WEBVTT - Talking Vision 697 Week Beginning 9th of October 2023 0:00:41.272 --> 0:00:46.972 From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's 0:00:46.972 --> 0:00:48.982 your host, Sam Colley. 0:00:51.432 --> 0:00:54.552 Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And 0:00:54.552 --> 0:00:57.552 for the next half hour, we talk matters of blindness 0:00:57.552 --> 0:00:58.572 and low vision. 0:00:58.752 --> 0:01:01.332 The interesting thing is when you just keep stepping through, 0:01:01.332 --> 0:01:05.282 you keep stepping through. You get used to the idea that, like, 0:01:05.292 --> 0:01:08.742 something's gone wrong, something is a temporary failure or it's 0:01:08.742 --> 0:01:12.012 taken longer or there are obstacles in the way, or 0:01:12.012 --> 0:01:14.712 you're exhausted. And just to give yourself a bit of 0:01:14.712 --> 0:01:18.582 a break, have a reassess and just keep plodding forward. 0:01:18.582 --> 0:01:21.042 And remember, keep in touch with what you love and 0:01:21.042 --> 0:01:22.362 why you're why you love it. 0:01:22.512 --> 0:01:25.062 Welcome to the program. We've got a bit of a 0:01:25.062 --> 0:01:29.832 literary theme this week as Nikki Holland, the blind fashion designer, 0:01:29.832 --> 0:01:33.372 joins Stella to have a chat about her role as 0:01:33.372 --> 0:01:37.572 the protagonist of the third and Final Big Visions book, 0:01:37.572 --> 0:01:42.102 Just for Success. We're very excited to have Nikki on 0:01:42.102 --> 0:01:45.522 the program this week, so that interview is coming up 0:01:45.522 --> 0:01:49.182 very shortly. So make sure to stick around to hear more. 0:01:49.452 --> 0:01:53.142 Then after you hear from Stella and Nikki, I'm joined 0:01:53.142 --> 0:01:57.342 by Leanne from the library as she covers the latest 0:01:57.342 --> 0:02:01.092 events coming up in the Vision Australia Library over the 0:02:01.092 --> 0:02:04.752 month of October. Plus some new additions to the Vision 0:02:04.752 --> 0:02:08.202 Australia Library catalog that people can look forward to having 0:02:08.202 --> 0:02:12.972 a raid. And then last but certainly not least, Francis Collins, 0:02:12.972 --> 0:02:17.142 back with a reader, recommended. I hope you enjoy this 0:02:17.142 --> 0:02:25.752 week's episode of Talking Vision. And now his stellar glory 0:02:25.752 --> 0:02:28.572 with Nikki Hind and a special guest. 0:02:28.722 --> 0:02:32.162 Many of our listeners would now be familiar with a 0:02:32.202 --> 0:02:39.342 Vision Australia's big Vision series, which is three children's books 0:02:39.342 --> 0:02:43.692 featuring everyday heroes who just happened to be blind or 0:02:43.692 --> 0:02:46.062 have low vision. Now to talk to me about the 0:02:46.062 --> 0:02:49.842 third book, which has just been released. It's called Dressed 0:02:49.842 --> 0:02:54.192 for Success. I'm speaking with the protagonist of the book, 0:02:54.192 --> 0:02:59.472 Nikki Hind, blind fashion Designer. Hi, Nikki. Hello. And also 0:02:59.472 --> 0:03:04.872 the brains behind the entire series from the Vision Australia Library. 0:03:04.872 --> 0:03:09.132 Phil Dana Project. Hi, Aldana. Hey, Stella. So, Nikki, how 0:03:09.132 --> 0:03:13.422 was it for you to share your story in the 0:03:13.422 --> 0:03:16.062 final installment of the series? 0:03:16.422 --> 0:03:22.182 Well, it is certainly I guess it's it's a huge privilege. 0:03:22.182 --> 0:03:30.192 Aside from from anything else, It's it's an incredible honor. Um, honestly, 0:03:30.402 --> 0:03:36.702 just the the thought that the things that I've done 0:03:36.702 --> 0:03:39.762 in my life chosen to do the story of that, 0:03:40.992 --> 0:03:49.452 that that may be something to encourage other young children 0:03:49.452 --> 0:03:52.962 to follow their dreams and to think outside the box 0:03:53.682 --> 0:03:57.552 is just an incredible honor. It really is. 0:03:58.422 --> 0:04:04.122 And Dress for Success aims to shift people's expectation of 0:04:04.122 --> 0:04:08.802 what a person with disability is capable of, while also 0:04:08.802 --> 0:04:13.562 creating inspiring role models for children of all abilities. Snellville Dana, 0:04:13.572 --> 0:04:20.142 what made the library and the team choose Nikki for you? No, no, no. 0:04:20.142 --> 0:04:23.052 Shame on you, Nikki Of course. But if you could 0:04:23.052 --> 0:04:26.202 articulate why you chose Nikki. 0:04:26.562 --> 0:04:29.802 Oh, goodness. So I've worked with Nikki before on a 0:04:29.802 --> 0:04:34.632 different project, and certainly I've seen her giving a speech 0:04:34.632 --> 0:04:37.152 and being a part of the panel. And I was 0:04:37.152 --> 0:04:42.252 quite impressed just with her, I suppose the story and 0:04:42.252 --> 0:04:46.362 just determination and resilience and persistence or what they say 0:04:46.362 --> 0:04:50.682 kind of great. Absolutely. Nikki had it and I just thought, 0:04:50.682 --> 0:04:54.162 we need more of these heroes. We need these stories. 0:04:54.552 --> 0:04:57.372 We need children who are blind to have low vision, 0:04:57.372 --> 0:04:59.562 really to hear these stories. And like Nikki said, just 0:04:59.562 --> 0:05:02.652 to follow your dream, you don't have to be the 0:05:02.652 --> 0:05:05.802 most amazing fashion designer in the world. But the fact 0:05:05.802 --> 0:05:08.322 that you can, you know, be in charge of your 0:05:08.322 --> 0:05:13.152 wardrobe or your personal style or appearance, that's just amazing. 0:05:13.152 --> 0:05:17.322 So I think it's just the story that Nikki had 0:05:17.322 --> 0:05:21.432 to tell was very important for the kids to hear. 0:05:21.702 --> 0:05:23.772 So in a nutshell, I mean, we don't want to 0:05:23.772 --> 0:05:27.762 give too much away about the story. So could you 0:05:27.762 --> 0:05:32.742 encapsulate what the story is like? You're talking about perseverance 0:05:32.742 --> 0:05:36.822 and grit. So that is the name of your fashion label, 0:05:36.822 --> 0:05:40.662 Blind Grit. But could you tell us just a little 0:05:40.662 --> 0:05:44.082 bit about the story but not know plot spoilers? 0:05:45.732 --> 0:05:46.212 That's for you. 0:05:46.422 --> 0:05:50.712 That's for me. Okay. Well, I guess it is the 0:05:50.712 --> 0:05:56.922 story of, um, a school girl who stream it was 0:05:56.922 --> 0:06:02.712 to be a fashion designer and who used to, I guess, 0:06:02.712 --> 0:06:05.412 play around with clothes and fashion and things when she 0:06:05.412 --> 0:06:12.072 was younger but did not have, um, I guess didn't 0:06:12.072 --> 0:06:16.032 really didn't really believe that she could be such a thing. 0:06:16.032 --> 0:06:18.522 That seemed like too big a reach at the time 0:06:18.522 --> 0:06:25.902 when I was young and where ironically, where where vision 0:06:25.902 --> 0:06:31.032 impairment actually fits into that story and, and, and how 0:06:31.032 --> 0:06:35.772 that gave me a lot of the qualities, you know, 0:06:35.772 --> 0:06:41.202 the very human qualities that it takes to, uh, you know, 0:06:41.202 --> 0:06:43.632 to just keep stepping one foot in front of the other, 0:06:43.632 --> 0:06:47.862 keep plugging away at a dream because it's not necessarily, um, 0:06:48.312 --> 0:06:51.762 it's not necessarily always a glamorous thing, but it's a 0:06:51.762 --> 0:06:57.312 very deeply human thing. Um, and yeah, that it was, 0:06:58.332 --> 0:07:01.182 that it was the person I was with a disability, 0:07:01.182 --> 0:07:03.372 that was the person who was able to see the 0:07:03.372 --> 0:07:04.842 dream come to fruition. 0:07:05.472 --> 0:07:10.242 While talking about the books as a whole. Do do 0:07:10.242 --> 0:07:15.222 the books address potential roadblocks any of our heroes may 0:07:15.222 --> 0:07:19.452 have encountered, like societal expectations, people who are blind or 0:07:19.452 --> 0:07:20.412 have low vision. 0:07:20.682 --> 0:07:24.242 Absolutely stolen the book. Neither of these three books shy 0:07:24.242 --> 0:07:28.142 away from difficult topics because absolutely, that's what the life 0:07:28.142 --> 0:07:32.162 is like. Nikki just said it's about being human. And, 0:07:32.552 --> 0:07:35.102 you know, for Matt, it was the bullying that he 0:07:35.102 --> 0:07:40.742 experienced in school. And for Craig, it was around, you know, 0:07:40.892 --> 0:07:44.492 constant deterioration and the loss of his vision that was 0:07:44.492 --> 0:07:48.722 kind of always throwing new challenges for him. And Nikki's story, 0:07:48.722 --> 0:07:53.342 which you have to kind of buy to read. Absolutely. 0:07:53.342 --> 0:07:57.302 The life through so many challenges. And it really is 0:07:57.302 --> 0:08:03.662 about drawing on people within your community. It's about kind 0:08:03.662 --> 0:08:09.362 of reaching out, but also overcoming, persevering and really pushing through. 0:08:10.232 --> 0:08:14.852 Sometimes that's not easy and that's okay. Sometimes it's absolutely 0:08:14.852 --> 0:08:18.842 fine to say sorry, it's too much. And as they say, 0:08:18.842 --> 0:08:21.692 you know, some days the dragon wins. But there are 0:08:21.692 --> 0:08:24.302 other days that you can absolutely let the sunshine in. 0:08:24.302 --> 0:08:27.452 And certainly these three protagonists have been through it all 0:08:27.452 --> 0:08:33.932 and very real, very multi-dimensional stories of three people, three Australians, 0:08:33.932 --> 0:08:37.892 that no matter who the child is, can really find 0:08:37.892 --> 0:08:39.302 a meaning and inspiration. 0:08:39.302 --> 0:08:42.992 And you were nodding your head there, Nikki, when Bill 0:08:42.992 --> 0:08:46.262 Dana was talking about letting you know sometimes the dragon wins. 0:08:46.262 --> 0:08:48.632 I love that. I'm going to use that. Did that 0:08:48.632 --> 0:08:50.762 resonate with you when she said that? 0:08:50.882 --> 0:08:55.202 Oh, absolutely. Because I guess the key thing I am 0:08:55.202 --> 0:09:00.122 in life as an adult is actually a mum. And 0:09:00.122 --> 0:09:03.392 just yeah, as I said, it's you know, when you 0:09:03.392 --> 0:09:06.872 think of of following dreams and what dreams are and 0:09:06.872 --> 0:09:09.602 what dreams mean, they can often, you know, we get 0:09:09.602 --> 0:09:13.172 such a glossy end version of what it looks like 0:09:13.172 --> 0:09:15.632 in an overnight success kind of thing. And there is 0:09:15.632 --> 0:09:20.162 just so much of, just as I say, just stepping forward, 0:09:20.162 --> 0:09:24.992 just a little steps forward and, um, you know, my 0:09:24.992 --> 0:09:29.072 children have seen me cry and they've seen me be 0:09:29.432 --> 0:09:31.592 elated and. 0:09:32.402 --> 0:09:33.932 On the cover of the magazines. 0:09:34.802 --> 0:09:36.632 That's right. The book. Yeah. 0:09:36.962 --> 0:09:42.052 They I have to say. I haven't I haven't at 0:09:42.052 --> 0:09:46.132 any stage thought, Oh, I'll just stop. Because when I do, 0:09:46.132 --> 0:09:49.192 I think, what would that even even look like? You 0:09:49.192 --> 0:09:52.822 know what? What would I do instead? And I guess, 0:09:52.822 --> 0:09:56.272 you know, that's that's the whole power of a of 0:09:56.272 --> 0:10:00.622 a dream, especially a child's dream. It comes from, um, 0:10:01.312 --> 0:10:07.612 you know, you kind of, you, your deep love and 0:10:07.612 --> 0:10:10.132 passion and what you would love to put forward in 0:10:10.132 --> 0:10:13.762 the world and why. And, you know, if I was 0:10:13.762 --> 0:10:15.712 just to throw my hands up and say, God, it's 0:10:15.712 --> 0:10:18.382 just all too hard, I want to stop and just 0:10:18.382 --> 0:10:21.142 do what I want to do. What I want to 0:10:21.142 --> 0:10:25.702 do is design lovely clothes and be an advocate for for, 0:10:26.392 --> 0:10:30.832 you know, disability in society. Anyway, So I think I 0:10:30.832 --> 0:10:33.712 just take a step back. That is a lovely expression. 0:10:33.712 --> 0:10:35.782 That's what I was nodding at to some day The Dragon. 0:10:35.782 --> 0:10:38.542 And it feels like that sometimes it really feels like that, 0:10:38.542 --> 0:10:42.172 that the dragon wins. But the interesting thing is when 0:10:42.172 --> 0:10:46.612 you just keep stepping through, you keep stepping through it. 0:10:46.612 --> 0:10:50.812 You get used to the idea that this is just 0:10:50.812 --> 0:10:54.742 a bad like some something's gone wrong, something is a 0:10:54.742 --> 0:11:00.952 temporary failure or it's taken longer or there are obstacles 0:11:00.952 --> 0:11:05.662 in the way, or you're exhausted. And just to give 0:11:05.662 --> 0:11:09.382 yourself a bit of a break, have a reassess and, 0:11:09.382 --> 0:11:14.842 you know, just keep keep plodding forward and remember, keep 0:11:14.842 --> 0:11:16.762 in touch with what you love and why you why 0:11:16.762 --> 0:11:17.452 you love it. 0:11:18.292 --> 0:11:21.442 I think it's a good message for adults as well. 0:11:22.042 --> 0:11:22.492 I mean. 0:11:22.492 --> 0:11:23.722 Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. 0:11:23.722 --> 0:11:26.152 I mean, kids. I mean, what what if a child 0:11:26.152 --> 0:11:30.202 doesn't have a dream as yet? You know, many dreams. 0:11:30.202 --> 0:11:32.872 That's a controversial subject right there. 0:11:33.292 --> 0:11:35.932 Well, true. And it's very common. Like, you know, if 0:11:35.932 --> 0:11:39.262 you were to ask my son, what would you like 0:11:39.262 --> 0:11:40.992 to be the other day he was a shopkeeper and 0:11:41.002 --> 0:11:43.072 to dollar shop because they get all the money. 0:11:43.072 --> 0:11:44.572 Apparently when. 0:11:44.572 --> 0:11:49.162 Children like him buy Pokemon cards. Um, I think not necessarily. 0:11:49.162 --> 0:11:51.922 Everyone needs to have a dream, but I think that 0:11:51.922 --> 0:11:58.222 in a belief in yourself and um, that you, and 0:11:58.222 --> 0:12:01.612 especially in the context of disability, I mean, it's so 0:12:01.612 --> 0:12:05.422 important to understand that disability is just one dimension of 0:12:05.422 --> 0:12:09.592 us as, as a person. There's so much to us 0:12:09.592 --> 0:12:14.512 as a people and having that belief within yourself that 0:12:14.512 --> 0:12:19.132 you can, you know, be an active member of our 0:12:19.132 --> 0:12:23.332 society and, you know, have friends and connect with people, 0:12:23.332 --> 0:12:25.882 connect with nature. I think that's really what this is 0:12:25.882 --> 0:12:29.452 all about. Like, you can be quite proactive and in 0:12:29.452 --> 0:12:34.462 charge of your life, have that agency and self-determination and how. 0:12:34.672 --> 0:12:38.692 What's the feedback been like with the two books thus far? 0:12:38.692 --> 0:12:42.892 The one with metformin and our chef Craig Shanahan? 0:12:42.892 --> 0:12:49.882 Wonderful, stellar. So certainly a few very major successes. So 0:12:49.882 --> 0:12:53.632 very proud that the Mets story is going to be 0:12:53.632 --> 0:12:56.602 read out on the ABC Play School or has already 0:12:56.602 --> 0:13:00.052 been read out and it will be aired later this 0:13:00.052 --> 0:13:04.672 year in December and ABC Playschool. So we're quite happy 0:13:04.792 --> 0:13:07.852 about that. And just a little spoiler hope that the 0:13:07.852 --> 0:13:11.242 ABC colleagues will not mind to say that the Humpty 0:13:11.272 --> 0:13:14.092 Dumpty will be wearing a Rashi and a surfboard. 0:13:14.102 --> 0:13:14.572 I was. 0:13:14.572 --> 0:13:17.422 Going to say, Yeah, I hear Humpty had quite a 0:13:17.422 --> 0:13:19.132 few opinions about the book. 0:13:19.132 --> 0:13:20.712 As well. Um. 0:13:21.112 --> 0:13:26.962 And our friends at the Primary English Teachers Association Australia 0:13:26.962 --> 0:13:31.162 have created Matt's book into a teaching unit which is 0:13:31.162 --> 0:13:35.272 available to hundreds of schools around the country as a 0:13:35.452 --> 0:13:40.882 teaching unit. And the second book, Craig's book, is in progress, 0:13:40.882 --> 0:13:43.822 as well as Nikki. So by the end of the year, 0:13:44.632 --> 0:13:48.952 they will be featured as a teaching unit by Primary 0:13:48.952 --> 0:13:50.302 English Teachers Association. 0:13:50.482 --> 0:13:53.542 That is so exciting. Congratulations. 0:13:53.572 --> 0:13:54.832 Thank you. Thank you. 0:13:54.832 --> 0:13:59.212 That's brilliant. Can you remind me again? Matt's book was 0:13:59.212 --> 0:14:00.172 called the title. 0:14:00.172 --> 0:14:01.042 Surfing in the Dark. 0:14:01.072 --> 0:14:05.902 Surfing in the Dark and there is Cooking Up a Storm. 0:14:05.902 --> 0:14:11.332 And now we've got Nikki's book, which is dressed for success. 0:14:11.332 --> 0:14:14.992 Here's the million dollar question Where can people purchase the. 0:14:14.992 --> 0:14:16.132 Book's Vision. 0:14:16.132 --> 0:14:21.712 Australia website or Vision Australia Vision Store website? But pretty 0:14:21.712 --> 0:14:26.162 much any major bookshop would have these books available and 0:14:26.572 --> 0:14:30.202 ready to buy, whether that's online or in person. So 0:14:30.202 --> 0:14:36.142 everywhere from the mixed readings bookshop, Amazon and various little 0:14:36.142 --> 0:14:40.162 independent bookshops that you can. To find these books there. 0:14:40.282 --> 0:14:45.502 Now they are picture books, but all the books, including 0:14:45.502 --> 0:14:50.812 Dress for Success, is available in commercial print, Braille, audio 0:14:50.812 --> 0:14:53.062 book and large text format. 0:14:53.272 --> 0:14:58.192 Correct. And for all members of Vision Australia Library, you 0:14:58.192 --> 0:15:03.322 are able to get embossed and copy of these books 0:15:03.322 --> 0:15:07.702 in a grade one Braille. And with the purchase of 0:15:07.702 --> 0:15:09.622 the the book through our vision store. 0:15:09.832 --> 0:15:10.372 And. 0:15:10.372 --> 0:15:14.362 All proceeds from the book go towards helping Vision Australia 0:15:14.362 --> 0:15:18.832 make reading and education more accessible for young people who 0:15:18.832 --> 0:15:22.282 are blind or have low vision. You cannot argue about that. 0:15:22.282 --> 0:15:25.162 And I can say the books are absolutely beautiful. 0:15:32.052 --> 0:15:35.262 I'm Sam Culley and you're listening to Talking Vision on 0:15:35.262 --> 0:15:40.242 Vision Australia Radio associated Stations of RPE and the Community 0:15:40.242 --> 0:15:44.532 Radio Network. Thank you very much to Stella, Nikki and 0:15:44.802 --> 0:15:49.062 Donna there for that conversation. All about the latest big 0:15:49.062 --> 0:15:54.582 vision book Just for Success, which is available now. If 0:15:54.582 --> 0:15:57.612 you enjoyed having a listen to that interview with Stella 0:15:57.612 --> 0:16:00.222 and Nikki and you'd love to listen to it again 0:16:00.222 --> 0:16:04.262 or you missed any part of that interview for whatever reason. 0:16:04.272 --> 0:16:08.292 You can catch up on the latest episode of Talking 0:16:08.292 --> 0:16:13.332 Vision by visiting your favourite podcast platform or heading to 0:16:13.332 --> 0:16:18.102 the Vision Australia Library. And now, keeping on the literary 0:16:18.102 --> 0:16:21.552 theme this week. It's my great pleasure to welcome back 0:16:21.552 --> 0:16:25.572 Leanne from the library with the latest updates on some 0:16:25.572 --> 0:16:28.542 great events coming up in the library over the month 0:16:28.542 --> 0:16:32.742 of October and some new additions to the Vision Australia 0:16:32.742 --> 0:16:37.002 Library catalogue for people to have a raid. Leanne, welcome 0:16:37.002 --> 0:16:37.812 to the show. 0:16:38.262 --> 0:16:40.572 Thanks, Sam. Great to be back. 0:16:40.902 --> 0:16:45.012 Let's hear about a few upcoming events in the world 0:16:45.012 --> 0:16:48.792 of the Vision Australia Library. What sort of exciting things 0:16:48.792 --> 0:16:51.282 are coming up for people to get involved with? 0:16:51.312 --> 0:16:56.922 Sure. So we're currently underway in our Stronger Foundations Family series. 0:16:56.922 --> 0:16:59.802 This is a four part webinar series where we've brought 0:16:59.802 --> 0:17:03.792 in some fantastic parenting experts to share with us their 0:17:03.792 --> 0:17:07.272 insights and how we build families that are healthy and 0:17:07.272 --> 0:17:10.242 happy together. So we have started this series, but it's 0:17:10.242 --> 0:17:14.352 not too late to jump in for our next sessions. 0:17:14.382 --> 0:17:17.442 We'll be welcoming Leyla Stone on the 10th of October. 0:17:17.442 --> 0:17:21.602 She'll be speaking about navigating your child's emotions. On the 0:17:21.602 --> 0:17:25.002 17th of October will be welcoming siblings Australia. They're a 0:17:25.002 --> 0:17:28.932 fantastic organisation who will work with the families who have 0:17:28.932 --> 0:17:31.812 children with disabilities but really focus on the needs and 0:17:31.812 --> 0:17:35.802 the challenges of the siblings of the children with a disability. 0:17:35.802 --> 0:17:40.212 So recognising that those siblings have their own particular challenges 0:17:40.212 --> 0:17:43.572 and need some support as well. Our final session on 0:17:43.572 --> 0:17:46.422 the 24th of October will be with some of our 0:17:46.422 --> 0:17:49.062 own experts at Vision Australia. So we'll be having some 0:17:49.062 --> 0:17:53.382 of our children and young people team. Rebecca Kent, Tricia 0:17:53.382 --> 0:17:57.552 Izard will be presenting around self care for parents, which 0:17:57.552 --> 0:17:58.962 is really, really important. 0:17:59.332 --> 0:18:03.522 Certainly is. And we already heard from Rebecca with Stella 0:18:03.522 --> 0:18:08.112 just recently. So great to hear from Rebecca and Stella there. 0:18:08.112 --> 0:18:11.922 So hopefully get a lot of people joining and having 0:18:11.922 --> 0:18:15.752 a look at the sessions over the coming weeks. 0:18:15.762 --> 0:18:18.762 Yeah, so they're running online but we will be recording 0:18:18.762 --> 0:18:22.302 the sessions so all of our registrants will receive a recording. 0:18:22.302 --> 0:18:25.242 You can find the registration details through our website. 0:18:25.542 --> 0:18:30.132 All right, perfect. And what other events are taking people's 0:18:30.132 --> 0:18:32.802 fancy that you'd like to let people know about? 0:18:32.952 --> 0:18:35.952 So a couple of regular ones. So you are familiar 0:18:35.952 --> 0:18:39.222 with our Treat Your Shelf, which is our bi monthly 0:18:39.222 --> 0:18:42.192 book chat. We are doing a bit of a special 0:18:42.192 --> 0:18:45.202 treat yourself at the end of this month, October the 0:18:45.202 --> 0:18:48.492 31st is of course Halloween, so we will be doing 0:18:48.492 --> 0:18:52.662 an In the Dark special and we're welcoming some special guests. 0:18:52.782 --> 0:18:56.742 So Ellen Baxter, the head of the Australian Horror Writers Association, 0:18:56.742 --> 0:19:02.832 and Aaron Dries, who is a really intriguing horror writer. 0:19:02.832 --> 0:19:05.802 He's also got a mental health background. So he's a really, 0:19:05.802 --> 0:19:09.372 really wonderful advocate as well. But they will be speaking 0:19:09.372 --> 0:19:14.592 with our guests. They'll be sharing some original spooky stories, 0:19:14.982 --> 0:19:17.592 and we will have the opportunity for all of our 0:19:17.592 --> 0:19:21.942 participants to also do their own storytelling as well. So 0:19:21.942 --> 0:19:25.542 we'll be doing that in the evening. Very appropriate for Halloween. 0:19:25.542 --> 0:19:29.322 That'll be at 8 p.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time 0:19:29.322 --> 0:19:31.482 on the 31st of October. 0:19:31.572 --> 0:19:34.602 But you know, as people are aware, there's a lot 0:19:34.602 --> 0:19:38.832 of new additions to the Vision Australia Library catalogue on 0:19:38.832 --> 0:19:42.702 a regular basis. So what sort of new releases can 0:19:42.702 --> 0:19:45.312 you let us know about that are quite exciting for 0:19:45.312 --> 0:19:47.532 people to sink their teeth into? And yeah. 0:19:47.532 --> 0:19:49.812 We've, we've put together a bit of a reading list 0:19:49.812 --> 0:19:54.012 on some new titles. So books published in 2023 by 0:19:54.012 --> 0:19:58.002 some fabulous Australian female authors. So just a couple of 0:19:58.002 --> 0:20:01.782 highlights from there. We have the book Binder of Jericho, 0:20:01.782 --> 0:20:04.722 which came out earlier this year by Pip Williams, who 0:20:04.722 --> 0:20:09.072 wrote The Beautiful Dictionary of Lost Words. So that's a really, 0:20:09.072 --> 0:20:13.002 really fabulous follow up to the Dictionary of Lost Words. 0:20:13.002 --> 0:20:15.252 So that's a really yeah, a really great book if 0:20:15.252 --> 0:20:19.782 you're into literature. Pip Williams is a beautiful writer. She's 0:20:19.782 --> 0:20:23.142 explored the history of book binding, if you're familiar with 0:20:23.142 --> 0:20:25.422 The Dictionary of Lost Words, which looks at the creation 0:20:25.422 --> 0:20:28.422 of the Oxford English Dictionary, this is really a much 0:20:28.422 --> 0:20:32.732 anticipated follow up. So that's. To the bookbinder of Jericho. Also, 0:20:32.732 --> 0:20:36.782 we have Solari Gentil, who's republished after she wrote him. 0:20:36.782 --> 0:20:39.692 So Solari, we welcome to the library. Last year she 0:20:39.692 --> 0:20:43.262 was our guest for the Melbourne Writers Festival with the 0:20:43.262 --> 0:20:46.772 woman in the library. So after she wrote him, is 0:20:46.772 --> 0:20:50.942 another really kind of creative, inventive. She's a really kind 0:20:50.942 --> 0:20:55.112 of meta writer. She is very clever in her writing. 0:20:55.112 --> 0:20:59.072 So a great murder mystery to explore there. So that's 0:20:59.072 --> 0:21:03.002 after she wrote him memoir, If We're moving into Memoir, 0:21:03.062 --> 0:21:05.702 a really beautiful one I'd like to recommend is the 0:21:05.702 --> 0:21:07.862 House with all the lights on. And this is by 0:21:07.862 --> 0:21:12.812 Jessica Kirchner. And she's reflecting on growing up with her 0:21:12.812 --> 0:21:16.292 elderly grandparents who were both deaf. So they both spoke 0:21:16.292 --> 0:21:20.312 in sign language, were immersed in deaf culture. And Jessica 0:21:20.312 --> 0:21:23.402 kind of straddled these two worlds, the hearing world and 0:21:23.402 --> 0:21:29.282 the deafness world. So really lovely book there explores identity, disability, 0:21:29.282 --> 0:21:33.932 identity and yeah, a really, really special, special story there. 0:21:33.932 --> 0:21:36.812 The other book I want to recommend is very new. 0:21:36.812 --> 0:21:39.722 It's Black Sheep by Judy Nunn just came out in 0:21:39.722 --> 0:21:43.562 the last couple of weeks. And Judy, you might remember 0:21:43.562 --> 0:21:46.382 from her days as an actress in Home and Away, 0:21:46.382 --> 0:21:48.992 but her post home and away career has really been 0:21:48.992 --> 0:21:53.402 focused on writing. So she's a really prolific novelist and 0:21:53.402 --> 0:21:56.822 a lot of her work is inspired by Australian history. 0:21:56.822 --> 0:21:59.882 So she writes these Australian history novels that often really 0:21:59.882 --> 0:22:05.612 epic tales, so great family sagas across generations, across decades. 0:22:05.612 --> 0:22:08.192 And so, yeah, this is another really fabulous book. But 0:22:08.192 --> 0:22:10.112 I did want to mention it because we will be 0:22:10.112 --> 0:22:14.642 welcoming Judy to the Vision Australia Library next month in 0:22:14.642 --> 0:22:18.362 November for our final in conversation for the year. 0:22:18.812 --> 0:22:22.652 All right. Wonderful. Look forward to that. So we'll get 0:22:22.652 --> 0:22:26.642 the details about that closer to the day. So keep 0:22:26.642 --> 0:22:29.852 your eyes peeled for that one. Leanne, thanks so much 0:22:29.852 --> 0:22:33.152 for your time today. I've been speaking with Leanne from 0:22:33.152 --> 0:22:37.892 the library about the latest upcoming events from the Vision 0:22:37.892 --> 0:22:41.312 Australia Library, as well as some new additions to the 0:22:41.312 --> 0:22:45.512 Vision Australia Library catalogue for people to have a read. Leanne, 0:22:45.512 --> 0:22:48.122 thanks so much for your time today. Great to have 0:22:48.122 --> 0:22:48.872 a chat with you. 0:22:48.902 --> 0:22:49.742 Thanks, Sam. 0:22:56.962 --> 0:23:00.622 And now here's Francis Kelland with a reader recommended. 0:23:00.652 --> 0:23:04.192 The next book is another non-fiction book. It's called Whatever 0:23:04.192 --> 0:23:09.562 Happened to Brenda Hean, and it's by Scott Millwood. Brenda Hain, 0:23:09.562 --> 0:23:12.832 a dentist's wife, was a part of the Hobart establishment. 0:23:12.832 --> 0:23:17.122 She made a very unlikely environmental activist, but Lake Pedder 0:23:17.122 --> 0:23:20.212 was one of those special places. She and a collection 0:23:20.212 --> 0:23:23.062 of like minded people took it upon themselves to save 0:23:23.062 --> 0:23:26.782 the mountain Wilderness lake from inundation to form a dam 0:23:26.782 --> 0:23:30.682 for the hydroelectric commission and in the process founded the 0:23:30.682 --> 0:23:35.212 first green political party in the world. In September 1972, 0:23:35.212 --> 0:23:38.962 Brenda Hayne left Hobart in a Tiger moth aircraft being 0:23:38.962 --> 0:23:42.862 piloted by Max Price. They were flying to Canberra to 0:23:42.862 --> 0:23:47.212 right Save Lake Peter across the sky above Parliament House 0:23:47.212 --> 0:23:49.882 and to meet with government officials in an attempt to 0:23:49.882 --> 0:23:54.652 gain federal political support for their campaign. The plane was 0:23:54.652 --> 0:23:58.162 sighted several times as it made its way across the island, 0:23:58.162 --> 0:24:02.692 but never reached its destination. Neither the plane nor its 0:24:02.692 --> 0:24:07.672 passengers were ever seen again. 35 years of conspiracy theories 0:24:07.672 --> 0:24:12.472 have surrounded the intriguing story. But in 2003, a secret 0:24:12.472 --> 0:24:17.812 sauce gave celebrated documentary filmmaker Scott Millwood a package with 0:24:17.812 --> 0:24:21.652 the advice in quotes Use this for good in it 0:24:21.652 --> 0:24:24.832 with a police files detailing the investigation of the case. 0:24:24.832 --> 0:24:28.102 Scott Millwood has made a documentary based on his attempts 0:24:28.102 --> 0:24:32.062 to uncover the truth while eyewitnesses are still alive. This 0:24:32.062 --> 0:24:34.822 is the book of that film. Let's hear a sample 0:24:34.822 --> 0:24:39.352 of whatever happened to Brenda Heen by Scott Millwood. It's 0:24:39.352 --> 0:24:41.902 narrated by the wonderful Humphrey Bower. 0:24:42.622 --> 0:24:45.982 A man has painted the same scene for 50 years 0:24:46.012 --> 0:24:51.552 over and over in endless variation. In it, a foreground 0:24:51.552 --> 0:24:55.212 of white sand and button grass creep beyond the dunes 0:24:55.452 --> 0:24:58.962 and long tracts of tannin stained water are a sweep 0:24:58.962 --> 0:25:02.562 of watercolor that become a lake stretching to fill the 0:25:02.562 --> 0:25:08.092 paper until the purple mountains demand an end. Again and again. 0:25:08.092 --> 0:25:13.372 The artist Max Angus paints the same lost place. Again 0:25:13.372 --> 0:25:16.132 and again in his brush strokes, the waters have not 0:25:16.132 --> 0:25:19.992 banked up behind a dam. Again and again. The lakes 0:25:19.992 --> 0:25:24.272 Highland Beach has not been drowned. Again and again. He 0:25:24.272 --> 0:25:27.452 is on this stretch of mountain sand with his homemade 0:25:27.452 --> 0:25:31.742 watercolor board set in his lap. It's windbreaks sheltering the 0:25:31.742 --> 0:25:35.612 page and pools of liquid color, and he, in his 0:25:35.612 --> 0:25:38.522 army slouch hat side by side with his friends. The 0:25:38.522 --> 0:25:42.362 painters looks up across the beach to the Franklin Range 0:25:42.362 --> 0:25:47.042 and Mount Solitary and the Sentinels and other mystic rocks beyond, 0:25:47.342 --> 0:25:50.252 and knows that he is in a place called Home. 0:25:52.232 --> 0:25:55.472 After so many stories of people who have lost their memories. 0:25:56.012 --> 0:26:01.222 Here is a story about losing, forgetting. I imagine a 0:26:01.222 --> 0:26:04.252 film that begins with these words as I sit in 0:26:04.252 --> 0:26:07.072 the drawing room of the home of Max Angus in Hobart, 0:26:07.822 --> 0:26:10.612 pulling him away from his paints and his paper so 0:26:10.612 --> 0:26:12.532 that he might set me off on my search for 0:26:12.532 --> 0:26:16.822 the Tasmania of the past. The room looks over the 0:26:16.822 --> 0:26:21.142 river that forms the looping cartographic harbour, its mouth opening 0:26:21.172 --> 0:26:25.372 to the south. Shining blue, sparkling and flashing its seemingly 0:26:25.372 --> 0:26:28.992 benign smile at the mountain that rises up from its foreshore, 0:26:29.002 --> 0:26:32.892 orienting the people of the city. I draw up two 0:26:32.892 --> 0:26:35.712 armchairs and a teak coffee table to hold the tray 0:26:35.712 --> 0:26:39.882 that will soon arrive. The interior of this room at 0:26:39.882 --> 0:26:43.002 the top of the house has not changed in three decades. 0:26:43.602 --> 0:26:48.122 That was whatever happened to Brenda Heen. By Scott Millwood. 0:26:48.132 --> 0:26:52.772 Scott is spelt c o. W t. C. O. Double 0:26:52.782 --> 0:27:00.042 t Millwood is spelled m. I. L. W. L. O. M. I. L. W. 0:27:00.282 --> 0:27:04.632 L o d. And that book goes for nearly ten hours. 0:27:05.142 --> 0:27:08.472 And that's all we have time for today. You've been 0:27:08.472 --> 0:27:12.822 listening to Talking Vision. Talking Vision is a production of 0:27:12.822 --> 0:27:16.842 Vision Australia Radio. Thanks to all involved with putting the 0:27:16.842 --> 0:27:20.682 show together. And remember, we love your feedback and comments, 0:27:20.682 --> 0:27:24.282 so please do get in touch on Talking vision at 0:27:24.282 --> 0:27:31.092 Vision australia.org. That's talking vision all one word at Vision australia.org. 0:27:31.092 --> 0:27:35.112 But until next week it's Sam Colley saying bye for now. 0:27:38.722 --> 0:27:42.742 You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during 0:27:42.742 --> 0:27:50.662 business hours on one 308 4746. That's one 308 474 0:27:50.712 --> 0:27:56.902 W6 or by visiting Vision australia.org that's Vision australia.org.