October 13, 2025 • 23 mins
In this special audio package, we take you to Brisbane for the Blind Australian of the Year Awards 2025, held on the evening of October 11th.
It was a night to celebrate excellence, achievement and community spirit within Australia’s blind and low vision community. Vision Australia Radio was proud to attend and cover the proceedings, with special thanks to Link Vision, a valued sponsor of our network.
Throughout this peice, you’ll hear from exhibitors, event organisers, and the evening’s MC Karan Nagrani, as well as Reggie Bird (Big Brother, I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here) who was on the red carpet speaking with nominees and guests.
Listen as we bring you the voices and stories that made the Blind Australian of the Year Awards 2025 such a memorable occasion.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:14):
Hi there Jace here for Vision Australia Radio and I
am honoured to be at the Blind Australian of the
Year Awards Gala. Well, just a few hours before the
gala at the moment, and I'm in the middle of
the exhibition space where a few of the supporters of
the gala have gathered to share a little bit of
what they do and the services that are available to
the blind and low vision. Community support has been growing
(00:35):
for the gala over the years, and this year is
no exception. Not only has it had fantastic corporate support,
but there have been an amazing amount of nominations made
for the three categories at the awards for a little
bit of the history, the Blind Australian of the year
Awards acknowledged the contribution that people with blindness and low
vision have made to Australian society. These awards bring acknowledgement
(00:57):
and prizes for the recipients. I hope to be able
to grab the event organisers to share a little bit
more about that before things kick off at 7 p.m..
The Vision Australia Radio, actually exhibiting today alongside the vision
store from the Subaru office, got an array of assistive
technology on display, including the very popular Ray-Ban glasses with AI,
and sharing a little bit about our alternative format, production
(01:20):
and ways to listen to Vision Australia radio and audio,
which you folk listening are all too familiar with. Do
you want to introduce yourself?
S2 (01:26):
Yeah, sure. I'm Eliza. I'm with the vision store from
Vision Australia. Very excited to be here at the Blind
Australian of the Year Awards with our display table full
of goodies. One of the most important things is to
show up for our blind and low vision community, and
also to let people know the massive range of equipment
and services that we have at Vision Australia. It's really
(01:46):
important for us to get the word out there and
make sure people know that they can just drop in anytime.
S1 (01:50):
Do you want to share for the people listening at
home what you've got on the table here today?
S2 (01:54):
We brought a really interesting array of canes, especially because
we know a lot of our equipment is targeted towards
people with low vision. We do have a lot of
blindness specific equipment as well. So canes is one of them.
We brought a glitter cane with us, which is a
display of lots of different color options that you can
bring along.
S1 (02:15):
You can never have too much glitter.
S2 (02:16):
That's right. Exactly. I'm a big believer in glitter, and
of customizing your outfits and having a cane for every
outfit if you want to. But this is an example
of a few different color options that you're able to
custom order. We've also got canes that are good for
being out and about the outdoors, urban exploring ones that
are adjustable so they're really good for rough terrain and
(02:37):
also ones that are really compact and telescopic. We have
a Korean telescopic cane, which is lightweight and is able
to be extended and folded up however you want. It's
really discreet and it's got a really lovely metallic pink
end to it as well, which is nice. I think
they're just a very fashion forward kind of.
S1 (02:55):
I know some people are quite attached to their cane, uh,
maybe have an upgraded for a little while. It might
be worth just popping by a vision store and and
seeing what's available.
S2 (03:03):
Yeah, that's exactly right. And there's so many new kinds
of canes for particularly specific kind of Dramas you might
have with canes. We've got one, for example, that's flexible.
So if you find that you're someone that often gets
your cane stuck in cracks in the pavement or on,
you know, like a gutter or something like that, it's
really handy because it's got a bit of resistance in it,
(03:25):
like suspension in the cane. So if you do hit something,
you're not going to jab yourself.
S1 (03:29):
It's not like a rotor caster brand.
S2 (03:31):
It's actually called the no jab cane.
S1 (03:34):
Which is quite literal.
S2 (03:35):
But yeah. So you don't jab yourself with the cane okay.
Good good. Yeah, yeah. And then we brought along all
of our magnification and some of our really latest technology,
for example, the Ray-Ban meta AI glasses. That's one of
the newest things that we've found has been so helpful
for our community. They look like a normal pair of glasses,
but they've got little cameras in the temples, which can
(03:58):
take a photo or a video and analyze what's going
on in front of you. And then you can do
things like read out a menu, read out some text,
or even describe the people that are standing in front
of you and it's AI too, so you can ask
it the complex follow up questions.
S1 (04:13):
Can you use them like wayfinding, like to sort of
walk from one space to another within a building and.
S2 (04:17):
Yeah, definitely. Yeah.
S1 (04:18):
Amazing.
S2 (04:19):
The use for navigation like orientation mobility is, is pretty
amazing because it's integrated with all sorts of other apps
on your phone, like Google Maps. You can use it
for wayfinding. You can use it to make phone calls
when you're on the go. It's hands free so you
can have your phone in your pocket, you know, cane
in the other hand, and away you go. So that's
very exciting.
S1 (04:39):
Not technically assistive technology, but widely available to everyone, really,
for so many different things.
S2 (04:45):
Exactly. Yeah. And we found that even though it's a
it's a mainstream item, it's a mobile phone accessory, we
can still see the benefit for our community. So that's
why we've decided to promote them and have them in stock,
have them available for demonstration, and also have equipped professionals
like OTS and orientation mobility specialists who can show you
how to use them.
S1 (05:03):
Yeah, well, if anyone's got any questions about any of
the products available today or just, you know, trying to
find something that might assist them in their everyday living.
I assume they can just call through and ask for
vision store.
S2 (05:13):
They sure can. You can come in, drop in to
one of our stores, you can call us, you can
send us an email. There's no wrong door.
S1 (05:21):
With me now from reading radio. I've got Chris. What
are you expecting from the night?
S3 (05:25):
Jace? That's a good question. We're expecting a really fantastic night.
It's been a great year and it's a celebration, I guess,
of those with who are blind and low vision. Some
good music, some good food, great company. Yeah. Just to
be able to share some of the wonderful stories is
always a highlight here. This is our fourth year I think, attending.
So yeah, reading radio just loves being a part of
(05:46):
the Blind Australian of the year awards.
S1 (05:48):
Why is it that you're a part of the awards
for the four years running?
S3 (05:51):
We're one of the major sponsors of it, as well
as the corporate partner, and obviously being a radio station
for those who are blind and low vision. There's our audience.
It's our family. Yeah, always important that we get along
and support great events like this.
S1 (06:05):
Now I'm very excited to say I'm here with the
event MC Karen. Hi, Karen.
S4 (06:09):
Hey, Jace. Thank you for saying my name. Right. I
was expecting Karen or something else, so thank you.
S1 (06:15):
I've had practice. I'm pleased to say this is your
second time emceeing the event. Is that right?
S4 (06:21):
Yes, yes. Second time. I was actually told last year
that some of my jokes offended people. And I need
to apologize because I'm going to do it even more
this year, so I hope they're ready.
S1 (06:32):
So it was a highly offensive. You have to come back.
S4 (06:34):
Yeah, exactly. Yeah, yeah.
S1 (06:36):
What got people on the edge of the seat last year? Karen,
your attempt at humor.
S4 (06:40):
I think I said something like. Because normally when I speak,
it's at events where mostly sited people. So I just
started off asking who here is blind and who he
is sighted. And surprisingly, not surprisingly, its blind end of
the year awards. But most of the people were blind,
so I was like, oh damn, you're not going to
see my jokes coming. And the whole crowd just went, oh,
it actually started off with a laugh and then it
(07:02):
turned into like almost booing. So I was like, ooh.
But yeah.
S1 (07:06):
Can't win them all.
S4 (07:07):
Yeah, yeah.
S1 (07:08):
And if you can't laugh at you sometimes at yourself. Sometimes.
When can. Yeah.
S4 (07:12):
Exactly.
S1 (07:13):
So why is it that you're involved? Why do you
make the effort to come all the way up to
Brisbane for this event each year?
S4 (07:18):
Um, if you were to ask me. Well, to be
honest with you, I didn't even know an award like
this existed until a couple of years ago. I got
nominated in 2022, and I was like, wow, something like
this exists. I got approached on social media by the
vision team, and they asked me if I could do
some social media stuff for them, and that's how it started.
(07:39):
And actually it started off with, would you, would you
be the emcee for the gala? And then from that
it led to helping them with social media as well,
which I absolutely love because, well, my background is marketing
and I had to give it up as my sight
got worse. And then now I'm doing it again. But
for a blind organisation, so it feels like a full
circle in a in a really nice way. So yeah,
that's why I'm here. Obviously people didn't hate me that
(08:01):
much last year, which is why I got asked to
be here again. So yeah, that's why I'm here. And,
you know, honestly, coming back to what I was saying
about not knowing something like this exists, I think as
a blind person, you often don't feel included. And when
you have, you know, an award that's just for people
like you, it's a really special, special feeling for you.
S1 (08:20):
Why do you think it is necessary for the Blind
Australian of the year awards? What does it mean to
the blind and low vision community?
S4 (08:25):
It shows that, you know, I think in society blind
people are shown. I wouldn't say in a bad way,
but we always sort of shown miserable, unhappy week. We
don't have careers, we don't do much. And then you've
got awards like this where people are Paralympians, they're like
doctors and they're such phenomenal athletes that I think it
(08:46):
really lets people know that you're really underestimating this demographic
so much. So I think when you have winners that
are so accomplished out there and it makes the news,
people read about it and they're like, whoa, didn't, didn't
think a blind person could do that.
S1 (09:00):
That sounds like a great reason to be here.
S4 (09:02):
Yeah.
S1 (09:03):
Thanks, Karen.
S4 (09:04):
My pleasure. Thanks for having me. Hope you have a
lovely night. We are here to celebrate the contribution. Excellence.
Self-Determination of Australians living with blindness. We have some truly
phenomenal blind people in this room. I mean, just take
a look around. Oh, wait. But all jokes aside, please
(09:26):
give it up for incredible finalists. All of them. Can
we have a round of applause, please?
S1 (09:33):
Okay. Very excited. Now, channeling my mum, who would be
very jealous because I'm speaking to Reggie Bird. How you going, Reggie?
S5 (09:39):
Yeah, I'm really good. I'm very excited for tonight.
S1 (09:43):
Why are you excited?
S5 (09:45):
Oh, it's so great to see the community get together.
Especially like the blind and vision impaired community come out.
And I just love how they all get dressed up. Like,
I just love it. And it's so good.
S1 (09:56):
This is your second year involved or is it longer?
S5 (09:59):
Second year.
S1 (10:00):
So what got you involved, Reggie?
S5 (10:02):
I think Karen got in touch with me and he said, Reggie,
I'm going to this event. He goes, I think you
should come along to it and be involved in it.
That's how it started. Yeah.
S1 (10:11):
What do you think it means to the blind and
low vision community to have such an event?
S5 (10:15):
It means a lot. Like, it's so good and it's
so special to feel included.
S1 (10:21):
It's a moment to shine a spotlight on the community, right?
S5 (10:24):
Yes, definitely.
S1 (10:25):
Was there anything interesting that happened last year at the
event that you weren't expecting? Did you, you know, learn
anything along the way?
S5 (10:31):
Oh, look, I learned that I had a very good night,
that's for sure. After a few drinks. It was fun.
S1 (10:38):
That's nice. I always love your energy and your honesty, Reggie.
Kind of things. Are you aspiring to do over the
next year? Like, is there anything on your radar?
S5 (10:48):
Gosh, I definitely need a job. That's my main goal.
S1 (10:51):
You heard it here first, folks. If you've got a
job for Reggie, she is willing and able. Very highly skilled.
S5 (10:56):
Very, extremely.
S1 (10:59):
What is your ideal job, Reggie?
S5 (11:00):
Oh, gosh. Look, I love talking to people. So anything
that's including being around people or interviewing people or just.
I'm a people person. Yeah. Yes.
S1 (11:11):
And that's what you're doing tonight on the red carpet.
You're interviewing the attendees?
S5 (11:14):
Yep. So I'll meet and greet everyone that's coming along
tonight and have a photo and have a chat. Yeah.
It's lovely.
S1 (11:21):
You've had a bit of a media presence for a while.
Do you still get nervous?
S5 (11:25):
No.
S1 (11:26):
Or did you ever get nervous?
S5 (11:28):
Last year when I got invited to go and be
a what is it, a speaker, a.
S1 (11:35):
Like a.
S5 (11:35):
Guest speaker, a keynote.
S1 (11:36):
Keynote? Yeah. That's when you know you've made it.
S5 (11:38):
Yeah, a keynote speaking. See, that's what I would be
good at doing. Keynote speaking. I've got such a story
to tell. Yeah. So I did that.
S1 (11:48):
Ten part podcast series just to tell your story.
S5 (11:50):
God like. And that was, um, I got a bit
nervous for that. And then once I got into the
swing of it all. I was fine back, but normally
I don't get nervous.
S1 (12:01):
You always pull it off. You do alright.
S5 (12:03):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm a natural.
S1 (12:04):
Well, good luck tonight. Hope you have a lot of fun.
And it's a pleasure to speak to you.
S5 (12:09):
Oh, thank you. And I hope you have a good
night too.
S4 (12:11):
Rachel first captured hearts in 20 2012 with over 4
million Australians watching her unforgettable audition. And it was a
blind audition, literally. Since then, she's released three top ten
Aria albums, toured nationally to sold out crowds, and even
performed with Andrea Bocelli's orchestra in Italy. In 2024, Rachel
(12:32):
was honored with the prestigious Danny Awards in New York City,
celebrating excellence among musicians with disabilities, a powerhouse performer and
a true inspiration and someone I call a pocket rocket.
Please welcome Rachael Leahcar.
S6 (12:48):
I'm just so honored to be here once again, um,
at the Blind Australian of the Year Awards, and I'm
going to be singing some tunes for you. Set the tone.
Got a bit of a mix of songs tonight. Um,
had a few song requests before this, so doing some
new ones that I hope will get you all to
sing along. Maybe have a little wriggle or dance around
if you want to get up. You're welcome to do
(13:09):
that too. But I'm going to start with one. Um,
that I absolutely love, that I actually performed in New
York last year by Kate Bush. It's called Running Up
That Hill. Oh, I can't wait to deal with all
my gear to swap our places. Be running up and
(13:29):
I'll be right back. We're running up that building.
S4 (13:36):
Employment is more than just a paycheck. It's about purpose, belonging, inclusion,
and most importantly, being able to afford those wild spending sprees.
But for many, employment is not the barrier. It's the
lack of awareness. You know, people not wanting to give
people like us a chance. I mean, look at how
many blind people are here. Look how cool we are.
(13:58):
And people need to hire people like us. Am I right?
S2 (14:01):
Yes.
S4 (14:03):
This is why recognizing inclusive employers is not just important,
it's essential. We are so grateful to the Queensland State
Government for sponsoring the 2025 blind of the Year Employer
of Choice award. And I would love to welcome Max spies,
deputy director general of the Queensland Department of Families, seniors,
(14:23):
Disability Services and Child Safety, to present this award.
S7 (14:31):
Thank you. Karen. You are on fire tonight, my friend.
Welcome to the football capital of the world, people. Blind
Australian of the year employer recipient is the Saint Kilda
Football Club.
S1 (14:54):
With me. Now I have Tash from Braille. Tactile signs. Australia. Tash,
how are you going?
S8 (14:59):
I'm really well. Thank you.
S1 (15:02):
Do you want to share why you're at the event
today and why you're involved?
S8 (15:05):
Yeah, absolutely. So I'm here on behalf of Braille Tactile
Signs Australia. And I've come with the beautiful Claudia GATT,
who is one of the owners of the business. So
Australian business that has been in braille tactile signs for
25 years. So Claudia started the business with her father, Roland.
They are the gold standard in Braille, tactile signs.
S1 (15:28):
I'm sure there's a lot of players out there, but
not necessarily doing it the right way.
S8 (15:31):
100% right. We have three unique technologies that enable our
signs to have longevity and to be used for a
long time. So there's a lot of signs out there
that you may know that are not of a great quality.
And unfortunately, what that means is for the end user.
(15:53):
They don't actually provide the service that they are there for,
which is to create an independence for them to find
what they need to find. So, for example, we've got
some new tactile floor maps for toilets. So amenity floor
plans and we're trialling the idea that someone can actually
(16:13):
feel their way around the floor mat. If they don't
know Braille, they can still, uh, find their orientation within
the bathroom. So we think that, you know, is great.
There's a lot of rail users out there. We've been
speaking a lot about the future of Braille. Chris Edwards
spoke at our World Sight Day conference the other week,
a couple of weeks ago, and he spoke very highly
(16:35):
of the future of Braille and how there is still
a lot of people out there using it, and that
it's still quite relevant.
S1 (16:41):
Let's hope we get to a point where every public
space has these Braille signs. I mean, that's really what
should be happening, isn't it?
S8 (16:47):
Yeah, absolutely. Every public space and we talk about inclusivity,
you know, making it these these toilet signs and these
signs that we make are for everyone really to be
able to find and to create a sense of dignity
so that you can find your way around. Yeah.
S1 (17:03):
If you're a business owner or you're a designer and architect,
I hope this is on your radar. I hope you're
thinking about it.
S8 (17:09):
100%. We're a friendly team, and we'd love to speak
to you and Tash.
S1 (17:13):
Why is it that you guys are involved this year
and have been in previous years?
S8 (17:17):
Oh, that's such a good question. So we're very much
part of the community. We love to do a lot
of advocacy work, and Claudia and Roland have been involved
for a very long time in really sort of getting
in amongst the community and showing the community that they've
got a real interest in the blind and low vision
community and a real interest in providing quality products for
(17:38):
the end user. And they're really end user focus, I
find really, um, beautiful, like it's heart centered.
S1 (17:45):
Tash, thanks so much for the chat. Thanks for being
here and helping, uh, an event like this happened.
S7 (17:50):
Thank you.
S4 (17:50):
This is such.
S7 (17:52):
A.
S4 (17:52):
Special award because I know a lot of blind people
are diagnosed when they're quite young. I was diagnosed at
the age of 11, and I remember how scary that felt.
But now young, blind Australians are not just being embraced,
but they're being recognised and settled right here.
S9 (18:08):
Drum roll everyone. The Blind Australian of the year youth
recipient is Isaac McInnes.
S4 (18:22):
I'm going.
S7 (18:22):
To tell you a.
S4 (18:23):
Little bit about Isaac. Isaac is an exceptional young Australian
whose courage, perseverance and compassion has inspired his school and community.
Despite living with significant sight loss, Isaac approaches every challenge
with determination and positivity. At school, he is known for
his adaptability, academic excellence and leadership. His passion for learning,
(18:45):
particularly maths. Don't ask me why, but the maths is
supported by his proactive use of assistive technology, showcasing both
innovation and resilience beyond the classroom. Isaac is an accomplished athlete,
competing in blind golf, tandem cycling, athletics and air rifle shooting.
S1 (19:05):
How cool with me now is Terry from Link Vision? Terry.
What does this event mean to you and the organization?
S10 (19:11):
It just means so much, Jason. I mean, it's all
about inclusion. It's all about recognizing achievements. The people who
are blind. It's something that we've been doing for now
for nearly 60 years. And to be able to be
a part of this event is just phenomenal.
S1 (19:23):
Now, can you remind our listeners how long Link Vision
has been involved in the awards?
S10 (19:27):
We've had the awards now. Well, the awards are in
their eighth year and it's the 50th for Link Vision.
All right. We we took over the original founders of
the awards called Blind Alliance Australia about 5 or 6
years ago.
S1 (19:40):
And what do you think this annual event is doing
for the, uh, the community itself?
S10 (19:45):
We just want to celebrate, Jason. I mean, it's all
about in case you're here and can't hear the noise,
it's all about celebration of the achievements of people who
are blind. And we keep saying to people, we've got
three award recipients tonight, but 100 nominations this year. So
what we'd like to say is we've got 100 winners
in three recipients tonight.
S1 (20:06):
So the nominations have grown for the event.
S10 (20:08):
Oh, massively. Massively. And, um, so as I said, we've
got close to 100 this year. I think we started
off with about 15, about eight years ago. So and importantly,
nominations from every state and territory. And of course this
year we've got a new award category called the Youth Award,
which why.
S1 (20:25):
Did you why was that one introduced? Terry.
S10 (20:27):
Popular request by people that come here every year and
noting that kids are 15 to 21 years of age,
are already achieving phenomenal things, you know, and it's it's
not just about contribution to the blindness community, it's contribution
to the community. Full stop. That's the important.
S1 (20:45):
Part. So what encouraging words would you have for our
audience to think about who they might be able to
nominate for the awards next year?
S10 (20:52):
Look, I think I think the really important thing is
to be able to describe really well just how important
these people are. You know, I mean, it's a little
bit more than, hey, she's a great girl or he's
a great bloke. Let's actually describe the achievements and their
path and their journey through the whole thing.
S1 (21:09):
Anything on the radar for Link Vision for the next
12 months? Anything interesting coming up?
S10 (21:13):
Well, I think we're going to have a good sleep tonight.
And it's a ten month effort to actually run this,
this function. So we might have a rest for a
few weeks and then get ready for the next one.
S1 (21:24):
Well, Terry, thank you very much for involving Vision Australia
Radio for flying me up to cover the event as well.
S10 (21:29):
Thank you so much for being a part of it, Jason.
I hope you've had a good time.
S1 (21:32):
Well, that's a wrap for our coverage of the Blind
Australian of the year 2025 awards. You'll notice that we
didn't get a chance to share the audio from the
evening for the winner of the individual award, who was,
of course, Maurice Gleeson. And that's because we were recording
the video of the announcement for our Facebook page. And unfortunately,
I couldn't do both at the same time. Big congratulations
(21:54):
once again to Maurice, of course. Uh, Maurice has dedicated
over 30 years to transforming the lives of Victorians who
are blind or have vision impairment. Of course, through his
leadership of the Blind Sports Recreation Victoria organization, mostly in
a volunteer capacity, Maurice has created more than 30 inclusive
programs spanning tennis, AFL, soccer, swimming and more, impacting over
(22:18):
25,000 people across the state. Congratulations, Maurice. Congratulations to all
the winners from the evening and to everyone that was involved.
And once again, big thanks to Link Vision for having
us at the event and covering it. And in addition
to that, being a sponsor of Vision Australia Radio this year.
Keep listening to Vision Australia Radio for more updates on
the event. And of course we'll be back again in 2026.
(22:41):
I'm Jason Gips, bye for now.
Hi there Jace here for Vision Australia Radio and I
am honoured to be at the Blind Australian of the
Year Awards Gala. Well, just a few hours before the
gala at the moment, and I'm in the middle of
the exhibition space where a few of the supporters of
the gala have gathered to share a little bit of
what they do and the services that are available to
the blind and low vision. Community support has been growing
(00:35):
for the gala over the years, and this year is
no exception. Not only has it had fantastic corporate support,
but there have been an amazing amount of nominations made
for the three categories at the awards for a little
bit of the history, the Blind Australian of the year
Awards acknowledged the contribution that people with blindness and low
vision have made to Australian society. These awards bring acknowledgement
(00:57):
and prizes for the recipients. I hope to be able
to grab the event organisers to share a little bit
more about that before things kick off at 7 p.m..
The Vision Australia Radio, actually exhibiting today alongside the vision
store from the Subaru office, got an array of assistive
technology on display, including the very popular Ray-Ban glasses with AI,
and sharing a little bit about our alternative format, production
(01:20):
and ways to listen to Vision Australia radio and audio,
which you folk listening are all too familiar with. Do
you want to introduce yourself?
S2 (01:26):
Yeah, sure. I'm Eliza. I'm with the vision store from
Vision Australia. Very excited to be here at the Blind
Australian of the Year Awards with our display table full
of goodies. One of the most important things is to
show up for our blind and low vision community, and
also to let people know the massive range of equipment
and services that we have at Vision Australia. It's really
(01:46):
important for us to get the word out there and
make sure people know that they can just drop in anytime.
S1 (01:50):
Do you want to share for the people listening at
home what you've got on the table here today?
S2 (01:54):
We brought a really interesting array of canes, especially because
we know a lot of our equipment is targeted towards
people with low vision. We do have a lot of
blindness specific equipment as well. So canes is one of them.
We brought a glitter cane with us, which is a
display of lots of different color options that you can
bring along.
S1 (02:15):
You can never have too much glitter.
S2 (02:16):
That's right. Exactly. I'm a big believer in glitter, and
of customizing your outfits and having a cane for every
outfit if you want to. But this is an example
of a few different color options that you're able to
custom order. We've also got canes that are good for
being out and about the outdoors, urban exploring ones that
are adjustable so they're really good for rough terrain and
(02:37):
also ones that are really compact and telescopic. We have
a Korean telescopic cane, which is lightweight and is able
to be extended and folded up however you want. It's
really discreet and it's got a really lovely metallic pink
end to it as well, which is nice. I think
they're just a very fashion forward kind of.
S1 (02:55):
I know some people are quite attached to their cane, uh,
maybe have an upgraded for a little while. It might
be worth just popping by a vision store and and
seeing what's available.
S2 (03:03):
Yeah, that's exactly right. And there's so many new kinds
of canes for particularly specific kind of Dramas you might
have with canes. We've got one, for example, that's flexible.
So if you find that you're someone that often gets
your cane stuck in cracks in the pavement or on,
you know, like a gutter or something like that, it's
really handy because it's got a bit of resistance in it,
(03:25):
like suspension in the cane. So if you do hit something,
you're not going to jab yourself.
S1 (03:29):
It's not like a rotor caster brand.
S2 (03:31):
It's actually called the no jab cane.
S1 (03:34):
Which is quite literal.
S2 (03:35):
But yeah. So you don't jab yourself with the cane okay.
Good good. Yeah, yeah. And then we brought along all
of our magnification and some of our really latest technology,
for example, the Ray-Ban meta AI glasses. That's one of
the newest things that we've found has been so helpful
for our community. They look like a normal pair of glasses,
but they've got little cameras in the temples, which can
(03:58):
take a photo or a video and analyze what's going
on in front of you. And then you can do
things like read out a menu, read out some text,
or even describe the people that are standing in front
of you and it's AI too, so you can ask
it the complex follow up questions.
S1 (04:13):
Can you use them like wayfinding, like to sort of
walk from one space to another within a building and.
S2 (04:17):
Yeah, definitely. Yeah.
S1 (04:18):
Amazing.
S2 (04:19):
The use for navigation like orientation mobility is, is pretty
amazing because it's integrated with all sorts of other apps
on your phone, like Google Maps. You can use it
for wayfinding. You can use it to make phone calls
when you're on the go. It's hands free so you
can have your phone in your pocket, you know, cane
in the other hand, and away you go. So that's
very exciting.
S1 (04:39):
Not technically assistive technology, but widely available to everyone, really,
for so many different things.
S2 (04:45):
Exactly. Yeah. And we found that even though it's a
it's a mainstream item, it's a mobile phone accessory, we
can still see the benefit for our community. So that's
why we've decided to promote them and have them in stock,
have them available for demonstration, and also have equipped professionals
like OTS and orientation mobility specialists who can show you
how to use them.
S1 (05:03):
Yeah, well, if anyone's got any questions about any of
the products available today or just, you know, trying to
find something that might assist them in their everyday living.
I assume they can just call through and ask for
vision store.
S2 (05:13):
They sure can. You can come in, drop in to
one of our stores, you can call us, you can
send us an email. There's no wrong door.
S1 (05:21):
With me now from reading radio. I've got Chris. What
are you expecting from the night?
S3 (05:25):
Jace? That's a good question. We're expecting a really fantastic night.
It's been a great year and it's a celebration, I guess,
of those with who are blind and low vision. Some
good music, some good food, great company. Yeah. Just to
be able to share some of the wonderful stories is
always a highlight here. This is our fourth year I think, attending.
So yeah, reading radio just loves being a part of
(05:46):
the Blind Australian of the year awards.
S1 (05:48):
Why is it that you're a part of the awards
for the four years running?
S3 (05:51):
We're one of the major sponsors of it, as well
as the corporate partner, and obviously being a radio station
for those who are blind and low vision. There's our audience.
It's our family. Yeah, always important that we get along
and support great events like this.
S1 (06:05):
Now I'm very excited to say I'm here with the
event MC Karen. Hi, Karen.
S4 (06:09):
Hey, Jace. Thank you for saying my name. Right. I
was expecting Karen or something else, so thank you.
S1 (06:15):
I've had practice. I'm pleased to say this is your
second time emceeing the event. Is that right?
S4 (06:21):
Yes, yes. Second time. I was actually told last year
that some of my jokes offended people. And I need
to apologize because I'm going to do it even more
this year, so I hope they're ready.
S1 (06:32):
So it was a highly offensive. You have to come back.
S4 (06:34):
Yeah, exactly. Yeah, yeah.
S1 (06:36):
What got people on the edge of the seat last year? Karen,
your attempt at humor.
S4 (06:40):
I think I said something like. Because normally when I speak,
it's at events where mostly sited people. So I just
started off asking who here is blind and who he
is sighted. And surprisingly, not surprisingly, its blind end of
the year awards. But most of the people were blind,
so I was like, oh damn, you're not going to
see my jokes coming. And the whole crowd just went, oh,
it actually started off with a laugh and then it
(07:02):
turned into like almost booing. So I was like, ooh.
But yeah.
S1 (07:06):
Can't win them all.
S4 (07:07):
Yeah, yeah.
S1 (07:08):
And if you can't laugh at you sometimes at yourself. Sometimes.
When can. Yeah.
S4 (07:12):
Exactly.
S1 (07:13):
So why is it that you're involved? Why do you
make the effort to come all the way up to
Brisbane for this event each year?
S4 (07:18):
Um, if you were to ask me. Well, to be
honest with you, I didn't even know an award like
this existed until a couple of years ago. I got
nominated in 2022, and I was like, wow, something like
this exists. I got approached on social media by the
vision team, and they asked me if I could do
some social media stuff for them, and that's how it started.
(07:39):
And actually it started off with, would you, would you
be the emcee for the gala? And then from that
it led to helping them with social media as well,
which I absolutely love because, well, my background is marketing
and I had to give it up as my sight
got worse. And then now I'm doing it again. But
for a blind organisation, so it feels like a full
circle in a in a really nice way. So yeah,
that's why I'm here. Obviously people didn't hate me that
(08:01):
much last year, which is why I got asked to
be here again. So yeah, that's why I'm here. And,
you know, honestly, coming back to what I was saying
about not knowing something like this exists, I think as
a blind person, you often don't feel included. And when
you have, you know, an award that's just for people
like you, it's a really special, special feeling for you.
S1 (08:20):
Why do you think it is necessary for the Blind
Australian of the year awards? What does it mean to
the blind and low vision community?
S4 (08:25):
It shows that, you know, I think in society blind
people are shown. I wouldn't say in a bad way,
but we always sort of shown miserable, unhappy week. We
don't have careers, we don't do much. And then you've
got awards like this where people are Paralympians, they're like
doctors and they're such phenomenal athletes that I think it
(08:46):
really lets people know that you're really underestimating this demographic
so much. So I think when you have winners that
are so accomplished out there and it makes the news,
people read about it and they're like, whoa, didn't, didn't
think a blind person could do that.
S1 (09:00):
That sounds like a great reason to be here.
S4 (09:02):
Yeah.
S1 (09:03):
Thanks, Karen.
S4 (09:04):
My pleasure. Thanks for having me. Hope you have a
lovely night. We are here to celebrate the contribution. Excellence.
Self-Determination of Australians living with blindness. We have some truly
phenomenal blind people in this room. I mean, just take
a look around. Oh, wait. But all jokes aside, please
(09:26):
give it up for incredible finalists. All of them. Can
we have a round of applause, please?
S1 (09:33):
Okay. Very excited. Now, channeling my mum, who would be
very jealous because I'm speaking to Reggie Bird. How you going, Reggie?
S5 (09:39):
Yeah, I'm really good. I'm very excited for tonight.
S1 (09:43):
Why are you excited?
S5 (09:45):
Oh, it's so great to see the community get together.
Especially like the blind and vision impaired community come out.
And I just love how they all get dressed up. Like,
I just love it. And it's so good.
S1 (09:56):
This is your second year involved or is it longer?
S5 (09:59):
Second year.
S1 (10:00):
So what got you involved, Reggie?
S5 (10:02):
I think Karen got in touch with me and he said, Reggie,
I'm going to this event. He goes, I think you
should come along to it and be involved in it.
That's how it started. Yeah.
S1 (10:11):
What do you think it means to the blind and
low vision community to have such an event?
S5 (10:15):
It means a lot. Like, it's so good and it's
so special to feel included.
S1 (10:21):
It's a moment to shine a spotlight on the community, right?
S5 (10:24):
Yes, definitely.
S1 (10:25):
Was there anything interesting that happened last year at the
event that you weren't expecting? Did you, you know, learn
anything along the way?
S5 (10:31):
Oh, look, I learned that I had a very good night,
that's for sure. After a few drinks. It was fun.
S1 (10:38):
That's nice. I always love your energy and your honesty, Reggie.
Kind of things. Are you aspiring to do over the
next year? Like, is there anything on your radar?
S5 (10:48):
Gosh, I definitely need a job. That's my main goal.
S1 (10:51):
You heard it here first, folks. If you've got a
job for Reggie, she is willing and able. Very highly skilled.
S5 (10:56):
Very, extremely.
S1 (10:59):
What is your ideal job, Reggie?
S5 (11:00):
Oh, gosh. Look, I love talking to people. So anything
that's including being around people or interviewing people or just.
I'm a people person. Yeah. Yes.
S1 (11:11):
And that's what you're doing tonight on the red carpet.
You're interviewing the attendees?
S5 (11:14):
Yep. So I'll meet and greet everyone that's coming along
tonight and have a photo and have a chat. Yeah.
It's lovely.
S1 (11:21):
You've had a bit of a media presence for a while.
Do you still get nervous?
S5 (11:25):
No.
S1 (11:26):
Or did you ever get nervous?
S5 (11:28):
Last year when I got invited to go and be
a what is it, a speaker, a.
S1 (11:35):
Like a.
S5 (11:35):
Guest speaker, a keynote.
S1 (11:36):
Keynote? Yeah. That's when you know you've made it.
S5 (11:38):
Yeah, a keynote speaking. See, that's what I would be
good at doing. Keynote speaking. I've got such a story
to tell. Yeah. So I did that.
S1 (11:48):
Ten part podcast series just to tell your story.
S5 (11:50):
God like. And that was, um, I got a bit
nervous for that. And then once I got into the
swing of it all. I was fine back, but normally
I don't get nervous.
S1 (12:01):
You always pull it off. You do alright.
S5 (12:03):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm a natural.
S1 (12:04):
Well, good luck tonight. Hope you have a lot of fun.
And it's a pleasure to speak to you.
S5 (12:09):
Oh, thank you. And I hope you have a good
night too.
S4 (12:11):
Rachel first captured hearts in 20 2012 with over 4
million Australians watching her unforgettable audition. And it was a
blind audition, literally. Since then, she's released three top ten
Aria albums, toured nationally to sold out crowds, and even
performed with Andrea Bocelli's orchestra in Italy. In 2024, Rachel
(12:32):
was honored with the prestigious Danny Awards in New York City,
celebrating excellence among musicians with disabilities, a powerhouse performer and
a true inspiration and someone I call a pocket rocket.
Please welcome Rachael Leahcar.
S6 (12:48):
I'm just so honored to be here once again, um,
at the Blind Australian of the Year Awards, and I'm
going to be singing some tunes for you. Set the tone.
Got a bit of a mix of songs tonight. Um,
had a few song requests before this, so doing some
new ones that I hope will get you all to
sing along. Maybe have a little wriggle or dance around
if you want to get up. You're welcome to do
(13:09):
that too. But I'm going to start with one. Um,
that I absolutely love, that I actually performed in New
York last year by Kate Bush. It's called Running Up
That Hill. Oh, I can't wait to deal with all
my gear to swap our places. Be running up and
(13:29):
I'll be right back. We're running up that building.
S4 (13:36):
Employment is more than just a paycheck. It's about purpose, belonging, inclusion,
and most importantly, being able to afford those wild spending sprees.
But for many, employment is not the barrier. It's the
lack of awareness. You know, people not wanting to give
people like us a chance. I mean, look at how
many blind people are here. Look how cool we are.
(13:58):
And people need to hire people like us. Am I right?
S2 (14:01):
Yes.
S4 (14:03):
This is why recognizing inclusive employers is not just important,
it's essential. We are so grateful to the Queensland State
Government for sponsoring the 2025 blind of the Year Employer
of Choice award. And I would love to welcome Max spies,
deputy director general of the Queensland Department of Families, seniors,
(14:23):
Disability Services and Child Safety, to present this award.
S7 (14:31):
Thank you. Karen. You are on fire tonight, my friend.
Welcome to the football capital of the world, people. Blind
Australian of the year employer recipient is the Saint Kilda
Football Club.
S1 (14:54):
With me. Now I have Tash from Braille. Tactile signs. Australia. Tash,
how are you going?
S8 (14:59):
I'm really well. Thank you.
S1 (15:02):
Do you want to share why you're at the event
today and why you're involved?
S8 (15:05):
Yeah, absolutely. So I'm here on behalf of Braille Tactile
Signs Australia. And I've come with the beautiful Claudia GATT,
who is one of the owners of the business. So
Australian business that has been in braille tactile signs for
25 years. So Claudia started the business with her father, Roland.
They are the gold standard in Braille, tactile signs.
S1 (15:28):
I'm sure there's a lot of players out there, but
not necessarily doing it the right way.
S8 (15:31):
100% right. We have three unique technologies that enable our
signs to have longevity and to be used for a
long time. So there's a lot of signs out there
that you may know that are not of a great quality.
And unfortunately, what that means is for the end user.
(15:53):
They don't actually provide the service that they are there for,
which is to create an independence for them to find
what they need to find. So, for example, we've got
some new tactile floor maps for toilets. So amenity floor
plans and we're trialling the idea that someone can actually
(16:13):
feel their way around the floor mat. If they don't
know Braille, they can still, uh, find their orientation within
the bathroom. So we think that, you know, is great.
There's a lot of rail users out there. We've been
speaking a lot about the future of Braille. Chris Edwards
spoke at our World Sight Day conference the other week,
a couple of weeks ago, and he spoke very highly
(16:35):
of the future of Braille and how there is still
a lot of people out there using it, and that
it's still quite relevant.
S1 (16:41):
Let's hope we get to a point where every public
space has these Braille signs. I mean, that's really what
should be happening, isn't it?
S8 (16:47):
Yeah, absolutely. Every public space and we talk about inclusivity,
you know, making it these these toilet signs and these
signs that we make are for everyone really to be
able to find and to create a sense of dignity
so that you can find your way around. Yeah.
S1 (17:03):
If you're a business owner or you're a designer and architect,
I hope this is on your radar. I hope you're
thinking about it.
S8 (17:09):
100%. We're a friendly team, and we'd love to speak
to you and Tash.
S1 (17:13):
Why is it that you guys are involved this year
and have been in previous years?
S8 (17:17):
Oh, that's such a good question. So we're very much
part of the community. We love to do a lot
of advocacy work, and Claudia and Roland have been involved
for a very long time in really sort of getting
in amongst the community and showing the community that they've
got a real interest in the blind and low vision
community and a real interest in providing quality products for
(17:38):
the end user. And they're really end user focus, I
find really, um, beautiful, like it's heart centered.
S1 (17:45):
Tash, thanks so much for the chat. Thanks for being
here and helping, uh, an event like this happened.
S7 (17:50):
Thank you.
S4 (17:50):
This is such.
S7 (17:52):
A.
S4 (17:52):
Special award because I know a lot of blind people
are diagnosed when they're quite young. I was diagnosed at
the age of 11, and I remember how scary that felt.
But now young, blind Australians are not just being embraced,
but they're being recognised and settled right here.
S9 (18:08):
Drum roll everyone. The Blind Australian of the year youth
recipient is Isaac McInnes.
S4 (18:22):
I'm going.
S7 (18:22):
To tell you a.
S4 (18:23):
Little bit about Isaac. Isaac is an exceptional young Australian
whose courage, perseverance and compassion has inspired his school and community.
Despite living with significant sight loss, Isaac approaches every challenge
with determination and positivity. At school, he is known for
his adaptability, academic excellence and leadership. His passion for learning,
(18:45):
particularly maths. Don't ask me why, but the maths is
supported by his proactive use of assistive technology, showcasing both
innovation and resilience beyond the classroom. Isaac is an accomplished athlete,
competing in blind golf, tandem cycling, athletics and air rifle shooting.
S1 (19:05):
How cool with me now is Terry from Link Vision? Terry.
What does this event mean to you and the organization?
S10 (19:11):
It just means so much, Jason. I mean, it's all
about inclusion. It's all about recognizing achievements. The people who
are blind. It's something that we've been doing for now
for nearly 60 years. And to be able to be
a part of this event is just phenomenal.
S1 (19:23):
Now, can you remind our listeners how long Link Vision
has been involved in the awards?
S10 (19:27):
We've had the awards now. Well, the awards are in
their eighth year and it's the 50th for Link Vision.
All right. We we took over the original founders of
the awards called Blind Alliance Australia about 5 or 6
years ago.
S1 (19:40):
And what do you think this annual event is doing
for the, uh, the community itself?
S10 (19:45):
We just want to celebrate, Jason. I mean, it's all
about in case you're here and can't hear the noise,
it's all about celebration of the achievements of people who
are blind. And we keep saying to people, we've got
three award recipients tonight, but 100 nominations this year. So
what we'd like to say is we've got 100 winners
in three recipients tonight.
S1 (20:06):
So the nominations have grown for the event.
S10 (20:08):
Oh, massively. Massively. And, um, so as I said, we've
got close to 100 this year. I think we started
off with about 15, about eight years ago. So and importantly,
nominations from every state and territory. And of course this
year we've got a new award category called the Youth Award,
which why.
S1 (20:25):
Did you why was that one introduced? Terry.
S10 (20:27):
Popular request by people that come here every year and
noting that kids are 15 to 21 years of age,
are already achieving phenomenal things, you know, and it's it's
not just about contribution to the blindness community, it's contribution
to the community. Full stop. That's the important.
S1 (20:45):
Part. So what encouraging words would you have for our
audience to think about who they might be able to
nominate for the awards next year?
S10 (20:52):
Look, I think I think the really important thing is
to be able to describe really well just how important
these people are. You know, I mean, it's a little
bit more than, hey, she's a great girl or he's
a great bloke. Let's actually describe the achievements and their
path and their journey through the whole thing.
S1 (21:09):
Anything on the radar for Link Vision for the next
12 months? Anything interesting coming up?
S10 (21:13):
Well, I think we're going to have a good sleep tonight.
And it's a ten month effort to actually run this,
this function. So we might have a rest for a
few weeks and then get ready for the next one.
S1 (21:24):
Well, Terry, thank you very much for involving Vision Australia
Radio for flying me up to cover the event as well.
S10 (21:29):
Thank you so much for being a part of it, Jason.
I hope you've had a good time.
S1 (21:32):
Well, that's a wrap for our coverage of the Blind
Australian of the year 2025 awards. You'll notice that we
didn't get a chance to share the audio from the
evening for the winner of the individual award, who was,
of course, Maurice Gleeson. And that's because we were recording
the video of the announcement for our Facebook page. And unfortunately,
I couldn't do both at the same time. Big congratulations
(21:54):
once again to Maurice, of course. Uh, Maurice has dedicated
over 30 years to transforming the lives of Victorians who
are blind or have vision impairment. Of course, through his
leadership of the Blind Sports Recreation Victoria organization, mostly in
a volunteer capacity, Maurice has created more than 30 inclusive
programs spanning tennis, AFL, soccer, swimming and more, impacting over
(22:18):
25,000 people across the state. Congratulations, Maurice. Congratulations to all
the winners from the evening and to everyone that was involved.
And once again, big thanks to Link Vision for having
us at the event and covering it. And in addition
to that, being a sponsor of Vision Australia Radio this year.
Keep listening to Vision Australia Radio for more updates on
the event. And of course we'll be back again in 2026.
(22:41):
I'm Jason Gips, bye for now.
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