WEBVTT - Talking Vision 693 Week Beginning 11th of September 2023 0:00:49.229 --> 0:00:54.959 From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's 0:00:54.959 --> 0:00:56.939 your host, Sam Collins. 0:00:59.489 --> 0:01:02.609 Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And 0:01:02.609 --> 0:01:05.579 for the next half hour, we talk matters of blindness 0:01:05.579 --> 0:01:06.629 and low vision. 0:01:06.809 --> 0:01:09.299 You know, if you close your eyes and you watch 0:01:09.299 --> 0:01:12.809 Friends or you watch Modern Family or Gilmore Girls or 0:01:12.809 --> 0:01:15.779 any of those sort of shows without vision, imagine just 0:01:15.779 --> 0:01:18.299 how confusing it would be to you, because, you know, 0:01:18.299 --> 0:01:20.819 obviously some of those shows have the laugh tracks in them. 0:01:20.819 --> 0:01:22.619 You don't know what they're laughing at, and you won't 0:01:22.629 --> 0:01:24.329 until you open your eyes and actually look at it. 0:01:24.329 --> 0:01:27.299 That's what audio description is for us. It's basically, you know, 0:01:27.299 --> 0:01:29.129 you watch the show your whole life with your eyes 0:01:29.129 --> 0:01:31.889 closed and then audio description being added is like opening 0:01:31.889 --> 0:01:34.739 your eyes and actually understanding what's happening and seeing what's 0:01:34.739 --> 0:01:35.999 happening for the first time. 0:01:36.149 --> 0:01:39.479 Welcome to the program. You may have seen an article 0:01:39.479 --> 0:01:43.739 floating around here and there about a university student from 0:01:43.739 --> 0:01:48.839 Brisbane who started a petition to gain audio description for 0:01:48.839 --> 0:01:52.649 her favorite show, Gilmore Girls. Her name is Tiana and 0:01:52.649 --> 0:01:55.139 she joins me on the show today to chat all 0:01:55.139 --> 0:01:59.669 about her petition and raise awareness for greater audio description 0:01:59.669 --> 0:02:04.979 services on streaming platforms. And then after you hear from Tiana, 0:02:04.979 --> 0:02:09.569 I'm joined by Vision Australia radio manager Conrad Brown to 0:02:09.569 --> 0:02:14.729 chat all about the Radio Listener survey, which is currently underway. 0:02:14.729 --> 0:02:18.839 And finally to wrap up the program this week, Stellar 0:02:18.839 --> 0:02:21.959 Glory catches up with me to chat all about the 0:02:21.959 --> 0:02:27.689 latest issue of foyer information, otherwise known as FYI. I 0:02:27.689 --> 0:02:36.359 hope you enjoy this week's episode of Talking Vision. Tiana 0:02:36.359 --> 0:02:41.189 Offord is a Brisbane based university student and audio description 0:02:41.189 --> 0:02:44.999 user who, as will soon discover, is a massive fan 0:02:44.999 --> 0:02:48.389 of the show Gilmore Girls. But no matter how many 0:02:48.389 --> 0:02:52.649 times she's watched every episode and memorized every line, there 0:02:52.649 --> 0:02:56.129 are some crucial details that she and other viewers who 0:02:56.129 --> 0:02:59.099 are blind or have low vision are missing out on 0:02:59.099 --> 0:03:03.899 without the addition of audio description. Tiana has started a 0:03:03.899 --> 0:03:09.119 Change.org petition to lobby Netflix to add audio description to 0:03:09.119 --> 0:03:12.779 Gilmore Girls with the potential to expand this to other 0:03:12.779 --> 0:03:16.409 shows in future. And it's my great pleasure to welcome 0:03:16.409 --> 0:03:19.469 her to Talking Vision Now to chat all about it. Tiana, 0:03:19.469 --> 0:03:21.239 welcome to Talking Vision. 0:03:21.509 --> 0:03:23.399 Thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited 0:03:23.399 --> 0:03:25.499 and can't believe this opportunity is here. 0:03:25.859 --> 0:03:29.449 Now, how long have you been using audio description for? 0:03:29.849 --> 0:03:32.399 Were you an early adopter or did you come to 0:03:32.399 --> 0:03:33.329 it a bit later? 0:03:33.659 --> 0:03:36.719 I would have to say that I'm not entirely sure 0:03:36.719 --> 0:03:40.229 when audio description came into effect and when it became 0:03:40.229 --> 0:03:43.049 sort of a normal thing for blind people to use it. 0:03:43.319 --> 0:03:46.199 I believe I started using it around 2012 in the 0:03:46.199 --> 0:03:48.479 cinema and then from there it kind of, you know, 0:03:48.479 --> 0:03:50.729 I ended up using it for everything. And now I 0:03:50.729 --> 0:03:54.089 find it very, very strange to watch anything without it. 0:03:54.599 --> 0:03:58.319 You're a fan of shows like Gilmore Girls and Friends, 0:03:58.319 --> 0:04:02.279 but I understand there's a few issues with audio description 0:04:02.279 --> 0:04:05.639 for those older shows. Tell us about those. Yeah. 0:04:05.639 --> 0:04:08.849 So Gilmore Girls is the main show that I'm promoting 0:04:08.849 --> 0:04:11.459 at the moment that I'm trying to get audio description for. 0:04:11.609 --> 0:04:13.889 It just doesn't have it and it doesn't there's not 0:04:13.889 --> 0:04:17.159 a track for audio description anywhere for sure. I've tried 0:04:17.159 --> 0:04:20.549 websites like the Audio Vault where they have shows with 0:04:20.549 --> 0:04:23.879 audio description uploaded in the audio only format and they 0:04:23.879 --> 0:04:26.609 normally have the audio description for them. But it's not there. 0:04:26.609 --> 0:04:28.769 It's not on Netflix, which is where they hold it, 0:04:28.769 --> 0:04:31.979 where they have the show to watch on streaming services. 0:04:31.979 --> 0:04:34.379 And I just think that it needs to have it. 0:04:34.379 --> 0:04:37.469 It's seven seasons long. It's a very popular show. It 0:04:37.469 --> 0:04:41.309 ran from 2000 to 2007. And I think shows like 0:04:41.309 --> 0:04:44.629 Friends where it does have audio description on the audio vault. 0:04:44.639 --> 0:04:47.909 There's no reason why that same audio description track shouldn't 0:04:47.909 --> 0:04:51.479 be available on Netflix or wherever else Friends is held. 0:04:51.479 --> 0:04:54.869 Yeah, that's perfectly understandable. And well, how long have you 0:04:54.869 --> 0:04:58.049 been watching Gilmore Girls for? How many times would you 0:04:58.049 --> 0:05:00.299 say you've watched every episode by now? 0:05:01.289 --> 0:05:04.439 I would have to say so. Different numbers to everyone 0:05:04.439 --> 0:05:06.929 because I honestly have no idea. But it would have 0:05:06.929 --> 0:05:10.499 to be like over 15 times. Like I've seen this 0:05:10.499 --> 0:05:13.679 show so many times that you can say a line 0:05:13.679 --> 0:05:15.509 to me and I can say the next one back. 0:05:15.509 --> 0:05:18.599 Like it's just I just know this show off my heart, okay? 0:05:18.719 --> 0:05:21.239 And it kind of just plays on a continuous loop 0:05:21.239 --> 0:05:24.659 in my lounge room while I'm studying, doing homework, anything 0:05:24.659 --> 0:05:25.229 like that. 0:05:25.349 --> 0:05:29.789 Oh, cool. But even after you've watched it 15 times over, 0:05:29.789 --> 0:05:33.749 you're still sort of missing key details, as I understand it, 0:05:33.749 --> 0:05:36.959 with little things about the plot. And you find out later, Oh, 0:05:36.959 --> 0:05:39.899 hang on. That's not how I thought it was, because 0:05:39.899 --> 0:05:43.409 you didn't have the visual information conveyed to you through 0:05:43.409 --> 0:05:46.949 the audio description. So you miss out on key aspects 0:05:46.949 --> 0:05:50.399 of the plot even after you're a Gilmore Girls superfan. 0:05:50.399 --> 0:05:53.259 And as he said, you know, every line off by heart, 0:05:53.279 --> 0:05:56.459 but you're still missing out on those visual details. So 0:05:56.459 --> 0:05:59.639 that also really speaks to why it is so important 0:05:59.639 --> 0:06:02.909 to have audio description for these shows. 0:06:02.909 --> 0:06:06.569 Yeah, I honestly, I don't understand why they haven't already 0:06:06.569 --> 0:06:09.359 put audio description on this show. Like there was a 0:06:09.359 --> 0:06:13.319 scene where a character, something happens in a dream and 0:06:13.319 --> 0:06:15.059 I never knew that it was a dream because there 0:06:15.059 --> 0:06:17.999 was no audio description. So I always assumed that that 0:06:17.999 --> 0:06:21.419 scene was in the real life of that character and 0:06:21.419 --> 0:06:24.389 that obviously it was a realistic scene. So it was 0:06:24.389 --> 0:06:27.119 something that could have happened in their life, but it didn't. 0:06:27.119 --> 0:06:29.939 And I always thought it did, which obviously changed my 0:06:29.939 --> 0:06:33.209 understanding of the next couple of episodes because it was mentioned. 0:06:33.209 --> 0:06:36.059 And yeah, so it just shows the little things that 0:06:36.059 --> 0:06:39.269 sighted people wouldn't really think about that really impacts a 0:06:39.269 --> 0:06:41.009 blind person's viewing of a show. 0:06:41.009 --> 0:06:44.309 Yeah, exactly. I mean, when it changes the plot and 0:06:44.309 --> 0:06:47.669 possibly the character arc of various people and you just 0:06:47.669 --> 0:06:51.029 thinking like, okay, you get back into it 2 or 0:06:51.029 --> 0:06:53.699 3 episodes later and they might make a reference to 0:06:53.699 --> 0:06:56.879 it and you're thinking, Wait, hang on, that doesn't sound right. 0:06:56.879 --> 0:06:59.399 I didn't, you know, didn't pick up on that. What's 0:06:59.399 --> 0:07:03.269 going on now? So as you've mentioned, you've started a 0:07:03.269 --> 0:07:08.129 petition recently calling on Netflix to add audio description to 0:07:08.129 --> 0:07:11.729 Gilmore Girls. How's their response been so far? 0:07:12.149 --> 0:07:15.179 Yeah, look, so the petition is calling on Warner Brothers 0:07:15.179 --> 0:07:18.089 and Netflix to add audio description to Gilmore Girls. And 0:07:18.089 --> 0:07:20.189 I'm hoping that in the future this will be a 0:07:20.189 --> 0:07:22.109 stepping stone for them to go back and look at 0:07:22.109 --> 0:07:24.329 their other old content and add it to that as well. 0:07:24.329 --> 0:07:26.879 But the response has been incredible. I am up to 0:07:26.879 --> 0:07:30.779 around 7200 signatures now. Oh my God. I had some 0:07:30.779 --> 0:07:33.959 nine news articles published about me and back when they 0:07:33.959 --> 0:07:37.659 published them the. Titian was at 2500. So it's insane 0:07:37.659 --> 0:07:40.929 to see the progression of the condition. And I'm just 0:07:40.929 --> 0:07:43.209 you know, my mind's blown to the fact that so 0:07:43.209 --> 0:07:45.399 many people who don't even know me and who don't 0:07:45.399 --> 0:07:48.819 actually understand what audio description is or how it impacts me, 0:07:48.819 --> 0:07:51.999 are willing to make me have a better experience as 0:07:51.999 --> 0:07:52.449 a viewer. 0:07:53.199 --> 0:07:56.409 And Tiana, how long's the petition been going for and 0:07:56.409 --> 0:08:00.129 is there a time frame that you're looking at going forward? 0:08:00.399 --> 0:08:03.369 Yeah. So the petition has been going for about nearly 0:08:03.369 --> 0:08:06.429 a month now. It started in the middle of August 0:08:06.429 --> 0:08:10.299 and we're now partway through September, so we've got 7200 0:08:10.299 --> 0:08:13.509 signatures already. That's huge for me. I never expected to 0:08:13.509 --> 0:08:15.959 even get there. That is huge. 0:08:15.969 --> 0:08:16.539 Definitely. 0:08:16.539 --> 0:08:19.449 You know, while I don't have a time frame, I 0:08:19.449 --> 0:08:21.489 do sort of have a signature goal for now, which 0:08:21.489 --> 0:08:24.759 is 10,000 signatures. And we're very, very close. We're very 0:08:24.759 --> 0:08:27.639 close to 7500, which is sort of a goal that 0:08:27.639 --> 0:08:30.069 change.org sets. And once we get there, it's, you know, 0:08:30.069 --> 0:08:32.229 it's just a matter of time before we reach 10,000. 0:08:32.379 --> 0:08:34.579 And then after that, it's just a matter of, you know, 0:08:34.629 --> 0:08:38.289 getting it to bigger programs, getting it to the TV, 0:08:38.289 --> 0:08:40.899 seven news, all that kind of stuff, and making sure 0:08:40.899 --> 0:08:42.489 that it reaches a wider audience. 0:08:42.699 --> 0:08:46.629 Okay. And apart from Gilmore Girls and Friends, are there 0:08:46.629 --> 0:08:50.889 any other shows that you're really interested in getting audio 0:08:50.889 --> 0:08:54.279 description for, or is it sort of just a broader 0:08:54.279 --> 0:08:58.179 campaign to move past once you know, you've got the 0:08:58.179 --> 0:09:02.379 response about Gilmore Girls have all the description across the 0:09:02.379 --> 0:09:04.959 board for as many shows as possible? 0:09:05.109 --> 0:09:08.289 Yeah. Honestly, I'm just I'm looking to have audio description 0:09:08.289 --> 0:09:10.359 on as many shows as possible, but I know that 0:09:10.359 --> 0:09:12.909 that's not going to happen in one day. And so 0:09:12.909 --> 0:09:15.729 my focus was to go with obviously my favorite show 0:09:15.729 --> 0:09:18.909 because people who see petitions like this will sign if 0:09:18.909 --> 0:09:21.459 they see it's close to someone else's heart. So if 0:09:21.459 --> 0:09:24.009 I had, oh, everyone sign this so that we can 0:09:24.009 --> 0:09:26.889 have audio description on everything because it's important, I don't 0:09:26.889 --> 0:09:29.369 think it would have had sort of that emotional appeal. Yeah. 0:09:29.469 --> 0:09:32.769 And obviously I as a fan and a viewer, I 0:09:32.769 --> 0:09:35.799 want this like so much. I want to see this 0:09:35.799 --> 0:09:39.489 show from a completely different perspective with audio description and 0:09:39.489 --> 0:09:43.029 actually understand what is happening, what the characters are wearing, 0:09:43.029 --> 0:09:46.539 what their fashion sense is. Yeah, things that they're carrying 0:09:46.539 --> 0:09:48.369 that might not have known that they were carrying the 0:09:48.369 --> 0:09:51.279 food that they eat, just like everything that you would see, 0:09:51.279 --> 0:09:54.489 that you don't see when you're watching it, when you're blind, 0:09:54.489 --> 0:09:56.199 you know, obviously at the end I want it to 0:09:56.199 --> 0:09:59.289 be a wide spectrum thing and I want Netflix and 0:09:59.289 --> 0:10:02.019 any other streaming services to go back and look at 0:10:02.019 --> 0:10:05.469 shows that don't have audio description that could and just 0:10:05.469 --> 0:10:08.559 making the viewing experience more accessible for everyone, really. 0:10:08.559 --> 0:10:12.399 That's right. And it's also a matter of independence. Like 0:10:12.399 --> 0:10:15.309 people might be thinking, oh, just get a friend to 0:10:15.309 --> 0:10:17.949 tell you what's going on. And, you know, I can 0:10:17.949 --> 0:10:20.829 just tell you this is what's happening. But that's not 0:10:20.829 --> 0:10:23.679 what people are there to do and it's not what 0:10:23.679 --> 0:10:27.789 people want. The last thing people want is for some 0:10:27.789 --> 0:10:30.489 people to just go, Oh, just get somebody else to 0:10:30.489 --> 0:10:34.269 help you. And that takes away your independence, takes away 0:10:34.269 --> 0:10:37.269 your autonomy. And if that person's not there or they're 0:10:37.269 --> 0:10:40.629 not available, then that option is not there, obviously. And, 0:10:40.629 --> 0:10:43.659 you know, people shouldn't have to rely on, you know, 0:10:43.659 --> 0:10:45.999 other people to be there and say, oh, this is 0:10:45.999 --> 0:10:49.659 happening or that's happening that's going on. And yeah, and 0:10:49.659 --> 0:10:56.049 people don't necessarily even know what sort of details people need. 0:10:56.049 --> 0:10:58.989 And it might not even be that helpful in the 0:10:58.989 --> 0:11:02.079 first place. As much as they're trying to help, they 0:11:02.079 --> 0:11:05.859 don't necessarily understand, Oh, this is what we need to know, 0:11:05.859 --> 0:11:09.459 this is what it should be. But with audio description that, 0:11:09.459 --> 0:11:12.579 you know, you've got obviously people who are professionals and 0:11:12.579 --> 0:11:16.149 they know exactly what needs to be described and all 0:11:16.149 --> 0:11:19.689 that sort of thing. So what sort of messages would 0:11:19.689 --> 0:11:23.799 you have for people who are listening, perhaps from Netflix, 0:11:23.799 --> 0:11:28.209 to speak to the importance of audio description for people 0:11:28.209 --> 0:11:30.969 who are blind or have low vision and they've got 0:11:30.969 --> 0:11:33.789 the power to improve this, what would you say to them? 0:11:34.029 --> 0:11:37.179 I just want them to put themselves in our shoes 0:11:37.179 --> 0:11:39.069 and to sort of, you know, if you close your 0:11:39.069 --> 0:11:42.609 eyes and you watch Friends or you watch Modern Family 0:11:42.609 --> 0:11:45.279 or Gilmore Girls or any of those sort of shows 0:11:45.279 --> 0:11:48.969 without vision, imagine just how confusing it would be to you. Because, 0:11:48.969 --> 0:11:51.219 you know, obviously some of those shows have the laugh 0:11:51.219 --> 0:11:53.019 tracks in them. You don't know what they're laughing at 0:11:53.019 --> 0:11:55.149 and you won't until you open your eyes and actually 0:11:55.149 --> 0:11:57.309 look at it. That's what audio description is for us. 0:11:57.309 --> 0:11:59.589 It's basically, you know, you watch the show your whole 0:11:59.589 --> 0:12:02.079 life with your eyes closed and then audio description being 0:12:02.079 --> 0:12:04.719 added is like opening your eyes and actually understanding what's 0:12:04.719 --> 0:12:07.719 happening and seeing what's happening for the first time. You know, 0:12:07.719 --> 0:12:10.629 if you have the power to improve accessibility for someone 0:12:10.629 --> 0:12:13.239 who can't see why not? Why not do it and 0:12:13.239 --> 0:12:16.269 why not make accessible to people? We've done it with 0:12:16.269 --> 0:12:18.939 other disabilities. We've done it for the deaf community with 0:12:18.939 --> 0:12:21.759 captions and subtitles and all that. Why not do it 0:12:21.759 --> 0:12:23.709 for other disabled communities? 0:12:24.339 --> 0:12:28.119 Exactly right. And if people are interested in heading along 0:12:28.119 --> 0:12:32.169 and signing the petition, what's the best place for them 0:12:32.169 --> 0:12:32.889 to do that? 0:12:33.099 --> 0:12:39.329 Yeah. So the link to the. Is Change.org add in 0:12:39.329 --> 0:12:42.959 Gilmore Girls. So I would really, really appreciate anyone willing 0:12:42.959 --> 0:12:44.909 to take a minute out of their day to sign 0:12:44.909 --> 0:12:48.419 for accessibility for everyone. That would be amazing. 0:12:48.449 --> 0:12:51.389 That's a wonderful note to end on and I'm sure 0:12:51.389 --> 0:12:54.719 a sentiment a lot of people can agree with. I've 0:12:54.719 --> 0:12:59.849 been speaking today with Gilmore Girls super fan and petition organizer. 0:12:59.849 --> 0:13:04.739 Tiana offered all about her petition to create greater awareness 0:13:04.739 --> 0:13:08.969 for audio description, especially when it comes to her favorite show, 0:13:08.969 --> 0:13:12.489 Gilmore Girls. Tiana, thanks so much for your time today. 0:13:12.509 --> 0:13:14.789 It was a pleasure to catch up with you and 0:13:14.789 --> 0:13:18.539 wishing you all the best to hit that magic 10,000 mark. 0:13:18.749 --> 0:13:20.909 Thank you so much for having me. Really appreciate it. 0:13:28.379 --> 0:13:31.649 I'm Sam Culley and you're listening to Talking Vision on 0:13:31.649 --> 0:13:36.929 Vision Australia radio associated stations of RPI and the Community 0:13:36.929 --> 0:13:40.559 Radio Network. If you missed any part of my interview 0:13:40.559 --> 0:13:44.219 with Tiana or you'd like to listen to the interview again, 0:13:44.219 --> 0:13:47.909 you can listen to Talking Vision through the Vision Australia 0:13:47.909 --> 0:13:53.819 Radio website at VR radio.org. That's V radio.org. Or you 0:13:53.819 --> 0:13:57.149 can find the full program as well as selected interviews 0:13:57.149 --> 0:14:00.479 on your podcast app of choice or through the Vision 0:14:00.479 --> 0:14:05.819 Australia Library. The Vision Australia Radio Listener survey is currently 0:14:05.819 --> 0:14:09.509 underway and we'd love to hear from you. So if 0:14:09.509 --> 0:14:11.969 you'd like to have your say in what we do 0:14:11.969 --> 0:14:17.039 on Vision Australia Radio and give your valuable opinions and feedback, 0:14:17.039 --> 0:14:20.189 what better person to chat to with all the important 0:14:20.189 --> 0:14:25.229 details than our manager of radio and audio services, Conrad Brown, 0:14:25.229 --> 0:14:29.329 who joins me right now. Conrad, welcome back to Talking Vision. 0:14:29.339 --> 0:14:30.689 Great to catch up with you. 0:14:30.719 --> 0:14:33.059 Oh, always a pleasure, Sam. Great to be here. 0:14:33.179 --> 0:14:36.749 Now we're catching up about a very important topic today, 0:14:36.749 --> 0:14:39.539 the Vision Australia survey. Tell us all about it. 0:14:39.689 --> 0:14:43.289 So it's our annual listener survey for the Vision Australia 0:14:43.289 --> 0:14:48.329 Radio Network, and it's the opportunity that we give to 0:14:48.329 --> 0:14:52.289 our listeners and our community of interest to give feedback 0:14:52.289 --> 0:14:55.649 on what we do on air and what they like 0:14:55.649 --> 0:14:58.979 about the programs that we put out, the podcast that 0:14:58.979 --> 0:15:01.229 we put out, but also to give us a bit 0:15:01.229 --> 0:15:04.349 of an idea of where they are and who they 0:15:04.349 --> 0:15:08.279 are and to tell us what we're doing well, what 0:15:08.279 --> 0:15:11.699 we can improve on and potentially what else we could 0:15:11.699 --> 0:15:15.749 be doing that they'd like to hear on Vision Australia Radio. 0:15:15.929 --> 0:15:18.989 Okay. And how do people fill out that survey, Conrad? 0:15:19.169 --> 0:15:22.049 So there's a couple of ways. The easiest way is 0:15:22.049 --> 0:15:26.339 to go to the Vision Australia Radio website. So RVA 0:15:26.339 --> 0:15:29.399 Radio dot org and on the home page there's a 0:15:29.399 --> 0:15:32.879 link there that takes you straight to the survey. There's 0:15:32.879 --> 0:15:36.929 also an option for a call back service for anyone 0:15:36.929 --> 0:15:42.479 that may have difficulty navigating the Virgin Australia radio website 0:15:42.479 --> 0:15:45.839 or the survey online itself. So all they need to 0:15:45.839 --> 0:15:50.939 do is call the National Call Centre through Vision Australia 0:15:50.939 --> 0:15:54.719 and register their interest for a call back. And one 0:15:54.719 --> 0:15:57.689 of our lovely call centre team or one of our 0:15:57.689 --> 0:16:00.509 volunteers will call them back and help them fill out 0:16:00.509 --> 0:16:03.059 the survey later on this month. 0:16:03.209 --> 0:16:12.719 Okay. And that number is 1300 847 466, that's 1300 847 466 if that 0:16:12.719 --> 0:16:16.799 call back option does appeal. Now, Conrad, what is the 0:16:16.799 --> 0:16:19.769 time frame for the survey? How long is it open for? 0:16:19.889 --> 0:16:23.369 So it closes at the end of September. So people 0:16:23.369 --> 0:16:25.199 have still got a little bit of time to do it. 0:16:25.199 --> 0:16:28.199 But we really want to encourage people to get onto 0:16:28.199 --> 0:16:30.329 it as soon as they can so that we can 0:16:30.329 --> 0:16:33.959 make sure that we get everyone's feedback. And we also 0:16:33.959 --> 0:16:37.139 want people to be able to let friends of theirs 0:16:37.139 --> 0:16:39.809 know that the survey is going as well. A lot 0:16:39.809 --> 0:16:42.989 of people think that because they might not listen to 0:16:42.989 --> 0:16:46.889 Vision Australia radio locally, that potentially we might not want 0:16:46.889 --> 0:16:48.929 to hear from them. But if you're listening to one 0:16:48.929 --> 0:16:52.319 of our great shows as a podcast or you stream 0:16:52.319 --> 0:16:55.349 it somewhere around Australia, you know, if you're one of 0:16:55.349 --> 0:16:59.369 those huge talking vision fans that live around Australia, we 0:16:59.369 --> 0:17:01.619 want to hear from you. We want to know what 0:17:01.619 --> 0:17:04.199 you love about the show, what you like about what 0:17:04.199 --> 0:17:07.079 we're doing. And you know, like I said, what potentially 0:17:07.079 --> 0:17:10.049 we could be doing in terms of new content and 0:17:10.049 --> 0:17:13.619 new programs and that you'd like to hear across the 0:17:13.619 --> 0:17:15.419 Vision Australia Radio Network. 0:17:15.719 --> 0:17:19.649 And people also go into the running to pick up 0:17:19.649 --> 0:17:23.579 a couple of exciting little things if they do participate 0:17:23.579 --> 0:17:27.009 in the survey. Conrad So just quickly before we wrap up. 0:17:27.029 --> 0:17:28.289 Tell us a bit about them. 0:17:28.409 --> 0:17:32.159 So if they go to RVA Radio Org and complete 0:17:32.159 --> 0:17:34.569 the survey and it takes about, I don't know, 5 0:17:34.569 --> 0:17:39.299 to 6 minutes, let's say there's an opportunity there. Future also, right? 0:17:39.299 --> 0:17:41.849 A little bit more. So let's say ten minutes all up. 0:17:42.209 --> 0:17:45.209 You can put yourself into the draw to win one 0:17:45.209 --> 0:17:50.279 of five $100 gift cards. So those cards are always 0:17:50.279 --> 0:17:52.169 going to come in handy at the moment, cost of 0:17:52.169 --> 0:17:54.509 living in all of that sort of thing. So there's 0:17:54.509 --> 0:17:56.969 a bit of an incentive there, but we really hope 0:17:56.969 --> 0:18:01.349 that the incentive that really gets you involved in want 0:18:01.349 --> 0:18:04.469 to participate in this survey is to let us know 0:18:04.469 --> 0:18:06.809 what you think about what we're doing. We really want 0:18:06.809 --> 0:18:09.419 to hear from people and we really want to find 0:18:09.419 --> 0:18:14.369 out what our audience is enjoying and also what we 0:18:14.369 --> 0:18:18.449 can do to engage with our community of interest better 0:18:18.449 --> 0:18:22.529 as well. So yeah, jump online RVA Radio org and 0:18:22.529 --> 0:18:24.359 fill out that survey please. 0:18:24.539 --> 0:18:28.329 Every little bit of feedback. Does help us immensely. Do 0:18:28.329 --> 0:18:31.389 feel free to check it out and have your say. 0:18:31.419 --> 0:18:35.769 I've been speaking today with Vision Australia, manager of Radio 0:18:35.769 --> 0:18:40.509 and Audio Services, Conrad Brown, all about the Vision Australia 0:18:40.509 --> 0:18:44.589 Radio survey, which is currently under way. Conrad, thank you 0:18:44.589 --> 0:18:47.459 very much for your time today. Great to catch up again. 0:18:47.469 --> 0:18:49.149 Thank you, Sam, Always a pleasure. 0:18:52.919 --> 0:18:56.909 It's about that time of month again where Vision Australia's newsletter, 0:18:56.909 --> 0:19:02.199 for your information, otherwise known as FII, hits people's inboxes. 0:19:02.219 --> 0:19:06.959 And while Helen the usual editors away on a well-earned holiday, 0:19:06.959 --> 0:19:10.229 if I, for the time being, is currently in the 0:19:10.229 --> 0:19:14.699 extremely capable hands of a favourite of ours on Talking vision, 0:19:14.709 --> 0:19:18.449 Stellar Glory, who joins me now. Stella, welcome back to 0:19:18.449 --> 0:19:20.709 Talking Vision. Thanks so much for your time today. 0:19:20.729 --> 0:19:22.909 Oh, you don't have to thank me, Sam. 0:19:22.919 --> 0:19:26.689 There's an exciting issue of FII coming up for people. 0:19:26.699 --> 0:19:27.749 Tell us all about it. 0:19:27.779 --> 0:19:30.449 Well, I'm glad you used the word exciting. So I 0:19:30.449 --> 0:19:33.299 guess the big one we're talking about at radio is 0:19:33.299 --> 0:19:37.649 that the radio survey is out. So Vision Australia Radio 0:19:37.649 --> 0:19:41.489 is committed to making a difference to our community of interest. 0:19:41.489 --> 0:19:45.239 So that's your listeners there, Sam, but it needs to 0:19:45.239 --> 0:19:50.129 ensure it remains relevant. So now is your chance to 0:19:50.129 --> 0:19:55.189 help the station help you with the annual radio survey. 0:19:55.199 --> 0:19:58.229 Maybe you wake up to our live to air news 0:19:58.229 --> 0:20:01.949 reading programs, or perhaps you'd be lost without talking tech, 0:20:01.949 --> 0:20:06.509 not to mention talking vision. Where would you be without 0:20:06.509 --> 0:20:08.939 talking vision? And that's not to say if you don't 0:20:08.939 --> 0:20:11.399 do the survey, we're going to take those shows off 0:20:11.399 --> 0:20:14.429 the air. Is there something you're burning to tell us 0:20:14.429 --> 0:20:19.409 about how the station could improve surveys confidential and takes 0:20:19.409 --> 0:20:23.639 around 5 to 10 minutes to complete? It will be 0:20:23.639 --> 0:20:29.399 in the upcoming F.Y.I. It's also on our website as well. 0:20:29.789 --> 0:20:33.719 Other things that are in the newsletter Leep program. Are 0:20:33.719 --> 0:20:34.949 you familiar with Leap? 0:20:34.949 --> 0:20:37.769 Sam Yes, I've had quite a few dealings with Leap, 0:20:37.769 --> 0:20:41.279 Great little program, a lot of wonderful projects in there. 0:20:41.279 --> 0:20:44.279 Yep. So it's created for teenagers who are blind or 0:20:44.279 --> 0:20:48.509 have low vision 14 to 18, and the program teaches 0:20:48.509 --> 0:20:52.169 them the confidence and skills to thrive in life and 0:20:52.169 --> 0:20:57.209 their future work place. I've got a really interesting article 0:20:57.209 --> 0:21:01.859 from outside the organisation about a Brisbane University student who 0:21:01.859 --> 0:21:06.479 started an online petition calling on Netflix to add audio 0:21:06.479 --> 0:21:10.859 description to Gilmore Girls. Now the Gilmore Girls is about 0:21:10.859 --> 0:21:13.649 20 years old. It's been on Netflix for about eight 0:21:13.649 --> 0:21:19.259 years already and it is still one of the most 0:21:19.259 --> 0:21:23.129 popular shows. And this young woman. So it's got a 0:21:23.129 --> 0:21:25.859 bit of a cult following now. It's a real icon. 0:21:25.979 --> 0:21:29.939 She's watched it about seven times, but she said she's 0:21:29.939 --> 0:21:32.789 still missing out on key elements of the plot because 0:21:32.789 --> 0:21:34.859 of the lack of audio description. So it's a bit 0:21:34.859 --> 0:21:37.949 of David and Goliath going on there. There is now 0:21:37.949 --> 0:21:40.379 I said Netflix for eight years, but his Netflix has 0:21:40.379 --> 0:21:41.609 been going for eight years. 0:21:41.609 --> 0:21:44.969 It has been. It actually used to be the competition 0:21:44.969 --> 0:21:48.029 for Blockbuster. That's how long it's been around for. 0:21:48.029 --> 0:21:52.709 Oh, right. Blockbuster video. That's right. Bingo for audio description. 0:21:52.709 --> 0:21:56.249 We've got some information about something for young people to 0:21:56.249 --> 0:21:59.939 get involved with. Audio description. We've got info about a 0:21:59.939 --> 0:22:06.809 parenting mentoring program, and I've got some news about Team Australia. 0:22:06.809 --> 0:22:12.989 At the recent IBSA World Games. Our team came home 0:22:12.989 --> 0:22:15.269 with a total of nine medals. 0:22:15.389 --> 0:22:16.559 Oh my God. Yeah. 0:22:16.799 --> 0:22:20.699 Mike Lee scooped two gold medals along with two other 0:22:20.699 --> 0:22:24.779 team members. So that's four gold medals. There you go. 0:22:24.779 --> 0:22:29.339 And that's all in your upcoming FYI, a client fortnightly 0:22:29.339 --> 0:22:35.009 newsletter which I put together, especially because Helen's on holidays. Yes. 0:22:35.009 --> 0:22:38.699 And we're looking forward to hearing what Tom Helen's been 0:22:38.699 --> 0:22:42.389 up to once she gets back into Melbourne. I've been 0:22:42.389 --> 0:22:47.639 speaking today with Stellar Glory, editor of Foyer information, otherwise 0:22:47.639 --> 0:22:51.809 known as FII. And if you're someone you know would 0:22:51.809 --> 0:22:54.419 like to be added to the mailing list to receive 0:22:54.419 --> 0:22:58.619 FII in your inbox, simply head to the Vision Australia 0:22:58.619 --> 0:23:05.039 website at Vision australia.org. That's Vision Australia. All one word.org 0:23:05.039 --> 0:23:08.909 and search for your information to sign up and receive 0:23:08.909 --> 0:23:13.469 all these stories and more in your inbox every month. Stella, 0:23:13.469 --> 0:23:15.899 great to have you back on the show. Thanks so 0:23:15.899 --> 0:23:26.369 much for your time. Thanks, Sam. And now here's Francis 0:23:26.369 --> 0:23:28.379 Kelland with a reader recommended. 0:23:28.409 --> 0:23:32.219 Thank you, Sam. This book is back of Beyond One 0:23:32.219 --> 0:23:36.809 Woman's remarkable story of love, adventure, disasters and wonderful times 0:23:36.809 --> 0:23:41.489 in the Gulf country. This is by Jenny Old. At 22, 0:23:41.489 --> 0:23:43.919 Jenny fell in love with Rick old and went to 0:23:43.919 --> 0:23:46.769 live and work with him on his property. McAllister in 0:23:46.769 --> 0:23:51.509 the Gulf of Carpentaria. There she faced incredible hardship, living 0:23:51.509 --> 0:23:54.329 in a hut with not even basic necessities. Her only 0:23:54.329 --> 0:23:57.749 contact with the outside world was a two way radio. 0:23:57.959 --> 0:24:02.519 In this vast, empty landscape, she battled drought, flood fire 0:24:02.519 --> 0:24:06.029 and cyclones for 18 years. She and Rick struggled to 0:24:06.029 --> 0:24:10.469 stay on in the Gulf, eventually triumphantly turning McAllister into 0:24:10.469 --> 0:24:15.839 a thriving oasis. This extraordinary story of one indomitable Australian 0:24:15.839 --> 0:24:19.259 woman is told in her own words with skill and humour. 0:24:19.619 --> 0:24:22.769 A story of the Bush people and their generosity filled 0:24:22.769 --> 0:24:26.339 with wonderful characters. Most of all, the story of one 0:24:26.339 --> 0:24:29.159 woman's love for her man and the adventure it took 0:24:29.159 --> 0:24:32.939 her on. McAllister The story of Jenny Olds amazing life 0:24:32.939 --> 0:24:36.599 in the outback will captivate and enthrall. Let's hear a 0:24:36.599 --> 0:24:41.009 sample of Back of Beyond by Jenny Old. It's narrated 0:24:41.009 --> 0:24:45.059 by Sally Turnbull. As a child, some of my favourite 0:24:45.059 --> 0:24:45.629 books with the. 0:24:45.629 --> 0:24:49.379 Silver Brumby, Silver Brumby's Daughter and The Golden Stallion, which 0:24:49.379 --> 0:24:52.829 I read and reread. I had such romantic ideas about 0:24:52.829 --> 0:24:56.579 wild horses at McAlester. I loved to watch them gallop 0:24:56.579 --> 0:24:59.429 across the plains when we were driving around our boundaries, 0:24:59.429 --> 0:25:04.229 free and sure footed mainstreaming mussels gleaming the Mayor's Guide 0:25:04.229 --> 0:25:06.569 at the Falls while the stallion was ever watchful over 0:25:06.569 --> 0:25:10.519 his brood. This was indulgent thinking on my part. The 0:25:10.519 --> 0:25:13.329 Brumbies had become a pest and were increasing in numbers. 0:25:13.339 --> 0:25:15.589 They had caused a serious problem at the end of 0:25:15.589 --> 0:25:19.519 1971 by plunging into the waterholes and stirring up the mud, 0:25:19.519 --> 0:25:22.279 making it impossible for the cattle to drink the water. 0:25:22.339 --> 0:25:25.069 I was distressed that these beautiful creatures might have to 0:25:25.069 --> 0:25:29.569 be culled. Fate stepped in when A few months into 1972, 0:25:29.599 --> 0:25:33.079 we had a visit from two brothers, Des and Morgan Walden, 0:25:33.079 --> 0:25:37.199 who asked for permission to trap brumbies on McAlister. Just 0:25:37.199 --> 0:25:38.729 do what you have to do and don't tell me 0:25:38.729 --> 0:25:40.919 anything about it or discuss it in front of me, 0:25:40.919 --> 0:25:44.789 I instructed sadly. This was a rare princess moment for me. 0:25:44.999 --> 0:25:47.309 I did learn that the brumbies would be trapped then 0:25:47.309 --> 0:25:50.819 yardage and trucked for sale in Cloncurry days and Morgan 0:25:50.819 --> 0:25:54.689 camped out by the waterholes, having first constructed Hessian enclosures 0:25:54.689 --> 0:25:57.389 into which they would guide the horses. For days the 0:25:57.389 --> 0:26:00.809 canny animals refused to come near but finally their need 0:26:00.809 --> 0:26:03.539 to drink drove them to overcome their fear and cautiously 0:26:03.539 --> 0:26:07.289 approach theirs. And Morgan quickly closed the gates behind them. 0:26:07.709 --> 0:26:11.069 And that was back of Beyond by Jenny Old. That 0:26:11.069 --> 0:26:13.859 comes from one of the most popular genres in the library. 0:26:13.859 --> 0:26:19.109 Australiana and biographies and memoirs are the two categories. If 0:26:19.109 --> 0:26:21.059 you would like to join the library and enjoy some 0:26:21.059 --> 0:26:27.299 of those fantastic books, you can call them on 1300 654 656. 0:26:27.569 --> 0:26:32.369 That's one 306 54656. Or you can email us at 0:26:32.369 --> 0:26:38.279 library at Vision Australia Talk. That's library and Vision Australia. Org. 0:26:38.519 --> 0:26:41.849 And that's all we have time for today. You've been 0:26:41.849 --> 0:26:46.199 listening to Talking Vision. Talking Vision is a production of 0:26:46.199 --> 0:26:50.189 Vision Australia Radio. Thanks to all involved with putting the 0:26:50.189 --> 0:26:54.029 show together And remember we love your feedback and comments, 0:26:54.029 --> 0:26:57.629 so please do get in touch on Talking vision at 0:26:57.629 --> 0:27:04.459 Vision australia.org. That's talking vision all one word at Vision australia.org. 0:27:04.469 --> 0:27:08.459 But until next week it's Sam Colley saying bye for now. 0:27:11.959 --> 0:27:15.949 You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during 0:27:15.949 --> 0:27:23.899 business hours on one 308 4746. That's one 380 474 0:27:23.899 --> 0:27:30.109 W6 or by visiting Vision australia.org that's Vision australia.org.