S1: From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's
S1: your host Sam Colley.
S2: Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And
S2: for the next half hour we talk matters of blindness
S2: and low vision.
S3: It's about getting the message out there that blind or
S3: low vision, people can do things that isn't just sedentary
S3: sitting inside and things like that. We can get out
S3: and do things like a five day trek and things
S3: like that, which is, I think, amazing to promote and
S3: say we can be active and we can be out
S3: there and enjoy life like everyone else.
S2: Welcome to the program! This week we feature two participants
S2: in the Vision Australia Trek for vision, taking place over
S2: five days between April 29th and May third as they
S2: make their way through the Abel Tasman Track in the
S2: South Island of New Zealand to raise vital funds for
S2: Vision Australia's services to clients who are blind or have
S2: low vision. Their names are Dale Pearce and Sharon Taylor,
S2: and my interview with them takes up a majority of
S2: the programme this week. So without further ado, I hope
S2: you enjoy this episode of Talking Vision. I started by
S2: asking Dale to give an overview of the trick for vision.
S3: So I've sort of kept an eye on it for
S3: the last year and looked at the last earlier this
S3: year's one. So it's a trick not just for vision
S3: impaired people, but for everyone that wants to join in
S3: to help raise money for the quality living programs that
S3: Vision Australia put on, which is really handy for a
S3: lot of blind and low vision people to connect with peers.
S2: I will come back to that later on with you,
S2: because you've got quite a detailed involvement in that sort
S2: of area. So I'm keen to explore that a bit.
S2: But Sharon, I might go to you now and get
S2: your overview.
S4: Yeah, sure. Sam. So as Dale mentioned, trick for vision
S4: is supporting Vision Australia services. It involves a 53 kilometre
S4: trek over five days. And it is in New Zealand
S4: along the Abel Tasman track. So it's graded I believe
S4: a three out of five. Is that correct, Dale? Yeah.
S3: So moderate.
S4: Moderate intensity. And yeah we're both really looking forward to it. Yeah.
S2: How did you both get involved? Sharon, I might stay
S2: with you for a bit and get the story there.
S4: Yeah, sure. Very interesting way that I got involved, Sam. Um,
S4: I was actually talking Dale into doing the trek because I.
S4: I just know that, uh, that is something that is
S4: right up Dale's alley. And I said, why don't you
S4: do this trek? You'd love it. It'd be great. And
S4: and then we we kind of toyed with the idea
S4: about maybe both doing it. And, um, Dale contacted me
S4: later that evening because typical of Dale, um, once he
S4: gets something in his mind, he's onto it straight away. Um,
S4: so he'd contacted VA regarding the trek that day that
S4: we talked about it and got on to me and said, Sharon, thereafter,
S4: a charity representative, you should apply. And I'm like, oh, okay.
S4: I'll have a think about it. And he said, well,
S4: you've got until tomorrow. And you're.
S2: Right. Okay. Yeah, I'm a convincing person? Yes, certainly.
S4: Yes, he is very convincing person. So I that night, um,
S4: typed up an application and submitted it.
S2: Oh, wow. And I guess there's also it's worth mentioning
S2: that you've both had another relationship in terms of the
S2: fat sharing your, um, you've been dials on M for
S2: quite a little bit. So how did that start off
S2: and how long has that professional relationship been going on for? Yeah.
S4: Um, so I consider myself very fortunate to work with Dale.
S4: He's fantastic person to work with, and he inspires me
S4: every time I work with him as well. But in
S4: terms of how that all came about, I might actually
S4: hand over to Dale because, um, certainly revolves around Dale
S4: taking the initiative to come to Vision Australia when he
S4: lost his vision. So if you don't mind, I'll hand
S4: over to Dale.
S2: Absolutely.
S3: So, yeah. So, Sam, I lost significant sight last year.
S3: In May or June. I was diagnosed legally blind, struggled
S3: for a few weeks figuring out what to do and
S3: if I needed mobility aids and all those things while
S3: I was waiting for funding and all those things to
S3: come through. And I got to the point that I
S3: was desperate for a cane because I was starting to
S3: grip and bump into things. So after a couple of
S3: phone calls to Vision Australia, I went, I'm just going
S3: to come into the Lucas store, which is my local
S3: one in Ballarat. And um, they ended up teeing up
S3: a day later or a couple of days later, um,
S3: for me to meet Sharon off the cuff. She had
S3: a cancellation. So we had an impromptu hour and a
S3: half together, give or take back in, I'll say probably August.
S3: Last year we had a very impromptu chat and lesson
S3: on cane training for a little bit, and since then
S3: we've clicked. It's been a great professional relationship in what
S3: we do. It's great understanding of Sharon's got the understanding
S3: of what I need, because I'm fairly out there and
S3: go getter, and I listen as best I can. We'll
S3: say that nicely. Um, and, um, yeah, so that's sort
S3: of how it first came about. So over the last
S3: 18 months, give or take, we touch base regularly. We
S3: chat regularly. We don't have a lot of sessions, but
S3: there's a lot of communication backwards and forwards when we
S3: need to about things I'm going to be doing in
S3: terms of travel or etc.. So Sharon gives massive amount
S3: of advice and guidance on what to do so that, um,
S3: I can be safe out there in the world when
S3: I go do it. So yeah, so that's sort of
S3: how it first came about.
S2: It's really interesting to hear that it's progressed so quickly.
S2: And it's just over a year now. You've gone from,
S2: you know, meeting up for the first time and now
S2: you're going on a massive trek together. That's an amazing story.
S2: So I guess.
S3: Yeah, part of that was when I did chat to
S3: Sharon about it, I thought about going on the one
S3: in March this year, but I ended up going to
S3: Kosciuszko at the same time and did a trek in
S3: Kosciuszko for a few days. So that sort of negated that.
S3: And then I was having a chat with Sharon only
S3: a couple of months ago, really. And my funding probably
S3: doesn't cover someone to support me. I don't need a
S3: lot of support, but it'd be nice to have someone around.
S3: And it was. How much support do you need? Dale
S3: from Sharon. So there was a bit of backwards and
S3: forwards and then sort of, as I say, once I
S3: get an idea in my head, I sort of run
S3: with it. So the phone call to the fundraising team
S3: and how we could go about things, and they said, oh,
S3: the charity rep spots open. So Sharon got a very
S3: quick phone call and a couple of weeks later got
S3: the nod to be the charity rep for Vision Australia,
S3: which is amazing. So she knows me well enough that
S3: she can support me in anything really technical I guess
S3: on the track, most of it I'll be fine on,
S3: but it's just those real. If there's anything a little
S3: bit more technical she can help guide me through to
S3: make sure I'm safe along with the other people in
S3: the group, obviously as well. So it's just nice to
S3: have someone around me that I know already. So yeah,
S3: so that's a real big bonus for me.
S2: Absolutely. And Sharon, I might come back to you and
S2: get your thoughts on what you sort of really looking
S2: forward to on the track, both with dial and with
S2: the group more broadly?
S5: Yeah, sure.
S4: Yeah, definitely looking forward to going to New Zealand again.
S4: I have been once before, but I went to the
S4: North Island. Um, and I certainly didn't do any trekking,
S4: but I have done a charity trek before in my
S4: previous life. I guess I say BC before children and yeah,
S4: I had a fantastic time. It was just the most
S4: incredible experience doing something that, you know, is, you know,
S4: a bit challenging and perhaps something that you wouldn't necessarily
S4: normally do. But knowing that everybody that's on the trek
S4: is there for the same reason. And I believe that
S4: such things, I guess, attract like minded people. And consequently,
S4: you know, everybody tends to get along quite well. So
S4: I'm really looking forward to meeting the other participants who
S4: we are in contact with via a WhatsApp group we've
S4: got going the VA marketing team and intrepid as well,
S4: organized for us all to be connected via WhatsApp. Um,
S4: so we've started communicating with each other and yeah, sharing
S4: ideas and also updating, encouraging each other in terms of training.
S4: So yeah, very much looking forward to putting faces to
S4: names and and actually speaking I guess in person, but
S4: just the whole experience really too. Really looking forward to.
S4: I love meeting new people and hearing their stories and
S4: having a good laugh as well. You know, not taking
S4: life too seriously. And I think that, you know, really
S4: helps to enjoy the experience as well.
S2: Certainly. And I'll come to you with the same sort
S2: of question, what's really jumping out for you as something,
S2: you know, really exciting or a few things that you're
S2: looking forward to?
S3: Sure. Well, I've never been to New Zealand, so that's
S3: exciting for a start. Certainly. Um, so I'm going to
S3: be loving doing that. It is the connections with other blind,
S3: low vision people that are on the trek and anyone
S3: else on the trek for that matter as well. And
S3: just to get to meet new people and be inspired
S3: and motivated by them. And hopefully as much as I
S3: can inspire and motivate them at the same time. And
S3: then broadly, it's about getting the message out there that
S3: blind or low vision people can do things that isn't
S3: just sedentary sitting inside and things like that, we can
S3: get out and do things like a five day trek
S3: and things like that, which is, I think, amazing to
S3: promote and say we can be active and we can
S3: be out there and enjoy life like everyone else.
S2: Within all of that, there are no doubt a few
S2: challenges and obstacles and things that you've faced at various points,
S2: but as we've mentioned, there's a lot of ways to
S2: adapt and overcome all those sort of things. But Dale,
S2: what have been some challenges you've faced with staying fit
S2: and making your way around new environments independently after you
S2: did experience vision loss? There's a lot of new adapting
S2: and making your way around in different ways. And how
S2: did you sort of navigate through that?
S3: Yeah, the first six weeks, as I say, was difficult,
S3: and I battled through. To be honest, it was frustrating.
S3: It was agonizing at points. There was sadness and all
S3: the bits and bobs in between. but it was just
S3: learning to use a lot of take my time repetition
S3: type stuff. And then once I got the cane and
S3: a little bit of training from Sharon, which is excellent
S3: training because at the end of the day, I only
S3: took an hour and a half. Um.
S4: That was all me. It was?
S3: Yes. You know, I went, okay, I can do this.
S3: There was an okay, I can do this moment. And
S3: for that, then it was just okay. How do I
S3: go about getting out and about in daily life? For
S3: a start, that was the first port and getting to
S3: Melbourne and safely and to my hospital appointments and things
S3: like that from Ballarat. So I sort of slowly but
S3: surely over six months at least gradually broadened my horizons,
S3: I guess is the easiest way to say it. So, um,
S3: from the local shops to the CBD of Ballarat to
S3: Melbourne to what I needed to do and gain confidence
S3: doing that every time on my own. Through some support workers,
S3: I've been able to get out and about and get
S3: really active in terms of fitness. So I've got an
S3: amazing support team with Ballarat Care in Ballarat and I've
S3: got a running guide through them, so he takes me
S3: running every Saturday morning for my local park run, um,
S3: which is A5K event, and day one for that was
S3: January this year. So the doctors allowed me to start
S3: running due to my health. So then we started doing
S3: that and we've built up from there. And um, in
S3: terms of the fitness and training things, I'm probably, I'll say,
S3: a very active person, um, very fit compared to a lot.
S3: So I've competed in a half marathon and a couple
S3: of other major events, including one Just gone this weekend,
S3: which was in Halls Gap in the Grampians called the
S3: GTP 100. And um, I will say it was challenging
S3: because it was some of the most technical terrain in
S3: Australia to cover as a blind, low vision person or
S3: as any person. More to the point, and my guide
S3: and I navigated 20 something kilometers of that. Wow. Um.
S3: Which is amazing. So, um, it was a very intense weekend,
S3: but we've got so much trust in each other. We
S3: just get out there and do our thing, which is awesome.
S3: And that's where the training side of things. I've got
S3: a treadmill at home, so I punch hours away on
S3: the treadmill just to keep up fitness because I can't
S3: have him all the time with me. But we get
S3: out at least once a week and do something fitness
S3: wise out there so I can feel the earth under
S3: my feet, so to speak, and understand what those nuances
S3: are so that I keep safe.
S2: On Sam Culley and you're listening to Talking Vision on
S2: Vision Australia Radio, Associated Stations of Reading Radio and the
S2: Community Radio Network. That concludes part one of my conversation
S2: with Dale Pearce and Sharon Taylor, two of the participants
S2: in next year's trek for vision. If you missed any
S2: part of that conversation with Dale and Sharon, Talking Vision
S2: is available on the Vision Australia Radio website. Simply head
S2: to VA radio.org. That's VA radio.org to hear the full show.
S2: You can also find Talking Vision on the podcast app
S2: of your choice or through the Vision Australia library. And
S2: now please enjoy part two of my conversation with Dale
S2: and Sharon. Sharon, what's it been like to, um, experience
S2: those breakthroughs with Dale and help each other through various
S2: situations and get the feedback and have that assistance there,
S2: and how does that feel to be able to do
S2: that and see this person doing these amazing, you know,
S2: half marathons and going on this trek and all that
S2: sort of thing.
S4: He's a bit of a show off, isn't he?
S6: Yeah.
S4: Yeah. Look, as I said, Dale inspires me as well. He,
S4: you know, from what he went through that would have
S4: broken anybody. But Dale kind of picked himself up and
S4: just went. You know what? What do I need to do?
S4: And just kept looking forward rather than looking back. And yeah,
S4: it just has such a positive, motivating attitude and it's infectious.
S4: You can't help but absorb that. And as Dale mentioned,
S4: like in terms of orientation and mobility training, having sight
S4: beforehand and a good mental mapping skills as well, good
S4: spatial abilities. Dale picked it up really, really quickly and
S4: then just went with it. And then, you know, every,
S4: every so often I'd get a phone call or an
S4: email saying, Hey Sharon, when can you put me in next?
S4: I want to I want to do Melbourne. I want to,
S4: you know, learn the trams or, you know, the different
S4: travel routes to the inner hospital. And it was just go, go, go.
S4: Which is fantastic. And yeah, he's just, you know, always
S4: looking for, you know, the next challenge. And yeah, I
S4: feel very lazy compared to Daniel because I on the
S4: other hand, do not do half marathons.
S3: So don't you worry.
S4: Well actually no I do not do running. I enjoy walking,
S4: but that's as far as my exercise goes. But Dale
S4: and I have been we've started we've we've started on
S4: our training together. Of course, Dale does all his, you know,
S4: treadmill stuff and his five K runs every weekend. And
S4: he's half marathons here and there and in between time.
S4: But we've just started our training together for the trek.
S4: So we've been walking around Lake Wendouree at a decent pace,
S4: I guess. Yeah. And what would you say was that?
S3: Six. Six kilometers? Yeah.
S4: Six kilometers. So that's been really great. So, you know,
S4: we just, you know, chat about stuff and, you know,
S4: preparing what we need to think about, I guess for
S4: the trek and our ideas for fundraising and things like that.
S4: And I get.
S3: Some cheeky O&M sessions in at the same time. So
S3: it's great. Oh.
S6: Yeah.
S4: Well, well, I also get to hang off your companion
S4: as well.
S3: I do have a guide dog as well, Sam, so
S3: her name.
S2: Is Anna.
S3: So I've only had her a few months, so I'm
S3: still learning the process at the same time. But yeah,
S3: she's amazing for me as well. She's currently snoring underneath
S3: my feet, so yeah.
S2: Oh, perfect.
S4: So sometimes the training around the lake John has come out. Yeah.
S4: And other times you've used the cane which has been
S4: really great. So it's good to have I guess both
S4: experiences as well isn't it. Yeah.
S3: So yeah. Because on the trek, Sam, I probably won't
S3: take Jana for the five days. It's as much. She's
S3: quite a young pup still. So while I've got the
S3: site level, I've got to save a lot of rigmarole
S3: and transitions for her. I'll probably just bored her for
S3: the week, and then I'll be able to do the
S3: trek with my cane and hiking poles and engage that way.
S2: So yeah. And Dale, I'm keen to stay with you
S2: and get your input on why the trek is so
S2: important for the work that Vision Australia does. And this
S2: is where it sort of ties into what I was
S2: kind of foreshadowing at the beginning with your work on
S2: the CIJ, the client reference group, and how you got
S2: involved with that, and how that's all tying in with
S2: why this trek is so important to you in particular?
S3: Yeah. So with the CRG, I've always been in a
S3: previous life I was a chef and mentor and quite
S3: a big industry advocate, doing a lot of actual advocacy
S3: work as well for young chefs and apprentices across Australia,
S3: and particularly Adelaide, where I was living at the time.
S3: So after losing sight, I was sort of sitting there going,
S3: I can't engage how I used to in an industry
S3: that I loved, um, and still do love, but an
S3: opportunity through. Oddly enough, the Vision Australia Facebook page popped
S3: up for the CRG and I went, oh, I sent it,
S3: actually sent it to a friend and said thoughts? And
S3: that was all I wrote. And she goes, do you
S3: want me to apply for you? Um, as just like,
S3: you should do this, let's go. So I took it
S3: as an opportunity not only to do some good and
S3: advocate for blind, low vision people that are just starting
S3: out in their journey. Because essentially, I was three months
S3: into my vision loss when I applied for that role,
S3: but also to be able to engage my peers. That
S3: was really important for me. And there's the peer quality
S3: peer groups and the quality living groups that are through
S3: VA as well. But it was for me, it was
S3: a real opportunity to engage at a higher level and
S3: see what the process is and learn. I learn really
S3: well through that of seeing the behind the scenes. I
S3: guess is the easiest way to say it, and the
S3: people on the crew are all incredibly passionate people, very
S3: motivated to do not only the right thing for themselves
S3: blind low vision people, but also Vision Australia. So we
S3: tell it like it is and we've got direct access
S3: to the board and the Vision Australia management, which is
S3: and they listen and that's a beautiful thing. Not many
S3: businesses out there are prepared to have a group of
S3: people that are clients essentially be quite open and honest
S3: about the processes and what they feel is happening, good
S3: or bad, within Vision Australia. And there's an awful lot
S3: of good, and there's a few things that need improvement.
S3: And we happily tell them and they listen. And over
S3: time those processes change so that we can have a
S3: great impact on all people with blind, low vision, no
S3: matter what stage they're at in their journey. So yeah.
S3: So the krg's been fantastic. I've been on just over
S3: a year now of my first three years, and hopefully
S3: I'll roll over to the next. So I'll be on
S3: for six years in total. And in terms of, I guess,
S3: linking that back to the trek again, we can start
S3: to shape with some of the funding that comes through,
S3: we can start to look at how we shape Vision
S3: Australia's quality living programs to actually benefit people. So the
S3: more money that comes in through fundraising, the more opportunities
S3: Vision Australia has to actually help more blind low vision
S3: people through those programs.
S2: And Sharon, did you have anything to add there in
S2: terms of what's really so important to yourself as an
S2: owner and somebody involved in Vision Australia in that capacity?
S5: Yeah, yeah.
S4: As a service provider, I go to people's homes, their workplaces, schools,
S4: universities or meet people within the community. And I've met
S4: many people who've had the experience or the support and
S4: assistance from the quality living groups. And I get to
S4: see which, you know, I feel very fortunate about. I
S4: get to see how much of a difference it does
S4: make in people's lives, and it really does make a
S4: huge difference, to the point where I will actually encourage
S4: people to do the groups, or at least to receive
S4: a phone call to hear more about it, because I
S4: do really see how much of a difference it makes.
S4: It really, really helps to connect people, because often people
S4: feel like they're the only one going through this experience,
S4: and they may not have met another person that has
S4: had significant sight loss before. So they do feel very
S4: alone and feel like their world has completely changed. So
S4: having the opportunity to chat together and discuss a shared experience,
S4: it really is a bonding experience. But also the program
S4: provides tips and strategies that people share ideas as well about,
S4: you know, things that they've discovered works for them. The
S4: program also delivers guest speakers from various services of Vision Australia,
S4: including assistive technology specialists, occupational therapists, orthoptists, and Orientation Mobility instructors,
S4: to mention a few. So yeah, I really do see
S4: how important these programs are. So more than happy to
S4: promote that honestly out in the community and try and
S4: raise funds for it.
S2: Sharon, I'll stay with you and just get some of
S2: those details about how people can find out more about
S2: the Trek for vision and also raise vital funds for
S2: these services?
S5: Yeah, sure.
S4: So yeah, there are still spots available on the track.
S4: And so if you're even remotely considering it or think
S4: that might, you know, I'm interested or I'd like to
S4: hear more about it, definitely contact Vision Australia. So you
S4: can either go to the website and do a search
S4: for track for vision, or you can contact Myra from
S4: the marketing team, marketing and fundraising team at Vision Australia,
S4: who's brilliant at discussing all the intricate details required. And look,
S4: I did have the thought of, oh gosh, you know,
S4: would I be able to do something like this because
S4: I'm not that fit. But you know, I soon realised
S4: that no, I can do this. And certainly when you
S4: meet other people that you know, they're putting their challenges
S4: aside and using their motivation and mental strength to do
S4: such a thing. It's very easy then to go, you
S4: know what? I can do this too. So you don't
S4: have to be super fit like Mr. Dale over here.
S4: You could be like me. Not particularly fit, but, you know. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
S4: I'm improving, I'm improving. But, you know, enjoy getting out
S4: in nature and enjoy a good, solid walk. And on
S4: the web page on Division Australia for Trek for vision,
S4: it does let you know all about the trek, including
S4: what happens on each day where you meet at the beginning,
S4: where you stay, what's covered, the costs involved, and the
S4: fundraising amount that is required by each individual. Also, people
S4: are able to bring a support person as well if
S4: that is required.
S3: And each individual participant as well has got their own
S3: fundraising page. So we can use QR codes. So Sharon
S3: and I will both be putting up posters and things
S3: like that around local businesses to get support and doing
S3: some fundraising stuff there. And basically people can click on
S3: a QR code and go straight to our pages and donate.
S3: And it's also through a search, I believe, through the
S3: Vision Australia website, you'll be able to find those pages
S3: as well.
S2: Well, I've been speaking today with Dale Pearce and Sharon Taylor,
S2: both taking part in next year's Trek for vision. Taking
S2: place over five days in New Zealand from April 29th
S2: to May 3rd, 2025. Dale, Sharon, thank you so much
S2: for your time today. Great to catch up with you
S2: and chat all about the trek.
S3: Thanks very much, Sam.
S5: Yeah. Thanks, Sam.
S4: Good to talk to you too.
S2: And that's all the time we have for today. You've
S2: been listening to Talking Vision. Talking vision is a Vision
S2: Australia radio production. Thanks to all involved with putting the
S2: show together every week. And remember, we love hearing from you.
S2: So please get in touch any time on our email
S2: at Talking Vision. At Vision australia.org. That's talking vision or
S2: one word at Vision australia.org. But until next week it's
S2: Sam Colley saying bye for now.
S1: You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during
S1: business hours on 1300 847 406. That's 1300 847 406 or by visiting Vision australia.org.
S1: That's Vision australia.org.