WEBVTT - Talking Vision 729 Week Beginning 20th of May 2024 0:00:13.168 --> 0:00:18.978 From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's 0:00:18.978 --> 0:00:20.928 your host, Sam Colley. 0:00:23.388 --> 0:00:26.568 Hello everyone. It's great to be here with you. And 0:00:26.568 --> 0:00:29.538 for the next half hour we talk matters of blindness 0:00:29.538 --> 0:00:30.648 and low vision. 0:00:30.648 --> 0:00:32.538 If you had to pay all the announcers and the 0:00:32.538 --> 0:00:34.668 time that's put in, then I don't think you'd be 0:00:34.668 --> 0:00:37.818 able to do that. Very important service. And I know 0:00:37.818 --> 0:00:41.358 it's an important service from speaking to people who listen 0:00:41.358 --> 0:00:45.018 to Vision Australia radio and enjoy it and get information 0:00:45.018 --> 0:00:47.178 out of it. If that wasn't there, that would be 0:00:47.178 --> 0:00:49.758 a serious gap in their lives. 0:00:49.788 --> 0:00:54.768 Welcome to the program! This week we celebrate National Volunteer 0:00:54.768 --> 0:00:59.448 Week by chatting to a volunteer from Vision Australia Radio 0:00:59.448 --> 0:01:03.468 in Bendigo. His name is Barry and you'll hear from 0:01:03.468 --> 0:01:06.888 him later on in the program today, so make sure 0:01:06.888 --> 0:01:10.218 to stick around for that one. But before you hear 0:01:10.218 --> 0:01:14.358 from Barry, I caught up with four. That's right, four 0:01:14.358 --> 0:01:18.378 of the people who are involved in the upcoming Vision 0:01:18.378 --> 0:01:22.758 Australia Open Day in Brisbane on the 8th of June, 0:01:22.758 --> 0:01:26.658 and that interview is coming up right now. I hope 0:01:26.658 --> 0:01:35.128 you'll enjoy this week's episode of Talking Vision. I'm here 0:01:35.128 --> 0:01:39.358 today with an absolute star studded cast here to talk 0:01:39.358 --> 0:01:44.308 about the upcoming Vision Australia Open Day we have today 0:01:44.308 --> 0:01:49.228 Courtney McKee, Mel Bly, Donna Dyson and Amish Shomali and 0:01:49.228 --> 0:01:53.008 it's my absolute pleasure to welcome you all to Talking 0:01:53.008 --> 0:01:56.428 Vision today. Thank you very much for your time. Courtney. 0:01:56.428 --> 0:01:58.948 We'll start with you. Could you give us a bit 0:01:58.948 --> 0:02:02.128 of an overview about the open day? 0:02:02.128 --> 0:02:07.198 Yeah, absolutely. On Saturday the 8th of June 2024, we're 0:02:07.198 --> 0:02:11.458 hosting a day from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. where 0:02:11.458 --> 0:02:16.888 we're inviting children, young people, their friends, families, their school 0:02:16.888 --> 0:02:21.208 teams and the general community to come along and learn 0:02:21.208 --> 0:02:24.028 a little bit about what we do, particularly with our 0:02:24.028 --> 0:02:27.748 children and young people here at Vision Australia in relation 0:02:27.748 --> 0:02:30.928 to our life ready approach. And this is where we're 0:02:30.928 --> 0:02:34.228 supporting children and young people to do what they need 0:02:34.228 --> 0:02:36.808 to do now, but also to prepare for their future, 0:02:36.808 --> 0:02:39.238 whatever they would like that to be, and making sure 0:02:39.238 --> 0:02:43.828 that they have a skill set that includes nine essential 0:02:43.828 --> 0:02:46.498 life skill areas that children and young people who are 0:02:46.498 --> 0:02:49.228 blind or have low vision need, in addition to the 0:02:49.228 --> 0:02:52.588 core skills that every child needs to be successful. 0:02:52.588 --> 0:02:55.018 And Courtney, could you tell us a little bit more 0:02:55.018 --> 0:02:58.108 about your involvement in the day overall? 0:02:58.108 --> 0:03:01.228 Yeah, so I'm coordinating the day, which means I have 0:03:01.228 --> 0:03:04.888 the wonderful privilege of working with all of the talented 0:03:04.888 --> 0:03:07.858 folks that we're about to talk to today, plus all 0:03:07.858 --> 0:03:11.308 of the wonderful pediatric therapists that I'm involved with in 0:03:11.308 --> 0:03:14.968 my team and a range of other people who are 0:03:14.968 --> 0:03:19.198 coming along, especially to support the day. Among the kinds 0:03:19.198 --> 0:03:22.918 of things that I'm involved in is supporting the teams 0:03:22.918 --> 0:03:25.378 to set up our different stations, and we have stations 0:03:25.378 --> 0:03:32.158 ranging from workshops on cooking, coding, craft, we have storytimes, 0:03:32.158 --> 0:03:37.768 we have some physical workshops which include rugby skills and 0:03:37.768 --> 0:03:41.248 self defense. I'm also doing a lot of liaising with 0:03:41.248 --> 0:03:44.368 our stallholders. So our community partners who will be in 0:03:44.368 --> 0:03:47.278 on the day. For example, we have Carers Queensland coming 0:03:47.278 --> 0:03:52.678 along to provide NDIS information. We have Goalball Queensland coming 0:03:52.678 --> 0:03:55.858 along to provide information about that sport, and we have 0:03:55.858 --> 0:04:00.058 the Queensland Academy of Sport and Uq's Para start coming 0:04:00.058 --> 0:04:03.448 along to talk about sporting opportunities in our community, for 0:04:03.448 --> 0:04:05.548 people that just want to get involved and all the 0:04:05.548 --> 0:04:07.888 way through to elite sports. 0:04:07.888 --> 0:04:10.948 That sounds absolutely action packed. There a lot of things 0:04:10.948 --> 0:04:14.098 for people to look forward to, but what I'm looking 0:04:14.098 --> 0:04:16.948 forward to right now is just going around the room 0:04:16.948 --> 0:04:19.648 and having a chat to all of you and giving 0:04:19.648 --> 0:04:23.248 you a chance to sort of introduce yourselves and tell 0:04:23.248 --> 0:04:26.578 us a little bit about your involvement in the day. Mel, 0:04:26.578 --> 0:04:28.228 I think I'll start with you. 0:04:28.228 --> 0:04:32.068 Hi. Yeah. So I'm a professional psychologist in the area 0:04:32.068 --> 0:04:35.308 of health. I'm doing my placement here at Vision Australia 0:04:35.308 --> 0:04:39.448 from the University of Queensland. My involvement is to support 0:04:39.448 --> 0:04:42.928 the family engagement within the open day, as well as 0:04:42.928 --> 0:04:46.858 onto the life ready platform. The Life Ready Hub is 0:04:46.858 --> 0:04:50.668 made up of engagement with families, as well as their 0:04:50.668 --> 0:04:55.078 service providers, to teach the independent skills to children. It's 0:04:55.078 --> 0:04:58.438 part of the expanded core curriculum. Um, and as Courtney mentioned, 0:04:58.438 --> 0:05:02.128 you know, there's nine areas which we've expanded into this 0:05:02.128 --> 0:05:06.658 wonderful platform. It's online, but it's interactive as well. For example, 0:05:06.658 --> 0:05:09.118 a child can listen to a podcast and they can 0:05:09.118 --> 0:05:13.348 interact with it with dancing moves, with talking. You know, 0:05:13.348 --> 0:05:16.528 the areas, um, of independence include things like how do 0:05:16.528 --> 0:05:18.988 you pack your bag for camp, that sort of thing. 0:05:18.988 --> 0:05:21.898 So we're talking about giving these skills to children from 0:05:21.898 --> 0:05:24.238 a very young age. And then as they move up 0:05:24.238 --> 0:05:27.928 through its intergenerational change that we're making, we have children 0:05:27.928 --> 0:05:31.288 that are ready to engage in employment. And yeah. 0:05:31.348 --> 0:05:33.748 Amish, I'll go to you. Could you give us a 0:05:33.748 --> 0:05:36.418 bit of an intro? Tell us a bit about your 0:05:36.418 --> 0:05:38.398 involvement in the day? 0:05:38.398 --> 0:05:40.948 Yes. So, hi. So as you all know, my name 0:05:40.948 --> 0:05:45.028 is Amish. And so my role in the Open Day 0:05:45.028 --> 0:05:49.558 for Vision Australia will be getting kids involved in text 0:05:49.558 --> 0:05:55.528 based games on computer and getting them familiar with, um, 0:05:55.528 --> 0:05:59.878 programs such as Zoomtext. And so my role will be 0:05:59.878 --> 0:06:03.988 just to get them familiar with the software and sort 0:06:03.988 --> 0:06:07.198 of help them out and get them engaged in some 0:06:07.198 --> 0:06:11.128 of these educational games that they can play for all ages. 0:06:11.158 --> 0:06:11.488 A lot of. 0:06:11.488 --> 0:06:14.548 Things there, and a lot of fun games for people 0:06:14.548 --> 0:06:17.698 to try out. So look forward to hearing about that. 0:06:17.698 --> 0:06:20.908 But for now, Donna, I'll come to you. Could you 0:06:20.908 --> 0:06:22.828 give us a bit of an intro and tell us 0:06:22.828 --> 0:06:25.648 about your involvement in the Open Day? 0:06:25.738 --> 0:06:29.758 Absolutely. So hello, my name is Donna Dyson and I 0:06:29.758 --> 0:06:33.568 am one of the national ambassadors for Vision Australia, which is. 0:06:33.698 --> 0:06:38.288 A role that I take very seriously and advocate and 0:06:38.288 --> 0:06:42.248 try and role model wherever I can best practice. And 0:06:42.248 --> 0:06:47.318 the enablement of folk with blind or low vision experiences. 0:06:47.318 --> 0:06:51.098 So that is my connection through to Vision Australia, who 0:06:51.098 --> 0:06:54.878 have been incredibly supportive for me from the very beginning 0:06:54.878 --> 0:06:59.648 of my sight loss journey. My world is all about children. 0:06:59.648 --> 0:07:03.278 I have served children and worked with children, which is 0:07:03.278 --> 0:07:07.118 my heart space and I believe just this incredible calling 0:07:07.118 --> 0:07:10.778 upon my life to do so, to do that, and 0:07:10.778 --> 0:07:13.298 it's a gift to be able to continue to do that, 0:07:13.298 --> 0:07:15.788 post my sight loss, and to be able to do 0:07:15.788 --> 0:07:18.278 it in such a significant way that I know that 0:07:18.278 --> 0:07:21.968 it reaches children sighted and not sighted all around the world. 0:07:21.968 --> 0:07:24.218 And that's a far greater reach than what I could 0:07:24.218 --> 0:07:26.768 probably be able to do as a lecturer at a 0:07:26.768 --> 0:07:29.558 university where we're teaching teachers how to teach. And then 0:07:29.558 --> 0:07:31.598 those teachers go out to the schools, and that's a 0:07:31.598 --> 0:07:35.978 pretty broad reach. But maybe my sight loss has been 0:07:35.978 --> 0:07:38.858 a blessing to be able to reach absolutely millions of 0:07:38.858 --> 0:07:41.858 children around the world. And I will never see them. 0:07:41.858 --> 0:07:43.808 I will never know them. I will never meet them. 0:07:43.808 --> 0:07:46.598 But I know they're there because of our statistics, and 0:07:46.598 --> 0:07:50.108 I have to wake up with a purpose and know 0:07:50.108 --> 0:07:52.898 that this is an incredible blessing and a privilege to 0:07:52.898 --> 0:07:56.258 be able to serve children in this way. Now, very 0:07:56.258 --> 0:07:58.598 different to the way that I previously did it. And 0:07:58.598 --> 0:08:01.988 I grieve my profession greatly, but this is a different 0:08:01.988 --> 0:08:05.048 way of serving. And so I'm really honored to be 0:08:05.048 --> 0:08:08.378 able to share some of that music at this wonderful 0:08:08.378 --> 0:08:11.678 gathering on June the 8th in my hometown of Brisbane, 0:08:11.678 --> 0:08:15.758 which is lovely with this wonderful team. And Courtney's guidance 0:08:15.758 --> 0:08:21.488 and leadership within the children's services is phenomenal. So I'm 0:08:21.488 --> 0:08:24.188 really excited to be able to work with this team 0:08:24.188 --> 0:08:28.088 and showcase some of the music for the little people. 0:08:28.088 --> 0:08:31.478 It'll be wonderful and their families, but it is something 0:08:31.478 --> 0:08:34.778 that that's a children's label is Spotty Kites. It's something 0:08:34.778 --> 0:08:39.068 that is very much tailored for families, carers, supporters, etc. 0:08:39.068 --> 0:08:41.888 it's not just for children, it's a very educated, it's 0:08:41.888 --> 0:08:44.348 a very holistic kind of approach. So this will be 0:08:44.348 --> 0:08:46.778 wonderful to be able to share and join in the day. 0:08:46.778 --> 0:08:50.138 Donna, thank you so much for sharing your story and 0:08:50.138 --> 0:08:53.768 the amazing things that you have been involved with and 0:08:53.768 --> 0:08:57.218 continue to be involved with going into the future, but 0:08:57.218 --> 0:08:59.558 for the time being, I think I'll go back to 0:08:59.558 --> 0:09:02.348 Courtney to wrap up. Courtney, if you could just give 0:09:02.348 --> 0:09:06.518 us the basic details of the open day and how 0:09:06.518 --> 0:09:09.068 can people find out a little bit more about it 0:09:09.068 --> 0:09:11.798 if they need to register all those sort of things? 0:09:12.068 --> 0:09:15.638 Yeah, absolutely. And just in summing up to the involvement 0:09:15.638 --> 0:09:19.148 of Mel and Mission Donna. So Mel, as she mentioned, 0:09:19.148 --> 0:09:23.108 will be on our sign up station enabling parents families 0:09:23.108 --> 0:09:26.918 to sign up for our Life ready hub alongside Trish 0:09:26.948 --> 0:09:30.188 and Mesh will be on our World Domination station, supporting 0:09:30.188 --> 0:09:33.248 kids to get involved in accessible gaming and other people 0:09:33.248 --> 0:09:35.828 who might be interested there too. And Donna will be 0:09:35.828 --> 0:09:40.208 both up on stage with spotty kites and also in 0:09:40.208 --> 0:09:44.018 our story station doing a reading for us and a mission. 0:09:44.018 --> 0:09:47.198 Donna will be, as I will be wandering about the 0:09:47.198 --> 0:09:50.378 site wearing a badge that says mentor. Ask me about 0:09:50.378 --> 0:09:55.148 my career. And that's an invitation to parents, families, educators, 0:09:55.148 --> 0:09:58.208 members of the public to learn a lot more about 0:09:58.208 --> 0:10:01.088 what is possible for people who are blind or have 0:10:01.088 --> 0:10:03.848 low vision, and certainly little people and young adults too, 0:10:03.878 --> 0:10:06.878 who might be interested in considering lots of different career 0:10:06.878 --> 0:10:11.618 options for themselves. So the day, just as a reminder, 0:10:11.618 --> 0:10:16.448 is on Saturday, the 8th of June 2024 at our 0:10:16.448 --> 0:10:21.998 Coop Guru site in Brisbane. So that's 373 Old Cleveland Road, 0:10:21.998 --> 0:10:26.138 Cooper to. Just to note that our parking area will 0:10:26.138 --> 0:10:29.828 actually be occupied with things like our stage for our 0:10:29.828 --> 0:10:35.018 live music, our outdoor seating area, our coffee and snack van, 0:10:35.018 --> 0:10:38.648 our sausage sizzle and a number of community partner stalls 0:10:38.648 --> 0:10:42.398 so they won't be any parking on site. So anybody 0:10:42.398 --> 0:10:45.368 who'd like to attend on the day can come via 0:10:45.368 --> 0:10:48.878 the 204 bus, which arrives right at our front door 0:10:48.878 --> 0:10:52.058 or just across the road. They can also get dropped 0:10:52.058 --> 0:10:56.258 off by taxis and rideshare at the rear entrance to 0:10:56.258 --> 0:11:00.818 our site, which is the very end of Talbot Street 0:11:00.818 --> 0:11:03.878 in Cubaroo. So if you ask your driver to bring 0:11:03.878 --> 0:11:06.308 you to the very end of Talbot Street in Cooper, 0:11:06.338 --> 0:11:09.068 that's our rear entrance and we'll have some guides there 0:11:09.068 --> 0:11:12.368 to guide you onto the site. And of course, there's 0:11:12.368 --> 0:11:15.368 lots of parking in the local area like Talbot Street, 0:11:15.368 --> 0:11:18.668 Leicester Street and also Cooper Square has some really great 0:11:18.668 --> 0:11:22.268 parking available. And if you'd like to register for the day, 0:11:22.268 --> 0:11:27.638 you can go on to Vision Australia's website at Vision Australia. 0:11:27.908 --> 0:11:30.818 Org and we have an event there. If you go 0:11:30.818 --> 0:11:34.588 to our events section and look for. V.A. open day 0:11:34.588 --> 0:11:37.108 in Peru. That's where you'll be able to find out 0:11:37.108 --> 0:11:40.408 more about the day itself and to register. Or you 0:11:40.408 --> 0:11:46.528 could simply email children and young people QLD at Vision Australia. Org. 0:11:46.528 --> 0:11:50.128 And I'll say that one more time it's children and 0:11:50.128 --> 0:11:55.348 young people QLD or one word at Vision Australia or 0:11:55.348 --> 0:11:56.848 one word.org. 0:11:56.908 --> 0:12:01.468 I've been speaking today with Courtney McKay, Mel Bligh, Alicia 0:12:01.468 --> 0:12:06.478 Morley and Donna Dawson all involved in the upcoming Vision 0:12:06.478 --> 0:12:10.948 Australia Open Day taking place in Brisbane at the corporate 0:12:10.978 --> 0:12:21.658 office on the 8th of June. I'm Sam Cully and 0:12:21.658 --> 0:12:26.548 you're listening to Talking Vision on Vision Australia Radio. Associated 0:12:26.548 --> 0:12:31.558 stations of Reading Radio and the Community Radio Network. I 0:12:31.558 --> 0:12:36.538 hope you enjoyed that conversation there with Courtney Ermisch, Donna 0:12:36.538 --> 0:12:41.908 and Mel. We only just scratched the surface of Donna's 0:12:41.908 --> 0:12:45.838 story on Talking Vision today, so if you'd love to 0:12:45.838 --> 0:12:49.408 hear the full interview, it will be available on the 0:12:49.408 --> 0:12:54.148 Vision Australia Podcast feed as an interview highlight, so make 0:12:54.148 --> 0:12:57.358 sure to look out for that one. Or if you'd 0:12:57.358 --> 0:13:00.778 love to listen to the whole program. Talking vision is 0:13:00.778 --> 0:13:06.838 available on the Vision Australia Radio website, VA radio.org. Or 0:13:06.838 --> 0:13:09.898 of course you can find the program on the podcast 0:13:09.898 --> 0:13:13.798 app of your choice or through the Vision Australia library. 0:13:13.798 --> 0:13:17.518 And now coming up next on Talking Vision. I speak 0:13:17.518 --> 0:13:23.008 with Barry from Vision Australia Radio in Bendigo. National Volunteer 0:13:23.008 --> 0:13:26.848 Week runs from the 20th to the 26th of May. 0:13:26.848 --> 0:13:30.808 And to mark the occasion today we're catching up with 0:13:30.808 --> 0:13:36.238 a volunteer from the Vision Australia radio service in Bendigo. 0:13:36.268 --> 0:13:40.108 His name is Barry Levinei and he's been involved with 0:13:40.108 --> 0:13:45.238 Vision Australia in numerous capacities for the past 18 years. 0:13:45.238 --> 0:13:50.068 And it's my pleasure to welcome Barry right now. Barry, 0:13:50.068 --> 0:13:53.908 welcome to Talking Vision. Thank you very much for your time. 0:13:54.508 --> 0:13:56.608 Pleasure to be here, Sam. Nice to speak to you. 0:13:56.638 --> 0:14:00.778 Now, firstly, Barry, tell us a little bit about yourself. 0:14:00.808 --> 0:14:04.258 Well, I'm a retired person now. I've been a volunteer 0:14:04.258 --> 0:14:08.308 at Vision Australia for getting on for 18 years. I'm 0:14:08.308 --> 0:14:11.548 in Bendigo now, but I started off in Kooyong. I 0:14:11.548 --> 0:14:16.078 have a variety of volunteering connections with Vision Australia. Your 0:14:16.078 --> 0:14:21.928 listeners may know my voice from the Bendigo Advertiser Sunraysia 0:14:21.928 --> 0:14:25.678 Daily program. I do that once a week on Wednesday afternoons. 0:14:25.678 --> 0:14:30.268 I do the Uncertainty Principle science program, alternate weeks. I'm 0:14:30.268 --> 0:14:34.318 a contributor to Cover to Cover, which Tim McQueen puts together, 0:14:34.318 --> 0:14:37.678 so I read stories for that. I also fill in 0:14:37.678 --> 0:14:41.038 on at various stages for things that need to be 0:14:41.038 --> 0:14:44.998 filled in for, if there's a shortage on somebody for 0:14:44.998 --> 0:14:48.508 online review. Midday to 1:00. As well as that I 0:14:48.508 --> 0:14:52.348 do reading or record books for the Vision Australia library. 0:14:52.348 --> 0:14:55.318 The last one I did was John Sylvester's book, The 0:14:55.318 --> 0:14:59.638 Naked City, and I read short stories for a zoom group. 0:14:59.638 --> 0:15:02.728 I read novels live at a day centre group in 0:15:02.728 --> 0:15:05.638 Bendigo once a week, and I sometimes drive the minibus 0:15:05.638 --> 0:15:08.548 for people to get to and from day centre groups 0:15:08.548 --> 0:15:11.278 here in Bendigo. That's about all that I do. 0:15:11.278 --> 0:15:15.448 Well, you do it all by the sounds. So. Yeah. No, it's, um, 0:15:15.448 --> 0:15:19.378 you keep yourself very busy. So all those years ago, 0:15:19.378 --> 0:15:23.638 18 years ago, what was it that got you into volunteering? 0:15:23.668 --> 0:15:27.208 I'd always been interested in radio, Sam. I sometimes think 0:15:27.208 --> 0:15:29.038 I should have tried to make a career of it 0:15:29.038 --> 0:15:31.078 instead of doing what I did, which paid the bills. 0:15:31.078 --> 0:15:33.718 But I sometimes think I would have been better suited 0:15:33.718 --> 0:15:37.288 to a radio career. Anyway, I decided that I'd get 0:15:37.288 --> 0:15:41.218 into that. So I rang vision and I spoke to Anastasia, 0:15:41.218 --> 0:15:45.298 who's still here, volunteer coordinator, and she said there were 0:15:45.298 --> 0:15:48.028 no on air openings at that stage, but there were 0:15:48.028 --> 0:15:51.568 vacancies for technical operators, the people behind the scenes who 0:15:51.568 --> 0:15:53.578 play the ads and pushed the buttons and make sure 0:15:53.578 --> 0:15:56.128 you can hear everybody talking and those sorts of things. 0:15:56.128 --> 0:15:57.898 So for a few weeks, I came in and I 0:15:57.898 --> 0:16:00.928 was trained by a very nice man named Henry, and 0:16:00.928 --> 0:16:03.838 then I was put with a program on Thursday nights, 0:16:03.838 --> 0:16:06.958 and the team read letters to the editor and the 0:16:06.958 --> 0:16:10.408 Green Guide, and then some opinion pieces later in the evening. 0:16:10.408 --> 0:16:14.098 So I arrived at about 6:00 at night, and we 0:16:14.098 --> 0:16:18.328 knocked off a ten and other programs took over. After 0:16:18.328 --> 0:16:21.568 a while, I auditioned and became a reader and did 0:16:21.568 --> 0:16:25.258 all kinds of interesting programs. That's one of the benefits 0:16:25.258 --> 0:16:27.898 of volunteering. I don't think I've ever done a program 0:16:27.898 --> 0:16:30.958 where I didn't enjoy or learn something, and so I 0:16:30.958 --> 0:16:36.238 did the financial supplements from newspapers, I read those, I 0:16:36.238 --> 0:16:40.498 read time magazine for a while, and I remember doing 0:16:40.498 --> 0:16:43.978 a couple of the choice, the consumer magazine programs and 0:16:43.978 --> 0:16:47.128 something that I probably wouldn't have read otherwise. And I 0:16:47.128 --> 0:16:50.158 read all about the ingredients in chocolate cake. I remember, 0:16:50.158 --> 0:16:52.348 I'm not sure if you were skilled in the kitchen, Sam, 0:16:52.348 --> 0:16:54.568 but I occasionally get in there and have a go 0:16:54.568 --> 0:16:56.668 at things. Yeah, when you make a chocolate cake, you 0:16:56.668 --> 0:16:59.278 have things like eggs and cocoa and flour and stuff 0:16:59.278 --> 0:17:02.818 like that. But all the in the commercial ones there's 0:17:02.818 --> 0:17:08.728 stabilizer number 11777345992 and preservatives and all kinds of other things. 0:17:08.728 --> 0:17:12.028 So it was interesting to learn that. And then just 0:17:12.028 --> 0:17:16.498 before 2010 started, Robin, who was the station manager at 0:17:16.528 --> 0:17:18.928 that stage, said, has anyone got ideas for a program? 0:17:18.928 --> 0:17:21.598 And I had worked in the computer industry for many years, 0:17:21.598 --> 0:17:25.258 and I thought it was ten years since the Y2K bug. 0:17:25.258 --> 0:17:27.628 And so I organized to interview a friend of mine 0:17:27.628 --> 0:17:30.178 who had been very involved in the software at that stage. 0:17:30.178 --> 0:17:33.118 And so we did a program about the Y2K bug. 0:17:33.118 --> 0:17:35.998 And Robin said, well, we'd like you to do some 0:17:35.998 --> 0:17:38.608 more programs. And I thought I could do maybe half 0:17:38.608 --> 0:17:41.068 an hour a month. And she said, oh, we'd like 0:17:41.068 --> 0:17:44.818 an hour a week. So I wondered what I could do. 0:17:44.818 --> 0:17:47.458 And a friend of mine said, well, we're both interested 0:17:47.458 --> 0:17:50.428 in science, why don't we put that on? And so 0:17:50.428 --> 0:17:54.568 the uncertainty principle was born, and that's been going for 0:17:54.658 --> 0:17:57.748 about 14 years now, a bit over 14 years perhaps. 0:17:57.748 --> 0:18:00.538 All right. So that's how I got into things. 0:18:00.778 --> 0:18:05.218 Yeah. Okay. So that uncertainty principle that's a baby of 0:18:05.218 --> 0:18:08.818 yours and something it is no doubt close to your heart. 0:18:08.818 --> 0:18:13.408 So what's it been like being involved with this program. 0:18:13.408 --> 0:18:17.458 You've got such an enthusiasm for and so much professional 0:18:17.458 --> 0:18:20.788 knowledge that you can bring to that program. Being involved 0:18:20.788 --> 0:18:23.908 with that for, as you say, 14 years now, that 0:18:23.908 --> 0:18:26.518 must be an absolute highlight of your life. 0:18:26.518 --> 0:18:29.608 Yes, yes it is. And it also gave me an 0:18:29.608 --> 0:18:33.538 opportunity to contact people I wouldn't have otherwise rung. I 0:18:33.538 --> 0:18:37.378 haven't done any interviews since Covid or since coming to Bendigo. 0:18:37.408 --> 0:18:40.138 I'm still sorting out some technical stuff on that, but 0:18:40.138 --> 0:18:42.808 I got an opportunity to ring up all kinds of 0:18:42.808 --> 0:18:46.378 different scientists and to interview them live and ask them 0:18:46.378 --> 0:18:49.288 the questions I wanted to ask them. And so that 0:18:49.288 --> 0:18:54.628 was terrific. I've spoken to a nanotechnologist who works with tiny, tiny, 0:18:54.628 --> 0:18:59.068 tiny things, nanotechnology, things that are much smaller than a 0:18:59.068 --> 0:19:04.018 millimeter is the area that they're in. I've spoken to astronomers. 0:19:04.018 --> 0:19:08.248 I've spoken to medical researchers of various kinds. I did 0:19:08.248 --> 0:19:10.498 a series on the brain, a series of interviews on 0:19:10.498 --> 0:19:13.558 the brain and the mind with a professor from Adelaide. 0:19:13.558 --> 0:19:16.588 And I've really enjoyed that side of it. And I 0:19:16.588 --> 0:19:18.898 rarely read an article that I don't get something out 0:19:18.898 --> 0:19:21.958 of at the moment I'm reading, or I read from 0:19:21.958 --> 0:19:26.398 the Scientific American, the New Scientist, Cosmos, which is an 0:19:26.398 --> 0:19:29.728 Australian science magazine, and anything else that comes to hand, 0:19:29.728 --> 0:19:32.668 anything out of the press or things like that. I 0:19:32.668 --> 0:19:35.578 remember one day I read a letter by a scientist 0:19:35.578 --> 0:19:38.698 named Richard Feynman, and he was one of the scientists 0:19:38.698 --> 0:19:41.788 who witnessed the first atomic bomb test. And this was 0:19:41.788 --> 0:19:45.298 a letter to his family. And and that was absolutely fascinating. 0:19:45.298 --> 0:19:48.238 I remember reading that in the studio. And whilst you're 0:19:48.238 --> 0:19:51.448 reading in the studio, the other presenters are often preparing 0:19:51.448 --> 0:19:53.908 the next article or whatever. But when I looked up 0:19:53.908 --> 0:19:56.968 after reading that, I had their attention too. So that 0:19:56.968 --> 0:20:00.118 was a fascinating article to have read. 0:20:00.118 --> 0:20:05.368 Following on from that, Barry, do you have another absolute 0:20:05.368 --> 0:20:10.528 favorite memory of yours from your 18 years of volunteering 0:20:10.528 --> 0:20:13.168 at Vision Australia that will stick with you for the 0:20:13.168 --> 0:20:16.258 rest of your life? I know it's almost impossible to 0:20:16.258 --> 0:20:17.398 pick just one. 0:20:17.398 --> 0:20:20.788 I think the things I remember as when listeners have 0:20:20.788 --> 0:20:24.598 contacted me and said that they've really enjoyed something that 0:20:24.598 --> 0:20:28.588 we've read. I read one environmental article once and it 0:20:28.588 --> 0:20:30.478 was a big one three quarters of an hour. So 0:20:30.478 --> 0:20:32.848 it was quite a long part of the program, and 0:20:32.848 --> 0:20:34.678 I try and do a diversity, but I thought that 0:20:34.678 --> 0:20:37.348 was so important. I'd read that one out, and a 0:20:37.348 --> 0:20:39.898 listener contacted me and said that it was something that 0:20:39.898 --> 0:20:42.988 they really got something out of, so that was valuable. 0:20:42.988 --> 0:20:45.568 Not long after we started, I got a letter from 0:20:45.568 --> 0:20:48.058 or we got a letter from a listener who had 0:20:48.058 --> 0:20:50.188 said they'd been with us since the beginning and really 0:20:50.188 --> 0:20:53.308 enjoyed the program and got things out of it. So 0:20:53.308 --> 0:20:56.368 knowing that what I do and enjoy is a value 0:20:56.368 --> 0:20:59.608 and interest to other people is probably the highlight. And 0:20:59.608 --> 0:21:02.938 that's the thing with volunteering and giving you, you almost 0:21:02.938 --> 0:21:06.268 always get more out than you put in. I've volunteered 0:21:06.268 --> 0:21:08.548 and sometimes you think, oh, I'd really rather not be 0:21:08.548 --> 0:21:10.828 doing this today. I'd rather read my book or do 0:21:10.828 --> 0:21:14.218 something else. But I always enjoy doing the volunteering and 0:21:14.218 --> 0:21:17.018 I really get a lot of satisfaction and pleasure. Of 0:21:17.018 --> 0:21:17.708 what I do. 0:21:17.708 --> 0:21:22.298 And of course, these sort of stations and services are 0:21:22.298 --> 0:21:28.718 not possible without the dedicated work of volunteers such as yourself. Barry. 0:21:28.718 --> 0:21:33.218 And as we celebrate National Volunteer Week, it is worth 0:21:33.218 --> 0:21:37.658 highlighting the importance of volunteers to a service like Vision 0:21:37.658 --> 0:21:41.768 Australia Radio. So how important is it for you and 0:21:41.768 --> 0:21:46.568 your colleagues, Barry, to have these hard working, dedicated volunteers 0:21:46.568 --> 0:21:51.098 working every week to provide such a vital service to 0:21:51.098 --> 0:21:53.648 the print disabled community? Well, I. 0:21:53.648 --> 0:21:56.648 Don't think we could afford to do. We, being Vision Australia, 0:21:56.648 --> 0:21:59.378 could afford to do this commercially. If you had to 0:21:59.378 --> 0:22:01.628 pay all the announcers and the time that's put in, 0:22:01.628 --> 0:22:03.548 then I don't think you'd be able to do that. 0:22:03.548 --> 0:22:07.058 Very important service. And I know it's an important service 0:22:07.058 --> 0:22:10.778 from speaking to people who listen to Vision Australia radio 0:22:10.778 --> 0:22:14.018 and enjoy it and get information out of it. If 0:22:14.018 --> 0:22:16.568 that wasn't there, that would be a serious gap in 0:22:16.568 --> 0:22:21.008 their lives. I've spoken to vision impaired people and clients 0:22:21.008 --> 0:22:24.098 of Vision Australia, who obviously used to enjoy reading a 0:22:24.098 --> 0:22:27.218 great deal, and now that their eyesight has faded or 0:22:27.218 --> 0:22:30.428 they've contracted some complaint, that means they can't see so 0:22:30.428 --> 0:22:34.298 well anymore. Vision Australia radio fills a hole for them 0:22:34.298 --> 0:22:38.078 that would be very difficult to fill otherwise, and reading 0:22:38.078 --> 0:22:41.168 the local paper, which I do on Wednesdays, we read 0:22:41.168 --> 0:22:44.438 the Bendigo Advertiser and the Sunraysia Daily, which is the 0:22:44.438 --> 0:22:47.888 local paper in Mildura. People often tell me that the 0:22:47.888 --> 0:22:50.708 death notices that we read out each week. It's very 0:22:50.708 --> 0:22:54.098 important for them. Some of our clients are older people 0:22:54.098 --> 0:22:58.568 and have friends or others who may pass away, and 0:22:58.568 --> 0:23:01.028 it's important for them to be up to date and 0:23:01.028 --> 0:23:03.368 to know that it's not the sort of thing that 0:23:03.368 --> 0:23:07.718 would be available any other way. So death notices and 0:23:07.718 --> 0:23:11.468 other local news items like road closures and things like 0:23:11.468 --> 0:23:14.948 that are of great interest to people in our listening area, 0:23:14.948 --> 0:23:16.988 and they wouldn't be able to get that information any 0:23:16.988 --> 0:23:17.648 other way. 0:23:17.648 --> 0:23:21.788 Certainly. Well, thank you very much for your time today, Barry. 0:23:21.788 --> 0:23:26.288 I've been speaking today with Barry Levinei, the one of 0:23:26.288 --> 0:23:31.418 the hard working volunteers at the Vision Australia radio service 0:23:31.418 --> 0:23:42.338 in Bendigo. It is with deep sadness that we announce 0:23:42.338 --> 0:23:48.038 Dorothy Hamilton OAM has passed away at the age of 97. 0:23:48.068 --> 0:23:52.148 Many of you will know Dorothy through her excellent reputation 0:23:52.148 --> 0:23:57.368 nationally as a highly experienced music teacher and transcriber who 0:23:57.368 --> 0:24:00.968 kept high standards, as well as sparring those standards in 0:24:00.968 --> 0:24:05.558 her students and colleagues in the 50s. Dorothy taught at 0:24:05.558 --> 0:24:10.268 Korowa Anglican Girls School, where she filled a maternity position, 0:24:10.268 --> 0:24:14.528 teaching singing, choir, piano and recorder. At the end of 0:24:14.528 --> 0:24:17.858 her term, the headmistress liked her so much that she 0:24:17.858 --> 0:24:20.978 is reported to have said the only replacement she would 0:24:20.978 --> 0:24:25.358 hire for the position was another blind person, and true 0:24:25.358 --> 0:24:29.318 to her word, Allan, Dorothy's brother who was also blind, 0:24:29.318 --> 0:24:34.088 was the successful incumbent and taught for a further nine years. 0:24:34.118 --> 0:24:37.898 Her work at Vision Australia began in transcription as a 0:24:37.898 --> 0:24:43.058 proofreader on the 8th of August 1977. She began with 0:24:43.058 --> 0:24:45.848 the frame and stylus and then learned to work with 0:24:45.848 --> 0:24:50.348 the Perkins Brailler. Then, in the early 90s, Dorothy introduced 0:24:50.348 --> 0:24:55.508 the use of refreshable braille to Braille music. Transcription. Dorothy 0:24:55.508 --> 0:24:59.228 was a pioneer using this technology, and Australia was the 0:24:59.228 --> 0:25:03.398 first to adopt such a process whereby blind people transcribe 0:25:03.398 --> 0:25:07.748 their own music rather than perforating a sighted employee's work. 0:25:07.838 --> 0:25:12.218 Dorothy's work. Training and transcribing with volunteer readers over the 0:25:12.218 --> 0:25:17.738 45 years she transcribed with Vision Australia is really very special, 0:25:17.738 --> 0:25:20.918 and the friendships they formed during the shared task of 0:25:20.918 --> 0:25:25.658 completing work for students and adults all over Australia were lifelong. 0:25:25.928 --> 0:25:30.668 In 1986, the National Braille Music Camp was established to 0:25:30.668 --> 0:25:34.868 immerse braille reading upper primary and secondary school aged students 0:25:34.868 --> 0:25:39.638 in Braille music, along with other blind colleagues. Dorothy would 0:25:39.638 --> 0:25:43.538 transcribe the majority of the camp music each year. She 0:25:43.538 --> 0:25:47.258 also encouraged and greatly assisted one of her readers, John 0:25:47.258 --> 0:25:50.618 Shute OAM, who took it upon himself to learn the 0:25:50.618 --> 0:25:54.248 Braille music code and transcribe music for the camp for 0:25:54.248 --> 0:25:58.598 many years. Dorothy taught for over 25 years at the 0:25:58.598 --> 0:26:02.138 National Braille Music Camp, and many of the students who 0:26:02.138 --> 0:26:06.578 resided interstate would have regular phone contact with her during 0:26:06.578 --> 0:26:10.118 the year in order to gain assistance with completing their 0:26:10.118 --> 0:26:15.458 Ameb theory examinations. Students would send her their work, and 0:26:15.458 --> 0:26:18.218 she would correct it over the phone when a Braille 0:26:18.218 --> 0:26:21.698 music teacher was not available to them in their area. 0:26:21.728 --> 0:26:25.778 Dorothy made a huge contribution to Braille music in Australia. 0:26:25.808 --> 0:26:29.018 Her encouragement of blind students to take on music as 0:26:29.018 --> 0:26:32.258 a career is something many of us will remember, but 0:26:32.258 --> 0:26:36.338 also her emphasis on the importance of maintaining high standards 0:26:36.338 --> 0:26:41.468 of Braille music transcription and application. In theory and performance. 0:26:41.498 --> 0:26:45.818 Dorothy was a true inspiration to the Braille music community 0:26:45.818 --> 0:26:50.508 of Australia and will be deeply missed. And that's all 0:26:50.508 --> 0:26:53.628 the time we have for today. You've been listening to 0:26:53.628 --> 0:26:58.788 Talking Vision. Talking vision is a Vision Australia radio production. 0:26:58.788 --> 0:27:02.778 Thanks to all involved with putting the show together every week. 0:27:02.778 --> 0:27:06.108 And remember, we love hearing from you. So please get 0:27:06.108 --> 0:27:09.918 in touch any time on our email at Talking Vision. 0:27:09.918 --> 0:27:14.838 At Vision australia.org. That's talking vision all one word at 0:27:14.838 --> 0:27:19.938 Vision australia.org. But until next week it's Sam Colly saying 0:27:19.938 --> 0:27:20.928 bye for now. 0:27:24.778 --> 0:27:28.528 You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us any time 0:27:28.528 --> 0:27:38.308 during business hours on 1300 847 406. That's one (300) 847-4106 or by 0:27:38.308 --> 0:27:43.168 visiting Vision australia.org. That's Vision australia.org.