WEBVTT - Talking Vision 762 Week Beginning 6th of January 2025 0:00:13.320 --> 0:00:18.920 From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's 0:00:18.919 --> 0:00:20.919 your host, Sam Colley. 0:00:23.400 --> 0:00:26.520 Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And 0:00:26.520 --> 0:00:29.520 for the next half hour, we talk matters of blindness 0:00:29.520 --> 0:00:30.520 and low vision. 0:00:30.760 --> 0:00:34.600 Music can have such a profound impact on people. And 0:00:34.600 --> 0:00:37.000 you don't have to be a musician by any means 0:00:37.000 --> 0:00:39.639 for that to be true. But to use music in 0:00:39.640 --> 0:00:43.519 a therapeutic context is such a privilege for me. I 0:00:43.519 --> 0:00:46.720 think what makes music therapy so crucial is that it 0:00:46.720 --> 0:00:49.479 can be an incredible way to connect with someone, and 0:00:49.479 --> 0:00:52.720 to give them a voice, when sometimes other therapies may 0:00:52.720 --> 0:00:55.959 not have been the answer. Music therapy can be such 0:00:55.959 --> 0:00:59.080 a motivating way of achieving these functional outcomes. 0:00:59.440 --> 0:01:03.400 Welcome to the program. This week we feature a very 0:01:03.400 --> 0:01:07.830 important conversation, and you might have heard about this in 0:01:07.830 --> 0:01:12.149 the news recently. We're talking about music therapy with music 0:01:12.149 --> 0:01:16.390 therapist Emily Shanahan, somebody I've had a great deal of 0:01:16.390 --> 0:01:20.390 respect for over the past two decades with her work 0:01:20.390 --> 0:01:25.830 in music therapy. And that conversation is coming up very shortly. 0:01:25.830 --> 0:01:29.390 So make sure to stick around. And then after we 0:01:29.429 --> 0:01:33.270 hear from Emily, Maureen from the library is back to 0:01:33.310 --> 0:01:37.790 preview some new events coming up in the Vision Australia 0:01:37.830 --> 0:01:42.830 library for members in 2025. And on that book theme, 0:01:42.990 --> 0:01:47.350 we finish up with a reader recommended from Francis Caitlin. 0:01:47.910 --> 0:01:54.790 I hope you'll enjoy this week's episode of Talking Vision. 0:01:56.590 --> 0:02:00.630 Following the news in recent weeks that music and art 0:02:00.670 --> 0:02:06.300 therapies were currently under review by the NDIS. Questions have 0:02:06.300 --> 0:02:11.380 been posed around the evidence that music and art therapies 0:02:11.500 --> 0:02:16.300 provide such a vital service, which has been responded to 0:02:16.340 --> 0:02:21.380 in overwhelming fashion by not only therapists but so many 0:02:21.380 --> 0:02:26.180 participants out there over the years, myself included, who have 0:02:26.220 --> 0:02:31.500 benefited so much from music therapy. And in that vein, 0:02:31.500 --> 0:02:36.260 it's my absolute pleasure to welcome somebody I've known for 0:02:36.300 --> 0:02:43.860 quite a long time. Music therapist Emily Shanahan to Talking vision. Emily. Hello. 0:02:43.900 --> 0:02:47.220 Welcome to Talking Vision. Thanks so much for your time. 0:02:47.780 --> 0:02:49.980 Oh, it's great to be here, Sam. Thank you so 0:02:49.980 --> 0:02:51.220 much for the invitation. 0:02:51.380 --> 0:02:54.460 It's great to connect up with you. Let's just get 0:02:54.460 --> 0:02:57.940 a bit of an overview of yourself and your work 0:02:57.940 --> 0:02:59.740 in the music therapy space. 0:03:00.220 --> 0:03:03.140 Well, I have been a music therapist for a very 0:03:03.140 --> 0:03:06.740 long time now. I think where we first crossed paths 0:03:06.740 --> 0:03:10.859 was about 24 years ago. The vibe in Burwood. 0:03:11.020 --> 0:03:11.980 That's right. Yep. 0:03:12.540 --> 0:03:15.460 And, um. Yeah, it sounds crazy that it's that long ago. 0:03:15.620 --> 0:03:16.300 It does. Really? 0:03:16.580 --> 0:03:19.780 I'm still. Yeah, I'm still working in the field, and 0:03:19.780 --> 0:03:22.380 I've spent a fair bit of time in specialist schools 0:03:22.420 --> 0:03:27.340 and pediatric hospitals and in early intervention. I've been doing 0:03:27.340 --> 0:03:29.620 on occasions a bit of teaching at Melbourne Uni in 0:03:29.620 --> 0:03:35.140 the subjects of clinical improvisation and simulated practicum. And I'm 0:03:35.140 --> 0:03:39.260 currently working in early intervention in a community healthcare setting. 0:03:39.820 --> 0:03:44.860 Oh, fantastic. And, um, let's just go into a bit 0:03:44.860 --> 0:03:48.900 about what we are here to chat about today. Now, 0:03:49.220 --> 0:03:53.460 people have no doubt probably followed the news recently, in 0:03:53.460 --> 0:03:57.100 the past few weeks with a lot of I guess 0:03:57.100 --> 0:04:01.890 uncertainty is the word we'd use around the future of 0:04:02.010 --> 0:04:07.570 music and art therapies going into 2025. So I'd just 0:04:07.570 --> 0:04:11.850 like to get some thoughts from yourself, and I suppose 0:04:12.210 --> 0:04:16.170 the sector and other colleagues of yours and how you've 0:04:16.170 --> 0:04:20.330 reacted to this recent news regarding the funding changes. 0:04:21.010 --> 0:04:23.290 Yeah, I think I mean, you really hit the nail 0:04:23.290 --> 0:04:26.890 on the head with the word uncertainty because it was 0:04:26.890 --> 0:04:29.810 a complete shock when we found out about this, that 0:04:29.810 --> 0:04:33.170 the funding was going to be cut. And as a result, 0:04:33.170 --> 0:04:36.770 it's been a really challenging couple of weeks for music therapists, 0:04:36.770 --> 0:04:40.530 but also for our participants who are now feeling a 0:04:40.530 --> 0:04:43.170 little bit on edge, like there will be 8000 participants 0:04:43.170 --> 0:04:46.610 who will be impacted by funding cuts if this goes ahead. 0:04:47.330 --> 0:04:50.610 And so, I mean, that is an enormous number of 0:04:50.610 --> 0:04:53.770 people who are going to be really, seriously impacted. The 0:04:53.770 --> 0:04:58.320 Music Therapy Association has been incredible. Like their response is amazing. 0:04:58.640 --> 0:05:01.760 As registered music therapist, we're pretty used to having to 0:05:01.800 --> 0:05:06.520 fight for our cause, but this has really been extreme 0:05:06.520 --> 0:05:09.000 as a positive. I guess the support that we've felt 0:05:09.000 --> 0:05:13.080 from each other and the community has been incredible. And 0:05:13.080 --> 0:05:16.280 our petition to keep music therapy as an NDIS funded 0:05:16.280 --> 0:05:20.560 therapeutic support is it's now reached 58,000 signatures. 0:05:21.320 --> 0:05:25.560 Oh my God, that's incredible. No, that's, um, that's really 0:05:25.560 --> 0:05:30.200 pleasing to hear that it's gotten such a really amazing 0:05:30.200 --> 0:05:33.520 response like that. But it really does speak to the 0:05:33.520 --> 0:05:39.000 importance of music therapy. And this ties into something you 0:05:39.000 --> 0:05:42.320 and I are both acutely aware of. And that's why 0:05:42.360 --> 0:05:46.440 music therapy is so crucial to so many people in 0:05:46.440 --> 0:05:50.480 the community. Now let's go into that because there's so 0:05:50.480 --> 0:05:54.240 much we can unpack here. There's so many different aspects, 0:05:54.240 --> 0:05:57.270 and I know the impact that it's had for me, 0:05:57.270 --> 0:06:00.270 but I'd just love to get your thoughts and go 0:06:00.270 --> 0:06:03.910 to the heart of why it's so important, and why 0:06:03.910 --> 0:06:07.230 it really means so much to be involved in that sector. 0:06:07.790 --> 0:06:12.750 Yeah. Great question, I think. I mean, music can have 0:06:12.750 --> 0:06:16.310 such a profound impact on people. And you don't have 0:06:16.310 --> 0:06:18.470 to be a musician by any means for that to 0:06:18.470 --> 0:06:21.790 be true. But to use music in the therapeutic context 0:06:21.830 --> 0:06:25.030 is such a privilege for me. I think what makes 0:06:25.030 --> 0:06:28.310 music therapy so crucial is that it can be an 0:06:28.310 --> 0:06:31.150 incredible way to connect with someone, and to give them 0:06:31.150 --> 0:06:34.990 a voice, when sometimes other therapies may not have been 0:06:34.990 --> 0:06:37.390 the answer. And I think we're hearing a lot of 0:06:37.390 --> 0:06:39.790 stories about this at the moment in the news. So 0:06:39.790 --> 0:06:42.750 many participants saying I couldn't access other things. I couldn't 0:06:42.750 --> 0:06:46.270 you know, I think music therapy can be such a 0:06:46.270 --> 0:06:50.349 motivating way of achieving these functional outcomes. And look, that's 0:06:50.350 --> 0:06:53.830 the language that's really important to funding supports like the Ndia. 0:06:53.830 --> 0:06:58.140 Is that functional outcomes, those things like improved participation and 0:06:58.140 --> 0:07:02.300 independence in daily practical activities. So this is what's being funded. 0:07:02.420 --> 0:07:05.660 And as a therapist that we're really trying to prove 0:07:05.660 --> 0:07:08.659 that what we're doing is impacting the daily lives of 0:07:08.660 --> 0:07:09.660 our participants. 0:07:10.220 --> 0:07:14.020 And I must say, I'd vouch for that 100%. You know, 0:07:14.020 --> 0:07:17.300 this is something I've gotten involved in since a very 0:07:17.460 --> 0:07:21.340 young age. And I think without music therapy, there's a 0:07:21.340 --> 0:07:24.980 bunch of doors that wouldn't have been opened. Although, you know, 0:07:25.020 --> 0:07:28.860 I have always been quite musically inclined. I've had perfect 0:07:28.860 --> 0:07:32.300 pitch and all that sort of thing. But responding to that, 0:07:32.300 --> 0:07:35.940 when you're 3 or 4 and then people sort of think, oh, okay, there's, 0:07:35.940 --> 0:07:38.780 you know, something there. So it moves on to the 0:07:38.780 --> 0:07:42.740 next kind of thing. And having that involvement with other 0:07:42.740 --> 0:07:46.300 people as well, that social element and, you know, making 0:07:46.300 --> 0:07:50.340 music together. And and that's just been so fun as well. 0:07:50.340 --> 0:07:53.730 And that was just, you know, have memories that last 0:07:53.770 --> 0:07:57.250 a lifetime. And then one of those people is now 0:07:57.250 --> 0:08:00.450 a world touring. You know, singer in a rock band 0:08:00.450 --> 0:08:03.010 and you just think, oh my God. Well, that just 0:08:03.010 --> 0:08:07.250 wouldn't have been possible without music therapy. And there's so 0:08:07.250 --> 0:08:10.530 much to unpack and so many great stories to share 0:08:10.530 --> 0:08:12.210 and all that sort of thing as well. 0:08:12.770 --> 0:08:15.090 Would it be okay for me to say, Sam? Yeah. 0:08:16.010 --> 0:08:18.890 So I think when you met me in 2001 and 0:08:18.890 --> 0:08:21.890 we there was a choir and a few performances that 0:08:21.930 --> 0:08:25.050 happened and a lot of laughing and learning. I think 0:08:25.050 --> 0:08:27.410 from that group there are quite a number who are 0:08:27.410 --> 0:08:29.730 working professionally in music. 0:08:29.930 --> 0:08:30.370 Yes. 0:08:30.410 --> 0:08:33.650 And I mean, that's just incredible that talking of functional 0:08:33.689 --> 0:08:37.369 goals that, you know, people have it now is their vocation. Yeah, 0:08:37.410 --> 0:08:41.290 I learnt a lot in that setting and look perfect pitch. 0:08:41.290 --> 0:08:43.769 How amazing. Not a skill that I have, but so 0:08:43.770 --> 0:08:48.009 many people at rehab had these incredible skills that that 0:08:48.010 --> 0:08:51.010 it was just beautiful using music to embrace that together. 0:08:51.250 --> 0:08:54.650 That's exactly it. And, you know, one of those was 0:08:54.770 --> 0:08:59.089 the late, great Dorothy Hamilton, who sadly left us a 0:08:59.089 --> 0:09:02.929 few months back now. She had such a profound impact 0:09:02.929 --> 0:09:06.250 on Braille music and getting kids who are totally blind 0:09:06.250 --> 0:09:09.689 and getting them into music and teaching them that music 0:09:09.689 --> 0:09:14.770 is accessible in that way. And, um, absolutely. We had 0:09:14.770 --> 0:09:19.290 a conversation with one of the transcribers of Braille music, 0:09:19.290 --> 0:09:23.290 Geordie Howell, who works at Vision Australia, and she's quite 0:09:23.290 --> 0:09:26.610 a central figure or has been in the braille music 0:09:26.609 --> 0:09:31.010 camps over the past almost two decades now, both as 0:09:31.010 --> 0:09:34.689 a student and going back and helping out as a teacher. 0:09:34.689 --> 0:09:38.770 So there's so many different connections and ways that Braille 0:09:38.770 --> 0:09:42.449 music can interface with other parts of, you know, the 0:09:42.449 --> 0:09:46.689 music therapy space. And so that's that's also quite interesting. 0:09:46.770 --> 0:09:49.960 What sort of things would you have to say in 0:09:50.000 --> 0:09:54.919 terms of music therapy in particular with relation to blindness 0:09:54.920 --> 0:09:57.679 and low vision. I know we've spoken a bit about 0:09:57.719 --> 0:10:01.520 the interactions with people through our vibe, but what sort 0:10:01.520 --> 0:10:04.120 of things have really stood out for you over the 0:10:04.120 --> 0:10:08.040 decades in terms of how those two kind of interact? 0:10:08.079 --> 0:10:10.520 Thinking about it in terms of the language that we're 0:10:10.520 --> 0:10:13.959 needing to use with the NDIS and those functional outcomes. 0:10:14.240 --> 0:10:16.880 I've been doing some work with a young student who 0:10:16.880 --> 0:10:20.999 is blind, and it's about those daily supports around, you know, 0:10:21.040 --> 0:10:23.479 how you might have a shower or how you might 0:10:23.479 --> 0:10:26.200 go into a public space and things that you need 0:10:26.199 --> 0:10:29.520 to think about. So we might do chanting or breathwork 0:10:29.520 --> 0:10:33.880 and relaxation activities around that, or we might create songs 0:10:33.880 --> 0:10:37.000 together to the point where they can be used independently 0:10:37.000 --> 0:10:40.959 to help with those goals. And I think in terms 0:10:40.959 --> 0:10:44.479 of accessibility, I think music is just something for so 0:10:44.479 --> 0:10:47.599 many people that I've worked with has just been particularly 0:10:47.750 --> 0:10:51.309 Accessible because there are just so many skills in that area. 0:10:51.829 --> 0:10:56.030 Finally, Emily, I think we'll get back to particularly what 0:10:56.030 --> 0:11:00.750 you and others in the music therapy space are hoping for, 0:11:00.790 --> 0:11:05.270 anticipating in terms of next steps that you'd like to 0:11:05.270 --> 0:11:10.350 see from the government and from the Ndia going forward 0:11:10.349 --> 0:11:14.230 in the next weeks and months to come. 0:11:14.270 --> 0:11:17.309 I guess ultimately what we're hoping for would be for 0:11:17.309 --> 0:11:20.550 this decision to be reversed. Yes. And for the government 0:11:20.550 --> 0:11:24.670 to keep music therapy as an NDIS funded therapeutic support. 0:11:25.069 --> 0:11:28.589 Our association did meet with Minister Bill shorten recently, and 0:11:28.589 --> 0:11:31.630 he did acknowledge the importance of music therapy as an 0:11:31.630 --> 0:11:35.070 evidence based support. And now there's going to be an 0:11:35.069 --> 0:11:38.110 independent review that will maintain and ensure the quality of 0:11:38.109 --> 0:11:43.390 the therapeutic services. So Doctor Stephen Duckett has been appointed 0:11:43.390 --> 0:11:47.300 to review the evidence, and the Amta has requested that 0:11:47.300 --> 0:11:50.699 he provide some copies of evidence that founded why this 0:11:50.699 --> 0:11:54.699 decision happened originally. But yeah, we also hope, I guess, 0:11:54.699 --> 0:11:57.300 that he meet with participants and their families to hear 0:11:57.300 --> 0:12:00.380 firsthand about the work that we're doing and the impact 0:12:00.380 --> 0:12:04.300 that that can have. And I finally, I'd say probably 0:12:04.300 --> 0:12:06.900 as an allied health profession, that we're fighting to have 0:12:06.900 --> 0:12:10.339 the same standards and review processes as colleagues, for example, 0:12:10.339 --> 0:12:14.059 those in speech pathology or occupational therapy. So, yeah, we're 0:12:14.059 --> 0:12:16.979 hoping it will be a very comprehensive review and that 0:12:16.979 --> 0:12:20.900 will be consulted through the decision making process. And I 0:12:20.900 --> 0:12:23.980 think we need some time really before any changes happen 0:12:23.979 --> 0:12:26.660 in the pricing guidelines. Yeah. 0:12:26.660 --> 0:12:29.740 And Emily, if people would love to find out a 0:12:29.740 --> 0:12:33.660 bit more about music therapy, what's the best place to 0:12:33.699 --> 0:12:34.140 head to? 0:12:34.540 --> 0:12:36.980 I would say the best place to head to is 0:12:36.979 --> 0:12:43.459 our website, which is awesome. Org. I'll spell it out 0:12:43.459 --> 0:12:46.729 just in case that will help a u s t 0:12:47.370 --> 0:12:52.689 m t a o o u. And there are a 0:12:52.689 --> 0:12:56.809 few drop down columns, but the one about music therapy 0:12:57.209 --> 0:13:00.129 then drops down to music therapy and the NDIS, if 0:13:00.130 --> 0:13:03.329 that is what they're specifically looking for. And in there 0:13:03.329 --> 0:13:07.529 there is a disability evidence summary which is really informative 0:13:07.770 --> 0:13:12.170 and written by many, many clever music therapists and definitely 0:13:12.170 --> 0:13:15.209 worth a read. There are also lots of videos about 0:13:15.209 --> 0:13:19.449 music therapy which tell stories of music therapy in different 0:13:19.449 --> 0:13:22.809 working in early intervention or working in aged care, and 0:13:22.929 --> 0:13:25.769 they're really amazing resources to have a listen to if 0:13:25.770 --> 0:13:27.130 people are interested. 0:13:27.250 --> 0:13:32.569 Perfect. Well, I've been speaking today with Emily Shanahan about 0:13:32.569 --> 0:13:37.050 the changes in music therapy and the future of both 0:13:37.050 --> 0:13:42.370 music and art therapies in 2025, so we both follow 0:13:42.370 --> 0:13:46.800 that with great interest. Emily, thank you so much for 0:13:46.800 --> 0:13:49.199 your time today. It was great to catch up with 0:13:49.199 --> 0:13:52.240 you again and chat all about music therapy. 0:13:53.160 --> 0:13:56.080 My pleasure Sam, and thank you so much for your support. 0:14:03.000 --> 0:14:06.720 On Sam Culley and you're listening to Talking Vision on 0:14:06.719 --> 0:14:11.959 a Vision Australia Radio, associated Stations of Reading Radio and 0:14:11.959 --> 0:14:16.880 the Community Radio Network. I hope you enjoyed that conversation 0:14:16.880 --> 0:14:20.759 as much as I did with Emily Shanahan. If you 0:14:20.760 --> 0:14:24.600 missed any part of that conversation with Emily or you'd 0:14:24.600 --> 0:14:28.400 love to hear it again. Talking vision is available on 0:14:28.400 --> 0:14:35.200 the Vision Australia Radio website. VA radio.org. That's VA radio 0:14:35.359 --> 0:14:39.880 all one word.org where you can find talking, vision and 0:14:40.040 --> 0:14:43.880 so many other programs on the Vision Australia radio network. 0:14:44.400 --> 0:14:47.920 You can also find Talking Vision on the podcast app 0:14:47.920 --> 0:14:52.640 of your choice or through the Vision Australia library. And 0:14:52.680 --> 0:14:56.360 speaking of the library, well, it's a happy New Year 0:14:56.359 --> 0:15:01.080 and happy new library with a bunch of really exciting 0:15:01.120 --> 0:15:05.760 events coming up in the Vision Australia Library for members 0:15:05.760 --> 0:15:09.840 in 2025, and to have a chat with us all 0:15:09.840 --> 0:15:14.280 about these. It's my great pleasure to welcome back Maureen 0:15:14.280 --> 0:15:18.600 from the library. Maureen, welcome back to Talking Vision. Great 0:15:18.600 --> 0:15:19.320 to have you. 0:15:19.479 --> 0:15:21.600 I love being on Talking Vision. I get to live 0:15:21.600 --> 0:15:24.360 my dream of being a radio personality. 0:15:24.880 --> 0:15:28.879 And we certainly love to have you. And because it's 0:15:28.880 --> 0:15:31.879 the New year, happy New Year as well. There's a 0:15:31.880 --> 0:15:36.640 lot of exciting things coming up for people out there 0:15:36.680 --> 0:15:40.989 in the world of the library in 2025. So let's 0:15:40.990 --> 0:15:42.630 get a bit of an overview. 0:15:42.830 --> 0:15:46.230 Well, we have a massive year planned for 2025. We 0:15:46.350 --> 0:15:51.670 have 16 programs we'll be running, which involves over 61 0:15:51.670 --> 0:15:55.990 individual sessions over the coming 12 months. So it's going 0:15:55.990 --> 0:15:59.150 to be heaps of fun. There's some new programs that 0:15:59.150 --> 0:16:03.230 are there to excite everyone. We've resurrected some favourites from 0:16:03.229 --> 0:16:06.390 previous years that had had a bit of a rest, 0:16:06.390 --> 0:16:08.710 and then we have our staples from this year that 0:16:08.710 --> 0:16:12.670 everybody loves, so hopefully there'll be something for everyone. 0:16:12.790 --> 0:16:16.470 What are some new programs that people can look forward to? 0:16:16.510 --> 0:16:20.269 Ah, well, under the realm of a reading program. So 0:16:20.270 --> 0:16:23.070 we sort of do reading and writing ones. We have 0:16:23.070 --> 0:16:27.470 our new book, chap with the Vision Australia Library. So 0:16:27.470 --> 0:16:30.550 in that program we will have a Vision Australia librarian 0:16:30.550 --> 0:16:33.150 that will be present with me. And they'll give a 0:16:33.150 --> 0:16:38.820 review of two newly released mainstream best selling books, so 0:16:39.380 --> 0:16:43.940 they'll have a discussion of what's really good about the book. What? 0:16:44.540 --> 0:16:47.620 Tell us a bit about the author and really give 0:16:47.820 --> 0:16:50.380 a sort of warts and all appraisal of the book. 0:16:50.979 --> 0:16:53.900 And then once they've gone through their two books, we're 0:16:53.900 --> 0:16:56.820 going to go around the group and all the participants 0:16:56.820 --> 0:17:00.060 that are present, those that want to will tell us 0:17:00.060 --> 0:17:02.900 what they've been reading and they'll give a review of 0:17:02.900 --> 0:17:07.100 their recent reads, so they'll get to channel their inner 0:17:07.100 --> 0:17:10.419 Margaret Pomeranz or whoever they want to be. And they 0:17:10.419 --> 0:17:14.380 can be highly critical, or they can be glowing with 0:17:14.379 --> 0:17:18.020 their praise. And the idea is that in the span 0:17:18.100 --> 0:17:20.380 of that hour, and we're going to do it quarterly, 0:17:20.859 --> 0:17:24.379 that we will have the opportunity to fill your bookshelf 0:17:24.460 --> 0:17:27.220 with a whole lot of new books, and that you've 0:17:27.220 --> 0:17:30.180 got an idea of, you know what's good about them, 0:17:30.180 --> 0:17:32.300 which ones you want to read, and just a little 0:17:32.300 --> 0:17:34.220 bit of a taste to get you excited. 0:17:34.540 --> 0:17:37.969 Yeah, no, that sounds a lot of fun. Very well received, 0:17:37.970 --> 0:17:42.169 but let's keep on that theme of the favorites out there. 0:17:42.169 --> 0:17:47.050 The programs that people absolutely loved to get involved with 0:17:47.050 --> 0:17:51.490 that are making a return in 2025. So let's have 0:17:51.490 --> 0:17:54.130 a chat about a couple of those. What are some 0:17:54.129 --> 0:17:57.729 really popular favorites that are making a return for people 0:17:57.730 --> 0:17:58.489 to look forward to? 0:17:58.649 --> 0:18:02.330 One of our favorites that's really popular is our In 0:18:02.330 --> 0:18:06.330 conversations with our authors. So we'll have six authors coming 0:18:06.330 --> 0:18:10.850 in this year and the same format as previous years, 0:18:10.889 --> 0:18:14.330 will introduce the author, give a little bit of an overview, 0:18:14.330 --> 0:18:18.450 and then have about 45 minutes or so interrogating them, 0:18:18.690 --> 0:18:22.169 usually finding out about a new release book. And then 0:18:22.169 --> 0:18:26.649 people have the opportunity to submit questions either online during 0:18:26.649 --> 0:18:31.010 the session, or they can actually submit questions during the 0:18:31.010 --> 0:18:35.519 registration process. And then we'll have a variety of interviewers 0:18:35.520 --> 0:18:38.480 that will be there for us. So we'll have myself 0:18:38.480 --> 0:18:42.520 interviewing Emily Maguire on Valentine's Day. So that's an easy 0:18:42.560 --> 0:18:45.880 date for everyone to remember. And Emily's got a new 0:18:45.879 --> 0:18:48.920 book that's just been released called rapture, and she's an 0:18:48.919 --> 0:18:51.520 award winning author, so that's going to be a load 0:18:51.520 --> 0:18:55.279 of fun. Uh, we will have two authors coming in 0:18:55.280 --> 0:18:58.520 with the Melbourne Writers Festival in May, and that will 0:18:58.520 --> 0:19:01.680 be a hybrid event. So we will have everyone able 0:19:01.680 --> 0:19:04.439 to watch online, but they also have the opportunity to 0:19:04.440 --> 0:19:08.320 come into Qiyong and see them in person. And then 0:19:08.320 --> 0:19:12.119 we will have three more authors later in the year, 0:19:12.119 --> 0:19:15.679 and they will be interviewed by Sarah Bloedorn, who's a 0:19:15.680 --> 0:19:20.560 library manager, Leanne Sajjadi. And we're also having Dave Tredinnick 0:19:20.600 --> 0:19:22.800 do one of ours as well. Oh, fantastic. So just 0:19:22.800 --> 0:19:25.399 roll out a whole lot of different interviewing styles, because 0:19:25.399 --> 0:19:27.600 otherwise people get bored of the sound of my voice. 0:19:28.119 --> 0:19:31.080 No, no, no one can get bored of that. Don't worry. 0:19:31.320 --> 0:19:35.350 But yeah, it's very exciting to have Leanne and Sarah involved, 0:19:35.350 --> 0:19:38.350 and especially Dave. He's a lot of fun. So I 0:19:38.350 --> 0:19:42.149 think a lot of people will love to hear from 0:19:42.350 --> 0:19:43.869 Dave what Dave did. 0:19:43.869 --> 0:19:47.709 One of our conversations earlier this year with les and 0:19:47.710 --> 0:19:51.950 his son Ben and daughter Emily. And that was very, 0:19:51.950 --> 0:19:54.390 very well received. It was very cheeky. 0:19:54.710 --> 0:19:58.030 Oh, yeah, I love that. No, he's, um he's he 0:19:58.030 --> 0:20:01.230 can be quite cheeky. It's, um. Quite. It's always fun. 0:20:01.230 --> 0:20:04.109 It's always a bit unpredictable. He's a bit off the 0:20:04.109 --> 0:20:07.790 wall sometimes. So. Yeah, a lot of lot of things 0:20:07.790 --> 0:20:11.950 to look forward to there. And Maureen, there's something else 0:20:11.950 --> 0:20:17.670 exciting that's pretty new. You're gonna have a few conversations 0:20:17.830 --> 0:20:22.189 with the narrators, the people behind the scenes who make 0:20:22.190 --> 0:20:23.070 it all happen. 0:20:23.270 --> 0:20:25.269 We are one of the things we do at the 0:20:25.270 --> 0:20:28.669 end of all of our programs and events is a 0:20:28.669 --> 0:20:31.550 post-event evaluation. So we ask people, what did you like 0:20:31.590 --> 0:20:34.389 about it? What did you enjoy? What you'd like to 0:20:34.389 --> 0:20:36.790 see more of? And we asked them for any ideas, 0:20:37.270 --> 0:20:39.710 so I can't even take credit for this one. This 0:20:39.710 --> 0:20:42.430 one came from the feedback from a number of our 0:20:42.430 --> 0:20:46.229 members saying that they'd love to have the opportunity to 0:20:46.830 --> 0:20:50.389 speak with the narrators and to chat with the narrators, 0:20:50.430 --> 0:20:53.950 and to get to know these people, because a lot 0:20:53.950 --> 0:20:57.430 of our members have been listening to books that have 0:20:57.430 --> 0:21:01.109 been narrated by the same people for the last 20, 30, 0:21:01.149 --> 0:21:03.869 40 years. And it's like a friend that they invite 0:21:03.869 --> 0:21:07.790 into their home. So they're very attached to them. So 0:21:07.909 --> 0:21:10.990 we are going to have Meet your Vision Australia Library narrators. 0:21:10.990 --> 0:21:15.350 We're going to start with 2 in 2025. So we're 0:21:15.350 --> 0:21:16.870 going to put a toe into the water and see 0:21:16.869 --> 0:21:20.629 how they're received. And they'll have a three part structure. 0:21:20.750 --> 0:21:24.230 So first I'll do an introduction to the narrator with 0:21:24.230 --> 0:21:27.790 a little brief overview of their history with Vision Australia. 0:21:28.510 --> 0:21:30.859 And then what they're going to do is a reading 0:21:30.859 --> 0:21:35.020 from their favorite book that they've narrated for the library. So. 0:21:35.060 --> 0:21:37.340 Or even one that they really would have liked to 0:21:37.340 --> 0:21:40.969 have narrated. So they'll actually read for 20 or 30 0:21:40.970 --> 0:21:45.619 minutes live from one of their favorite books, maybe one 0:21:45.619 --> 0:21:48.379 solid section, or it might be a couple of excerpts. 0:21:48.980 --> 0:21:52.259 And then afterwards we'll have an interview with the narrator, 0:21:52.300 --> 0:21:55.699 including questions that our members have put in during the 0:21:55.700 --> 0:21:59.740 registration process or that they popped into the zoom chat. 0:21:59.820 --> 0:22:03.300 So it's a lovely opportunity to get to know them 0:22:03.300 --> 0:22:07.140 as a person, but also to listen to them reading 0:22:07.139 --> 0:22:11.300 something that they really enjoy as distinct from something that 0:22:11.460 --> 0:22:14.540 you know, has been imposed upon them now. 0:22:14.820 --> 0:22:18.260 Um, speaking of things that people can look forward to, 0:22:18.300 --> 0:22:21.540 if people are listening to this and thinking, oh wow, 0:22:21.540 --> 0:22:25.180 that all sounds fantastic, I'd love to get involved. Where 0:22:25.180 --> 0:22:28.500 do I go to find out more? Let's give people 0:22:28.649 --> 0:22:32.970 some details that they can get in touch with the library. 0:22:33.169 --> 0:22:36.369 Well, the best place they can go really is the 0:22:36.369 --> 0:22:43.570 Vision Australia Library website, which is Vision Australia Library. And 0:22:43.570 --> 0:22:45.889 if you just scan down that first page to the 0:22:45.930 --> 0:22:49.410 What's On section, you'll see all the upcoming events that 0:22:49.409 --> 0:22:52.410 we have. So we usually have about six up there 0:22:52.409 --> 0:22:54.529 at a time. So you'll see the next six that 0:22:54.530 --> 0:22:57.889 are upcoming which will be reading and writing events. But 0:22:57.889 --> 0:23:01.250 in addition to that, we also list all of our 0:23:01.250 --> 0:23:04.850 events in our bi monthly newsletter. So I really encourage 0:23:04.850 --> 0:23:08.810 everyone to make sure that they are receiving the newsletter, 0:23:08.810 --> 0:23:12.129 and all library members will receive it unless they've opted 0:23:12.129 --> 0:23:15.570 out of having email communication, which they can change if 0:23:15.570 --> 0:23:19.330 they want to. And that lists all the upcoming events 0:23:19.330 --> 0:23:22.369 that we have. And then the other place they can 0:23:22.369 --> 0:23:24.969 always come on is to listen to your show, to 0:23:25.010 --> 0:23:28.479 listen to Francis Collins show, to listen to Peter Greco's show. 0:23:28.879 --> 0:23:31.840 And I'm always on there talking about what's new and 0:23:31.840 --> 0:23:33.479 what's coming up for us as well. 0:23:34.200 --> 0:23:38.879 Oh, perfect. All right. Well, I've been speaking today with 0:23:39.040 --> 0:23:43.000 Maureen from the library, chatting to us all about the 0:23:43.000 --> 0:23:51.040 exciting events coming up for Vision Australia library members in 2025. Maureen, 0:23:51.040 --> 0:23:55.399 great to have you as always. Happy 2025 and look 0:23:55.399 --> 0:23:57.720 forward to hearing how all the events go. 0:23:57.760 --> 0:23:59.800 I hope you have a wonderful year and I get 0:23:59.800 --> 0:24:01.879 to come and chat all throughout the year and tell 0:24:01.879 --> 0:24:03.240 everyone about our new events. 0:24:03.440 --> 0:24:05.680 Absolutely looking forward to it. 0:24:05.760 --> 0:24:10.279 Thanks, Sam. 0:24:13.520 --> 0:24:17.359 And now here's Frances Keelan with a reader recommended. 0:24:17.520 --> 0:24:21.119 Thank you Sam. It has been 60 years since Mary 0:24:21.159 --> 0:24:24.199 Poppins first hit our cinemas. So I thought it'd be 0:24:24.200 --> 0:24:27.510 good to have a sample of Julie Andrews book home. 0:24:27.629 --> 0:24:31.030 Her memoir. Over the years, Julie Andrews has been much 0:24:31.030 --> 0:24:33.510 interviewed in the press and on television, but she has 0:24:33.510 --> 0:24:37.109 never before revealed the true story of her childhood and upbringing. 0:24:37.590 --> 0:24:41.030 In home, she vividly recreates the years before the movies, 0:24:41.350 --> 0:24:44.269 and idyllic early childhood in Surrey was cut short when 0:24:44.270 --> 0:24:48.270 her parents divorced and her mother remarried. The family moved 0:24:48.270 --> 0:24:50.909 to London and there are vivid scenes of life during 0:24:50.909 --> 0:24:54.830 the Blitz. Her mother went into musical theatre with her stepfather, 0:24:54.909 --> 0:24:57.709 who encouraged Julie to have singing lessons, which led to 0:24:57.710 --> 0:25:01.310 the discovery that her voice had phenomenal range and strength 0:25:01.430 --> 0:25:04.310 for someone her age. Before long, she was appearing on 0:25:04.310 --> 0:25:07.270 stage with her parents. She soon realised how much she 0:25:07.270 --> 0:25:10.830 enjoyed looking out into the black auditorium with the spotlights 0:25:10.830 --> 0:25:13.270 on her. By the time she was a teenager, she 0:25:13.270 --> 0:25:16.950 was supporting her whole family with her singing. A London 0:25:16.950 --> 0:25:20.150 Palladium pantomime led to a leading role in The Boyfriend 0:25:20.149 --> 0:25:24.139 on Broadway at 19 parts in My Fair Lady, opposite 0:25:24.139 --> 0:25:27.939 Rex Harrison and Camelot with Richard Burton soon followed, and 0:25:27.940 --> 0:25:31.180 there are wonderful anecdotes about the actors and actresses of 0:25:31.180 --> 0:25:33.660 her day. But this is far more than a collection 0:25:33.659 --> 0:25:37.100 of show stories. Home is an honest, touching and revealing 0:25:37.100 --> 0:25:40.659 memoir of the early life of a true icon. Let's 0:25:40.659 --> 0:25:44.420 hear a sample of Home by Julie Andrews, narrated by 0:25:44.419 --> 0:25:45.500 Julie Andrews. 0:25:45.940 --> 0:25:49.820 I am told that the first comprehensible word I uttered 0:25:49.820 --> 0:25:54.859 as a child was home. My father was driving his 0:25:54.859 --> 0:25:58.580 second hand. Austin seven. My mother was in the passenger 0:25:58.580 --> 0:26:01.740 seat beside him, holding me on her lap as we 0:26:01.740 --> 0:26:05.460 approached our modest house. Dad braked the car to turn 0:26:05.460 --> 0:26:08.580 on to the pocket handkerchiefs, square of concrete by the gate, 0:26:08.740 --> 0:26:14.620 and apparently I quietly, tentatively said the word home. My 0:26:14.619 --> 0:26:17.620 mother told me there was a slight upward inflection in 0:26:17.619 --> 0:26:20.780 my voice. Not a question so much as a trying 0:26:20.820 --> 0:26:24.340 of the word on the tongue with perhaps the delicious 0:26:24.340 --> 0:26:29.620 discovery of connection, the word to the place. My parents 0:26:29.659 --> 0:26:32.580 wanted to be sure they had heard me correctly. So 0:26:32.580 --> 0:26:36.179 dad drove around the lanes once again, and as we returned, 0:26:36.180 --> 0:26:39.940 it seems I repeated the word. My mother must have 0:26:39.940 --> 0:26:42.540 said it more than once upon arrival at our house, 0:26:42.780 --> 0:26:47.979 perhaps with satisfaction or relief, or maybe to instill in 0:26:47.980 --> 0:26:51.740 her young daughter a sense of comfort and safety. The 0:26:51.740 --> 0:26:57.419 word has carried enormous resonance for me ever since. Home. 0:26:57.820 --> 0:27:01.300 So that was home by Julie Andrews. If you would 0:27:01.300 --> 0:27:02.900 like to borrow that book, or if you would like 0:27:02.899 --> 0:27:06.300 to find out more about Vision Australia Library, just give 0:27:06.300 --> 0:27:14.540 them a call on one 365 4656. That's one 365 4656. 0:27:14.740 --> 0:27:19.340 Or you can email library at Vision Australia. That's library 0:27:19.340 --> 0:27:20.740 at Vision Australia. 0:27:22.169 --> 0:27:25.129 And that's all the time we have for today. You've 0:27:25.129 --> 0:27:29.290 been listening to Talking Vision. Talking vision is a Vision 0:27:29.290 --> 0:27:33.490 Australia radio production. Thanks to all involved with putting the 0:27:33.490 --> 0:27:37.649 show together every week. And remember, we love hearing from you. 0:27:37.649 --> 0:27:41.170 So please get in touch anytime on our email at 0:27:41.210 --> 0:27:46.290 Talking Vision at Vision Australia. Org. That's talking vision all 0:27:46.290 --> 0:27:51.050 one word at Vision australia.org. But until next week it's 0:27:51.050 --> 0:27:53.210 Sam Corley saying bye for now. 0:27:56.970 --> 0:28:00.970 You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during 0:28:00.970 --> 0:28:09.930 business hours on one 384 7486. That's one 384 7486 0:28:09.930 --> 0:28:19.129 or by visiting Vision Australia. That's Vision Australia. Org.