WEBVTT - Talking Vision 770 Week Beginning 3rd of March 2025 0:00:13.160 --> 0:00:18.860 From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's 0:00:18.860 --> 0:00:20.930 your host Sam Colley. 0:00:21.740 --> 0:00:25.100 Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And 0:00:25.100 --> 0:00:28.070 for the next half hour we talk matters of blindness 0:00:28.070 --> 0:00:29.120 and low vision. 0:00:29.120 --> 0:00:32.839 I would just get used to using a system and 0:00:32.839 --> 0:00:35.960 be able to function a little bit faster. And then 0:00:35.960 --> 0:00:39.260 I'd get another vision decline, and it was like starting 0:00:39.260 --> 0:00:43.010 all over again. So it was really frustrating. And I 0:00:43.010 --> 0:00:46.729 had to say to myself, look after your wellbeing, take 0:00:46.760 --> 0:00:50.060 time out, do a little bit at a time, have 0:00:50.059 --> 0:00:52.729 a break and then come back to it. And, you know, 0:00:52.760 --> 0:00:54.139 eventually I got there. 0:00:54.320 --> 0:00:57.890 Welcome to the program. This week we hear from a 0:00:57.890 --> 0:01:02.539 couple of women achieving amazing things in the blind and 0:01:02.540 --> 0:01:07.819 low vision community, starting off with Joanne Cabot, a community 0:01:07.820 --> 0:01:12.529 leader from the Fraser Coast region in south east Queensland 0:01:12.560 --> 0:01:17.630 who's also a mental health and wellbeing advocate for people 0:01:17.630 --> 0:01:21.470 in the blind and low vision community, through her Instagram 0:01:21.470 --> 0:01:26.330 livewell with vision loss. And then after you hear from Joanne, 0:01:26.330 --> 0:01:30.470 it's my great pleasure to be joined by 100 Kia 0:01:30.500 --> 0:01:35.240 Ambassador and Paralympian Jess Gallagher, who chats to me all 0:01:35.240 --> 0:01:39.889 about the upcoming 100 K Your Way challenge in April 0:01:39.890 --> 0:01:43.730 and how to get involved. I hope you enjoy this 0:01:43.730 --> 0:01:53.330 week's episode of Talking Vision. Kicking off the show this week. 0:01:53.360 --> 0:01:56.720 Our first guest has really been super busy over the 0:01:56.720 --> 0:02:01.640 past year and a bit she's organised a screening of 0:02:01.640 --> 0:02:06.559 The Blind see Matt Formston movie alongside director Daniel Fenech. 0:02:06.590 --> 0:02:10.730 She's set up a blindness and low vision hardship fund 0:02:10.730 --> 0:02:15.140 for people in the Fraser Coast region in south east Queensland. 0:02:15.170 --> 0:02:20.000 She's hosted her own mini disability expo, all of this 0:02:20.030 --> 0:02:25.040 while experiencing vision loss due to macular degeneration. But she's 0:02:25.040 --> 0:02:28.490 not stopping there because 100 K is coming up. She's 0:02:28.490 --> 0:02:32.390 taking part in that and setting up a dinner in 0:02:32.390 --> 0:02:37.070 the dark in Hervey Bay. Her name is Joanne Kabat 0:02:37.070 --> 0:02:40.850 and she joins me now. Jo, welcome to Talking Vision. 0:02:40.850 --> 0:02:42.620 Thanks so much for your time. 0:02:42.620 --> 0:02:45.710 Thank you so much, Sam. I'm excited to be here 0:02:45.710 --> 0:02:46.940 and chatting with you today. 0:02:46.970 --> 0:02:50.360 And we're very excited to have you. Now, Joe, you've 0:02:50.360 --> 0:02:54.350 been quite busy in the local community up in the 0:02:54.350 --> 0:02:59.120 Fraser Coast. You know, you've created quite a few events and, 0:02:59.150 --> 0:03:02.000 you know, this has been a really good opportunity to 0:03:02.030 --> 0:03:07.700 create awareness, promote inclusivity and accessibility. So what sort of 0:03:07.700 --> 0:03:09.560 things have you been up to? 0:03:09.590 --> 0:03:13.280 Yes, yes, it has been a busy period, I must say. 0:03:13.310 --> 0:03:17.390 I've been doing multiple things at once, which is kind 0:03:17.390 --> 0:03:20.270 of what I tend to do. I never stop at 0:03:20.270 --> 0:03:23.030 just doing one thing. It's like, oh, what next? What 0:03:23.030 --> 0:03:25.910 else can I do? All of these add ons. So 0:03:25.910 --> 0:03:29.240 it began last year when The Blind See was released 0:03:29.240 --> 0:03:32.660 with Matt Formston obviously surfing the the biggest waves in 0:03:32.660 --> 0:03:36.320 the world, and it didn't come to the Fraser Coast. 0:03:36.320 --> 0:03:40.670 And I thought, oh, that's really disappointing because whilst I 0:03:40.670 --> 0:03:42.860 can't see a lot, I was, you know, just hoping 0:03:42.890 --> 0:03:46.400 to enjoy the experience of attending that movie. So I 0:03:46.400 --> 0:03:51.950 mentioned something on Instagram and immediately the director of the 0:03:51.950 --> 0:03:54.770 Blind See reached out to me and he said, This 0:03:54.770 --> 0:03:55.550 is Daniel. 0:03:55.610 --> 0:03:58.490 That's right. Thanks. I've had a chat to Daniel. He's great. 0:03:58.520 --> 0:04:00.860 A lot of fun to chat to. Daniel's the best. Yeah, 0:04:00.860 --> 0:04:01.640 he's so good. 0:04:01.670 --> 0:04:06.050 He's so good. And he basically said, Joe, I can 0:04:06.050 --> 0:04:09.020 make this happen if you can make it happen and 0:04:09.020 --> 0:04:13.730 game on. And so it began. So from there it 0:04:13.730 --> 0:04:17.360 was months of trying to find a venue. The cinemas 0:04:17.360 --> 0:04:22.219 here weren't overly helpful and I was working with I 0:04:22.220 --> 0:04:26.450 don't know if you spoke to JP, he's the movie distributor. 0:04:26.480 --> 0:04:29.810 No, I haven't spoken to JP. I did speak to Daniel. 0:04:30.230 --> 0:04:34.940 Right. Oh, Daniel. Daniel linked me to JP because he'd 0:04:34.970 --> 0:04:38.390 be the best person to help me with the distribution and, 0:04:38.420 --> 0:04:41.840 you know, finding a venue and everything. And JP was amazing. 0:04:41.840 --> 0:04:45.650 But both of us didn't get very far with, like, 0:04:45.650 --> 0:04:50.330 the local cinemas, the Fraser Coast, the council here, they 0:04:50.330 --> 0:04:54.289 were amazing from the beginning, but we were talking more 0:04:54.290 --> 0:04:58.790 about outdoor locations, which would be great for awareness but 0:04:58.790 --> 0:05:01.580 not for weather up here on the Fraser Coast in 0:05:01.580 --> 0:05:02.900 tropical Queensland. 0:05:02.930 --> 0:05:03.800 Yeah, that. 0:05:03.800 --> 0:05:06.680 Wasn't going to work. So I went around to a 0:05:06.680 --> 0:05:12.050 few locations and eventually I applied for a grant with 0:05:12.080 --> 0:05:17.420 the Hervey Bay RSL, and that grant was approved. And 0:05:17.420 --> 0:05:21.020 so that's how we came about to having the film 0:05:21.020 --> 0:05:24.770 screened there at the RSL. And they paid for the 0:05:24.770 --> 0:05:28.880 screening costs, they paid for the venue, and they also 0:05:28.880 --> 0:05:32.930 paid for some low vision and community awareness badges that 0:05:32.930 --> 0:05:36.380 I wanted to create and hand out to anybody who 0:05:36.380 --> 0:05:39.680 had low vision or blindness in our community, which was 0:05:39.680 --> 0:05:40.940 just incredible. 0:05:41.060 --> 0:05:46.460 Yeah. It is. That's fantastic. And you've been involved in 0:05:46.490 --> 0:05:51.110 a mini disability expo as well. You've sort of that's 0:05:51.110 --> 0:05:52.909 been in the pipeline recently. 0:05:52.910 --> 0:05:56.900 So I decided, okay, so we've got the movie coming 0:05:56.930 --> 0:06:02.930 to town. This is fantastic. But it's also another opportunity 0:06:02.930 --> 0:06:03.740 to add another. 0:06:03.800 --> 0:06:05.000 Layer, which. 0:06:05.000 --> 0:06:10.670 Was to hold a mini disability expo for anybody with 0:06:10.670 --> 0:06:16.820 any disabilities, families, friends and to create more awareness to 0:06:16.850 --> 0:06:21.200 any of the community attending Blind See. So what I 0:06:21.200 --> 0:06:25.250 did is I reached out to just around eight organizations 0:06:25.250 --> 0:06:30.740 in the community who not only just offered like support workers, 0:06:30.740 --> 0:06:34.550 but I wanted to actually show the types of things 0:06:34.550 --> 0:06:39.140 people could do. So we had team rehab there and 0:06:39.140 --> 0:06:43.670 they provide exercise, physio, which is something with my legal 0:06:43.670 --> 0:06:49.400 blindness I've really appreciated doing. I had a transportation organization there, 0:06:49.400 --> 0:06:54.950 Health Cabin Co. They were fantastic. Fraser Coast Support Coordination 0:06:54.950 --> 0:06:59.090 who offer incredible support in the community, trying to connect 0:06:59.090 --> 0:07:04.159 people to the NDIS and achieve their goals through the NDIS. 0:07:04.160 --> 0:07:08.630 So we had a bunch of different organisations attending this 0:07:08.630 --> 0:07:12.080 and for the ones that couldn't attend, like Vision Australia 0:07:12.080 --> 0:07:16.640 and Quantum and National Plan managers here who also work 0:07:16.640 --> 0:07:22.100 with NDIS, they all sent brochures, which was incredible. And 0:07:22.100 --> 0:07:24.890 I also had a stack of brochures that I contributed 0:07:24.890 --> 0:07:29.540 to because I reached out to the local community and 0:07:29.540 --> 0:07:34.190 they were incredible in offering donations to people with low 0:07:34.190 --> 0:07:38.540 vision and blindness, as well as goodie bags, which we 0:07:38.570 --> 0:07:42.680 collated together, which just had a few discounts and some 0:07:42.680 --> 0:07:46.940 recommendations and some more information for anyone attending. With low 0:07:46.940 --> 0:07:51.560 Vision and Blindness and Quantum and Vision, Australia had a 0:07:51.560 --> 0:07:58.790 bunch of brochures along with Paralympic Sports, goalball, Disability Sports Australia. 0:07:58.790 --> 0:08:02.120 So it was quite a mix of different things for 0:08:02.120 --> 0:08:03.560 the Disability Expo. 0:08:03.680 --> 0:08:07.790 And how have you gone over that past five months 0:08:07.790 --> 0:08:13.400 navigating numerous things, including, you know, doing all this while 0:08:13.400 --> 0:08:18.770 experiencing vision loss and the series of challenges that presents. 0:08:18.800 --> 0:08:22.190 How have you managed to adapt and navigate your way 0:08:22.190 --> 0:08:23.240 through that? 0:08:23.540 --> 0:08:27.680 Yeah. Good point. I have had two vision declines. I 0:08:27.680 --> 0:08:32.870 have myopic macular degeneration. So as a high myopic child, 0:08:32.870 --> 0:08:39.379 as I became older, unfortunately it changed into myopic macular degeneration, 0:08:39.380 --> 0:08:43.099 which is mainly degeneration of the central vision. So that's 0:08:43.099 --> 0:08:46.579 the key part I've lost in both of my eyes, 0:08:46.579 --> 0:08:50.089 which is very similar to Matt Formston, our world famous 0:08:50.089 --> 0:08:53.359 blind surfer. So we kind of see a little bit similarly, 0:08:53.359 --> 0:08:56.599 which was interesting to get two people the same together. 0:08:56.599 --> 0:09:01.069 It's been hard, I must say, because as I'm working 0:09:01.069 --> 0:09:04.939 through this, it was mostly alone with some assistance from 0:09:04.939 --> 0:09:09.859 my incredible support worker Renee from Health Cabin Co. And 0:09:09.859 --> 0:09:13.579 I think the hardest part is how slow I was. 0:09:13.579 --> 0:09:18.020 And I would just get used to using a system 0:09:18.020 --> 0:09:21.800 and be able to function a little bit faster, and 0:09:21.800 --> 0:09:24.679 then I'd get another vision decline and it was like 0:09:24.679 --> 0:09:28.909 starting all over again. So it was really frustrating. And 0:09:28.910 --> 0:09:32.329 I had to say to myself, look after your wellbeing, 0:09:32.359 --> 0:09:35.809 take time out, do a little bit at a time, 0:09:35.839 --> 0:09:38.389 have a break and then come back to it. And, 0:09:38.420 --> 0:09:40.099 you know, eventually I got there. 0:09:40.130 --> 0:09:44.449 Yeah it is. It does present so many different challenges, 0:09:44.449 --> 0:09:48.229 but there's also always ways to get on top of 0:09:48.229 --> 0:09:52.129 it and make things achievable. Bite off small parts and 0:09:52.130 --> 0:09:56.089 that can do attitude. That's just helped everything go from 0:09:56.089 --> 0:09:59.449 strength to strength. And you're absolutely right. It is hard. 0:09:59.449 --> 0:10:02.390 It is challenging. You know, you can't all be on 0:10:02.390 --> 0:10:05.629 top of everything. You can't be happy all the time 0:10:05.630 --> 0:10:10.459 and it's okay to be frustrated. It's okay to feel down. 0:10:10.459 --> 0:10:13.250 It's okay to think, oh no, I have to go 0:10:13.250 --> 0:10:16.249 through this again. But then you get over that hump 0:10:16.250 --> 0:10:20.179 and you keep going and you achieve all these amazing things. 0:10:20.179 --> 0:10:24.829 Like you've recently opened the Fraser Coast Low Vision and 0:10:24.829 --> 0:10:28.309 Blind Community Hardship Fund. That's quite interesting. 0:10:28.339 --> 0:10:33.139 Yes, yes, it's really exciting. And I think having had 0:10:33.140 --> 0:10:38.870 a degenerative eye disease. So I'm 55 now and I'm 0:10:38.870 --> 0:10:41.929 at the point where I am legally blind. I've wanted 0:10:41.929 --> 0:10:46.400 to give back and help other people who are experiencing 0:10:46.400 --> 0:10:50.510 severe vision loss. And I'm really aware, and I have 0:10:50.540 --> 0:10:54.020 been since Covid, to be quite honest, that a lot 0:10:54.050 --> 0:10:58.550 of people aren't on NDIS, they're struggling to get on, 0:10:58.579 --> 0:11:01.009 they've been waiting for a long time, or they're not 0:11:01.010 --> 0:11:04.309 getting the supports that they need through the aged care 0:11:04.309 --> 0:11:10.670 system either and living regionally combats that too. Um, we 0:11:10.670 --> 0:11:15.590 struggle with particularly when you can't drive getting around accessing 0:11:15.589 --> 0:11:20.630 our ophthalmologists. Vision Australia to our closest is Sunshine Coast 0:11:20.630 --> 0:11:25.220 and Brisbane. So through the Fraser Coast Low Vision and 0:11:25.219 --> 0:11:29.210 Blind Community Hardship Fund. I'm hoping that we can actually 0:11:29.209 --> 0:11:33.529 help people who are struggling, for example, if they're not 0:11:33.530 --> 0:11:36.980 able to afford a long cane or they can't get 0:11:36.979 --> 0:11:40.579 to the long cane training on the Sunshine Coast or 0:11:40.579 --> 0:11:44.840 in Brisbane. Hopefully we can assist through getting them there 0:11:44.839 --> 0:11:47.780 and navigating the life the way that they want it 0:11:47.780 --> 0:11:48.470 to be. 0:11:48.469 --> 0:11:53.359 And you've got a couple of really exciting events coming up, 0:11:53.359 --> 0:11:56.479 including 100 K your way, which is just sort of 0:11:56.510 --> 0:12:00.860 kicking off over here in Vision Australia or ramping up 0:12:00.859 --> 0:12:04.040 to do 100 K our way in April. So that's 0:12:04.040 --> 0:12:07.069 all very exciting. A lot of people joining up and 0:12:07.069 --> 0:12:10.520 enthusiasm is really building. So that's pretty cool. 0:12:10.550 --> 0:12:13.550 Yeah, I actually I did it for the first time 0:12:13.550 --> 0:12:17.480 last year. Sam and I absolutely loved it, and I 0:12:17.479 --> 0:12:22.760 seized it as an opportunity to create awareness in the community. 0:12:22.760 --> 0:12:26.780 I'd only been using my cane for a year approximately, 0:12:26.780 --> 0:12:30.590 and being a fairly sporty person, I thought, okay, let's 0:12:30.589 --> 0:12:33.350 mix this up. I'll get out to the local pool 0:12:33.349 --> 0:12:36.320 and I'll swim, and I'll do some of the tourist 0:12:36.319 --> 0:12:40.010 sites in the Fraser Coast and just be walking around 0:12:40.010 --> 0:12:44.210 with my cane, clocking up those 100 k's that way. 0:12:44.209 --> 0:12:47.179 And I also got on my bike, so it was 0:12:47.179 --> 0:12:51.470 a great opportunity to get outside, do some exercise, join 0:12:51.469 --> 0:12:54.620 a couple of friends in doing it, sometimes create some 0:12:54.620 --> 0:12:59.239 awareness as well as fundraise for Vision Australia. Because this 0:12:59.240 --> 0:13:02.839 initiative means a lot to me as far as the 0:13:02.839 --> 0:13:08.179 funds are going to help so many people access mobility. Services, 0:13:08.179 --> 0:13:12.349 which is such an incredibly important thing for us when we're. 0:13:12.380 --> 0:13:16.339 We have vision loss, and it's also about our balance, 0:13:16.339 --> 0:13:20.540 those mobility. Services help us learn to walk more safely 0:13:20.540 --> 0:13:23.749 and feel more confident when we're. Out in the community. 0:13:23.809 --> 0:13:27.740 And we'll get a feel of those details later on 0:13:27.740 --> 0:13:31.429 at the end. But I'm keen to just hear about 0:13:31.429 --> 0:13:35.119 your dinner in the dark in Hervey Bay. That's coming up. 0:13:35.420 --> 0:13:40.010 Oh yes. Absolutely. I am so excited to let everybody 0:13:40.010 --> 0:13:44.929 know that there's another fundraising initiative, and it came out 0:13:44.929 --> 0:13:48.560 of a joint sponsorship for a dinner with the Lions 0:13:48.559 --> 0:13:53.480 Club and the vineyard, which has recently opened here, which 0:13:53.479 --> 0:13:57.949 is a stunning, stunning location on the Esplanade where you 0:13:57.949 --> 0:14:01.309 can eat and drink, you know, wonderful food. Really have 0:14:01.309 --> 0:14:04.729 a special evening with some of your friends and family. 0:14:04.729 --> 0:14:08.420 So I approached the vineyard. I think it was last 0:14:08.420 --> 0:14:11.809 Friday because I knew that they were quite interested in 0:14:11.809 --> 0:14:14.720 actually doing something with me after they'd heard about the 0:14:14.719 --> 0:14:17.900 blind See event. And they are. So we're going to 0:14:17.929 --> 0:14:22.009 collaborate on a dinner in the dark event. We're looking 0:14:22.010 --> 0:14:25.070 at the end of April at the moment, the 24th 0:14:25.070 --> 0:14:28.610 of April, but we're yet to put that one in stone. 0:14:28.609 --> 0:14:31.160 So stay tuned for the date for this one. And 0:14:31.160 --> 0:14:35.090 basically it's going to be a blindfolded dinner and a 0:14:35.090 --> 0:14:39.290 major fundraising event once again for the Fraser Coast low 0:14:39.290 --> 0:14:41.150 vision and blind community. 0:14:41.240 --> 0:14:45.440 Oh, perfect. And if people would like to get in 0:14:45.440 --> 0:14:49.010 touch with you, Joe, what's the best way for them 0:14:49.010 --> 0:14:49.820 to do that? 0:14:49.850 --> 0:14:52.190 Yeah, yeah, unfortunately, I don't have the link to my 0:14:52.220 --> 0:14:55.340 100 K page. That's okay. Put it up today because 0:14:55.340 --> 0:14:57.890 I have been promoting Andrew K your way and trying 0:14:57.890 --> 0:15:00.739 to encourage more people to get on board. And because 0:15:00.740 --> 0:15:03.650 I love Vision Australia. They've been incredibly supportive to me 0:15:03.650 --> 0:15:06.499 right from the outset, which is so important when you're 0:15:06.500 --> 0:15:08.960 on this vision loss journey. So I'll put that up 0:15:08.960 --> 0:15:13.310 today on my Instagram and Facebook handles, which are at 0:15:13.340 --> 0:15:22.340 livwell with Vision Loss. So that's live well with vision loss. 0:15:22.340 --> 0:15:25.670 So you'll see me doing all sorts of promotions. You'll 0:15:25.670 --> 0:15:29.389 even find me doing all of my 100 K exercises 0:15:29.390 --> 0:15:34.370 from last year. And it's basically an inspirational motivational page 0:15:34.460 --> 0:15:37.820 for anyone experiencing vision loss so that you know, you 0:15:37.820 --> 0:15:41.690 don't feel alone in that journey. So there's that one there. 0:15:41.690 --> 0:15:45.710 And I also have a try booking fund. And that's 0:15:45.710 --> 0:15:50.780 where the Fraser Coast Community Fund is, my latest fundraiser 0:15:50.780 --> 0:15:55.279 from the Blind See event. We fundraised over $1,000, which 0:15:55.280 --> 0:15:56.930 is an incredible start for. 0:15:56.960 --> 0:15:58.160 That fund certainly. 0:15:58.190 --> 0:16:04.370 So the try booking fundraiser is try booking. Try Booking.com 0:16:04.370 --> 0:16:07.850 and once again I'll put that up on my Instagram page. 0:16:07.850 --> 0:16:10.670 So it's really easy for everybody to find. 0:16:10.700 --> 0:16:14.510 That's all happening. That'd be. Yeah, that'd be fantastic. Looking 0:16:14.510 --> 0:16:16.550 forward to hearing how that goes. 0:16:16.580 --> 0:16:20.120 Yes, yes, I'll reach out just before the event and 0:16:20.120 --> 0:16:22.879 provide some more information if you like, as well as 0:16:22.910 --> 0:16:26.540 a wrap up afterwards, and by then too. So stay 0:16:26.540 --> 0:16:30.050 tuned for everybody who is on social media, because I'm 0:16:30.050 --> 0:16:32.450 in the middle of creating my YouTube page. 0:16:32.479 --> 0:16:32.930 Oh, okay. 0:16:32.960 --> 0:16:37.580 Which yeah, that's going to be an inspirational motivational page 0:16:37.580 --> 0:16:41.990 where I'm also doing balance activities and interviews and connecting 0:16:41.990 --> 0:16:48.110 with other people experiencing low vision and blindness, and also 0:16:48.109 --> 0:16:51.380 organizing my website right now so that one soon to 0:16:51.410 --> 0:16:54.680 go live. But I'll post those on my Instagram Live 0:16:54.680 --> 0:16:57.470 well with Vision Loss page once they're ready to go. 0:16:57.500 --> 0:17:02.630 Perfect. Well, I've been speaking today with Joanne Cabot, the 0:17:02.630 --> 0:17:08.030 founder of the Livewell with Vision Loss Instagram page and 0:17:08.030 --> 0:17:13.310 fundraising extraordinaire on the Fraser Coast. It's been an absolute 0:17:13.310 --> 0:17:16.280 pleasure to catch up with you today, Joe, and hear 0:17:16.280 --> 0:17:19.070 about what you've been up to and what's coming up 0:17:19.070 --> 0:17:21.710 in the future. So all the very best. 0:17:21.740 --> 0:17:24.199 Thank you so much, Sam. It's just been wonderful to 0:17:24.230 --> 0:17:27.230 talk to you and to share my story as well 0:17:27.230 --> 0:17:28.250 as my vision. 0:17:34.520 --> 0:17:38.060 I'm Sam Culley and you're listening to Talking Vision on 0:17:38.060 --> 0:17:43.520 a Vision Australia Radio, Associated Stations of Reading Radio and 0:17:43.520 --> 0:17:48.440 the Community Radio Network. I hope you enjoyed that conversation 0:17:48.440 --> 0:17:52.190 there with Joe Cabot. If you missed any part of 0:17:52.220 --> 0:17:55.310 that chat with Joe or you'd love to hear it again. 0:17:55.310 --> 0:18:00.350 Talking vision is available on the Vision Australia Radio website. 0:18:00.379 --> 0:18:07.730 Simply head to VA radio.org. That's VA radio.org. Or you 0:18:07.730 --> 0:18:10.790 can find the program on the podcast app of your 0:18:10.790 --> 0:18:16.070 choice or through the Vision Australia library. With the 100 0:18:16.070 --> 0:18:20.420 Koa challenge kicking off in just under four weeks time, 0:18:20.419 --> 0:18:25.190 what better time than to chat with our next guest? 0:18:25.220 --> 0:18:30.230 She's done it all. She's been a summer and winter Paralympian, 0:18:30.260 --> 0:18:35.900 a Vision Australia ambassador and now ambassador for 100 K 0:18:35.930 --> 0:18:40.609 your way. It's none other than Jess Gallagher, who returns 0:18:40.609 --> 0:18:44.420 to Talking Vision to chat with me right now. Jess, 0:18:44.450 --> 0:18:47.719 welcome back to Talking Vision. Thank you very much for 0:18:47.720 --> 0:18:48.830 your time today. 0:18:49.129 --> 0:18:51.050 Thanks, Sam. It's always good to chat. 0:18:51.080 --> 0:18:54.950 Now, Jess, to start off with, we're here to chat 0:18:54.950 --> 0:18:59.540 about 100 K your way. Of course. Now, people may 0:18:59.540 --> 0:19:03.140 have heard of this over the years, but for people 0:19:03.169 --> 0:19:06.020 new to the idea out there, what is hundred K 0:19:06.050 --> 0:19:06.770 your way? 0:19:06.950 --> 0:19:11.840 Well, this April we're encouraging people to run, walk, swim, 0:19:11.840 --> 0:19:17.239 roll whatever form you feel like doing 100km your way, 0:19:17.240 --> 0:19:20.449 and it gives us the opportunity to raise some funds 0:19:20.450 --> 0:19:23.389 whilst having fun moving around at the same time for 0:19:23.389 --> 0:19:27.320 Vision Australia. And all funds raised will be going to 0:19:27.379 --> 0:19:30.169 helping people who are blind or have low vision live 0:19:30.200 --> 0:19:33.080 the life they choose. So I'm really excited to be 0:19:33.080 --> 0:19:35.659 on board as an ambassador this year and seeing how 0:19:35.659 --> 0:19:38.720 I can push out that 100 K in April. 0:19:38.750 --> 0:19:42.950 Oh, perfect. And Jess, how did you become an ambassador? 0:19:42.950 --> 0:19:45.230 How did that all sort of come about? Was there 0:19:45.230 --> 0:19:48.409 one sort of event or one day where you thought, 0:19:48.440 --> 0:19:50.990 you know what, I want to get behind this cause 0:19:50.990 --> 0:19:54.889 this is, you know, such an amazing organization that's been 0:19:54.889 --> 0:19:57.380 so important to me and both of us. You know, 0:19:57.409 --> 0:20:00.200 we've really benefited over the years. But how did that 0:20:00.230 --> 0:20:01.100 come about? 0:20:01.129 --> 0:20:05.029 Well, really, my relationship with Vision Australia started over 20 0:20:05.030 --> 0:20:08.480 years ago when I was diagnosed as legally blind. And 0:20:08.480 --> 0:20:12.350 the first person that my ophthalmologist doctor, Lisa Reddington, put 0:20:12.350 --> 0:20:15.530 me in touch with was Vision Australia. And they really 0:20:15.530 --> 0:20:20.690 enabled me to understand my low vision, what it meant, 0:20:20.720 --> 0:20:23.180 how I could at the time I was in year 12. 0:20:23.210 --> 0:20:27.320 So they sent a occupational therapist out to the school 0:20:27.350 --> 0:20:29.450 to help educate the teachers on the things I could 0:20:29.450 --> 0:20:32.960 and couldn't see. And it really opened my eyes, and 0:20:32.960 --> 0:20:36.770 no pun intended, to really what the world of low 0:20:36.770 --> 0:20:39.619 vision could be for me as a person, and to 0:20:39.649 --> 0:20:41.990 ensure that I was able to live the life that 0:20:41.990 --> 0:20:45.080 I dreamt about and whilst understanding it was now looking 0:20:45.080 --> 0:20:48.020 a little different. It didn't mean that I couldn't chase 0:20:48.020 --> 0:20:51.020 those dreams. They just took me down a different pathway, 0:20:51.020 --> 0:20:53.540 which is how I ended up becoming a Paralympian. As 0:20:53.540 --> 0:20:57.139 someone who was a really sporty kid and a talented 0:20:57.139 --> 0:21:00.980 netballer at the time, as a as a youngster. And really, 0:21:00.980 --> 0:21:03.379 it was 15 years ago this year that I became 0:21:03.379 --> 0:21:07.670 an ambassador for Vision Australia, and it came about after 0:21:07.669 --> 0:21:12.080 I won my first Paralympic medal at the 2010 Vancouver 0:21:12.080 --> 0:21:16.759 Winter Paralympics. I was still utilizing the services of Vision Australia, 0:21:16.760 --> 0:21:20.000 and the CEO at the time, I think was one 0:21:20.000 --> 0:21:21.890 the CEO at the time, I can't remember, it's been 0:21:21.889 --> 0:21:24.590 so long now. Yeah. Asked if I would would get 0:21:24.619 --> 0:21:27.350 on board and help support the organisation and it was 0:21:27.350 --> 0:21:30.650 a no brainer for me. Having been the recipient of 0:21:30.680 --> 0:21:33.889 so much love and support from the Vision Australia community, 0:21:33.889 --> 0:21:36.260 it was a very natural fit to be able to 0:21:36.290 --> 0:21:39.290 put my hand up and hopefully give back to others. 0:21:39.379 --> 0:21:42.470 So they've been asking me for a couple of years 0:21:42.470 --> 0:21:45.020 to get involved with the hundred K your way, but 0:21:45.020 --> 0:21:47.840 being a Paralympian and with a lot of travel, it 0:21:47.840 --> 0:21:50.570 has been tricky trying to find the time as I'm 0:21:50.570 --> 0:21:54.020 often overseas. But this year was the year I'm not 0:21:54.020 --> 0:21:56.630 overseas in March or April, so it meant I could 0:21:56.629 --> 0:22:00.859 really dedicate myself to helping the cause and promoting a 0:22:00.859 --> 0:22:02.810 really worthwhile activity. 0:22:02.840 --> 0:22:06.500 And we'd love to have you. And as you've mentioned there, 0:22:06.530 --> 0:22:09.440 you know, you've been a Paralympian. You've done it all really. 0:22:09.470 --> 0:22:13.760 On the skiing, rowing, cycling, what have you. Now tying 0:22:13.790 --> 0:22:16.639 into that, how are you going to be doing your 0:22:16.669 --> 0:22:18.500 hundred K this April? 0:22:19.520 --> 0:22:21.050 Oh, it's a big question, Sam. 0:22:21.050 --> 0:22:23.720 I've been thinking about it and I feel like it's 0:22:23.720 --> 0:22:27.920 somewhat cheating. If I included my training that I'm currently 0:22:27.919 --> 0:22:30.770 doing as a paracyclist, I feel like that would just 0:22:30.770 --> 0:22:33.440 sort of be taking the easy option if I included 0:22:33.440 --> 0:22:36.590 the full time training I already do as a professional athlete, 0:22:36.590 --> 0:22:41.119 so I'm leaning towards doing the 100 k walking. I 0:22:41.119 --> 0:22:42.889 have to be a little bit careful. Running is a 0:22:42.889 --> 0:22:46.040 little bit tricky at the moment given my training for cycling, 0:22:46.040 --> 0:22:48.919 so I think I might be hitting the pavement and 0:22:48.919 --> 0:22:51.560 trying to notch up those KS through walking. 0:22:51.560 --> 0:22:56.840 Let's go into the background of 100 K and why 0:22:56.840 --> 0:23:01.790 it is so important for Vision Australia and funding the 0:23:01.790 --> 0:23:07.010 vital services that they are able to provide. Why is 0:23:07.010 --> 0:23:11.960 something like 100 K so important to raise funds for 0:23:11.960 --> 0:23:16.220 Vision Australia and the programs they provide for people around 0:23:16.220 --> 0:23:18.680 the country who are blind or have low vision? 0:23:19.040 --> 0:23:21.560 It's a really good question, Sam. I think it can 0:23:21.560 --> 0:23:25.040 be difficult to truly understand the impact that not for 0:23:25.070 --> 0:23:28.879 profit organisations like Vision Australia play for those individuals who 0:23:28.879 --> 0:23:31.520 benefit from their support. But if I take my own 0:23:31.520 --> 0:23:36.590 individual experiences, when I was diagnosed as legally blind, I 0:23:36.590 --> 0:23:40.070 knew nothing about the sector of people with low vision 0:23:40.070 --> 0:23:42.800 or blindness. It was this whole new world. And really, 0:23:42.800 --> 0:23:46.040 in order to enable myself to continue the life that 0:23:46.040 --> 0:23:48.649 I was living, to continue chasing my dreams, I needed 0:23:48.649 --> 0:23:52.100 to learn how to access support services. How was I 0:23:52.129 --> 0:23:55.669 going to get around as a person who was legally blind, 0:23:55.669 --> 0:23:58.070 and all these sort of intricate things that you may 0:23:58.070 --> 0:24:01.039 not think about until you're now in that situation for 0:24:01.040 --> 0:24:04.340 yourself as an individual. And so for me, being able 0:24:04.340 --> 0:24:08.030 to come into Vision Australia to meet people who are 0:24:08.030 --> 0:24:11.119 similar to me, who have similar lived experiences, to learn 0:24:11.119 --> 0:24:13.399 the little tricks and tips that they might use to 0:24:13.430 --> 0:24:18.230 help access technology, the latest adaptive technology that they might 0:24:18.230 --> 0:24:21.470 find on a phone or a tablet that enables reading 0:24:21.470 --> 0:24:25.910 or typing easier. All those little things are just hard 0:24:25.909 --> 0:24:29.000 to access if you're not in the know with where 0:24:29.000 --> 0:24:31.430 the sector is going. And so for me, Vision Australia 0:24:31.430 --> 0:24:34.220 has really played that pivotal role in ensuring that I 0:24:34.220 --> 0:24:37.790 can always continue to push and challenge myself to reach 0:24:37.820 --> 0:24:41.750 my dreams with low vision. And so 100 K your way. 0:24:41.750 --> 0:24:45.230 It really encompasses the full spectrum of an experience for 0:24:45.230 --> 0:24:47.989 someone with low vision or blindness. You know, the funds 0:24:47.990 --> 0:24:50.389 raised might go to a young child who is newly 0:24:50.389 --> 0:24:53.869 diagnosed to helping support that child, and their parents navigate 0:24:53.869 --> 0:24:57.140 through this experience and moving into a schooling system. Or 0:24:57.139 --> 0:24:59.509 it might help an older person who needs to be 0:24:59.540 --> 0:25:02.540 able to access their daily pills, or to be able 0:25:02.540 --> 0:25:06.050 to continue knitting or moving around and staying mobile. So 0:25:06.050 --> 0:25:09.530 there's the full spectrum of support that is available to someone. 0:25:09.530 --> 0:25:12.590 And so these funds that are raised really enable those 0:25:12.590 --> 0:25:15.800 supports to be provided to individuals who are blind or 0:25:15.800 --> 0:25:18.680 have low vision. So I think it's a wonderful way 0:25:18.680 --> 0:25:21.619 with 100 K your way, you can enter as an individual, 0:25:21.619 --> 0:25:24.470 you can enter with teams, you can enter with your school. 0:25:24.470 --> 0:25:28.040 And so everybody can get involved and enjoy the positive 0:25:28.040 --> 0:25:31.940 elements that exercise provides for us, whilst also raising some 0:25:31.940 --> 0:25:34.100 money for a really, really good cause. 0:25:34.129 --> 0:25:37.790 And following on from that, Jess, if people would love 0:25:37.790 --> 0:25:41.570 to head to your hundred K page or the numerous 0:25:41.600 --> 0:25:45.380 other 100 K your way pages that are now live 0:25:45.379 --> 0:25:49.729 for people to head along to donate, what's the best 0:25:49.730 --> 0:25:51.919 way for people to do that? 0:25:52.040 --> 0:25:54.320 The simplest way is just to pop it straight into 0:25:54.350 --> 0:25:57.439 Google or whatever your search engine might be. Pop in 0:25:57.440 --> 0:26:00.530 Vision Australia 100 K your way and you will find 0:26:00.530 --> 0:26:04.100 the website. And the website is really easy to access. 0:26:04.100 --> 0:26:08.509 It has explainers on how it works. There's a leaderboard 0:26:08.510 --> 0:26:10.430 for those of us that might feel a little bit 0:26:10.430 --> 0:26:13.280 competitive and want to see how we're going in amongst 0:26:13.280 --> 0:26:16.609 everybody else taking part, and there's also some rewards that 0:26:16.609 --> 0:26:19.370 you can receive. So for those out there that are 0:26:19.369 --> 0:26:23.960 striving to really raise some significant funds, there are rewards 0:26:23.960 --> 0:26:27.950 along the way as well. So the website is fully 0:26:27.950 --> 0:26:31.070 accessible and allows you to really understand the impact that 0:26:31.070 --> 0:26:34.580 you might be making by raising those funds for Vision Australia. 0:26:34.609 --> 0:26:40.399 Perfect. Well, I've been speaking today with Jess Gallagher, Paralympian 0:26:40.399 --> 0:26:45.260 and 100 K your way, ambassador. Jess, thank you so 0:26:45.260 --> 0:26:47.780 much for your time today. It was great to catch 0:26:47.780 --> 0:26:50.870 up with you again and chat all about 100 K 0:26:50.899 --> 0:26:51.590 your way. 0:26:51.619 --> 0:26:52.669 Thanks, Sam. 0:27:00.379 --> 0:27:03.500 And that's all the time we have for today. You've 0:27:03.530 --> 0:27:07.730 been listening to Talking Vision. Talking vision is a Vision 0:27:07.760 --> 0:27:11.929 Australia radio production. Thanks to all involved with putting the 0:27:11.930 --> 0:27:16.129 show together every week. And remember, we love hearing from you. 0:27:16.129 --> 0:27:19.399 So please get in touch any time on our email 0:27:19.399 --> 0:27:24.710 at Talking Vision. At Vision australia.org. That's talking vision all 0:27:24.710 --> 0:27:29.510 one word at Vision australia.org. But until next week it's 0:27:29.510 --> 0:27:31.850 Sam Colley saying bye for now. 0:27:35.810 --> 0:27:40.010 You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during 0:27:40.010 --> 0:27:51.859 business hours on 1300 847 406. That's 1300 847 406 or by visiting Vision australia.org. 0:27:51.859 --> 0:27:54.379 That's Vision australia.org.