:06.088 --> 0:26:11.428 free events, but registration is essential. You can find screenings 0:26:11.428 --> 0:26:17.908 across the country in Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle, Canberra, Sydney, Launceston 0:26:17.908 --> 0:26:22.498 and Brisbane. To find out more and to register head 0:26:22.498 --> 0:26:29.848 to focus on ability. Com.au. That's focus on ability. Dot 0:26:29.848 --> 0:26:33.388 com dot a U. And that's all the time we 0:26:33.388 --> 0:26:37.978 have for today. You've been listening to Talking Vision. Talking 0:26:37.978 --> 0:26:42.058 vision is a Vision Australia radio production. Thanks to all 0:26:42.058 --> 0:26:46.228 involved with putting the show together every week. And remember, 0:26:46.228 --> 0:26:48.958 we love hearing from you. So please get in touch 0:26:48.958 --> 0:26:54.538 any time on our email at Talking Vision. At Vision australia.org. 0:26:54.538 --> 0:26:59.728 That's talking vision all one word at Vision australia.org. But 0:26:59.728 --> 0:27:03.418 until next week it's Sam Collins saying bye for now. 0:27:06.658 --> 0:27:10.828 You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during 0:27:10.828 --> 0:27:22.678 business hours on 1300 847 406. That's 1300 847 486 or by visiting Vision australia.org. 0:27:22.708 --> 0:27:25.198 That's Vision australia.org.