26 Apr 2025

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:05):
Hi, I'm Sarah Clifton by an Australian Paralympian and you're
listening to leisure link with Peter Greco on the Vision
Australia radio network.

S2 (00:21):
It's just gone 5:00. Trust you marked Anzac Day in
the way it deserves. Peter Greco saying Welcome to Leisure
link here on Vision Australia Radio 1190 7 a.m. Adelaide,
online at VA radio, VA Radio Digital in Adelaide and
Darwin through the Community Radio Plus app. Look for Vision Australia,

(00:41):
Radio Adelaide. Also our friends listening through 103.9 FM in
Esperance in Western Australia and the wonderful support we also
get from Disability Media Australia. Find out more about them
at Power Media, w e media and of course your
favourite podcast or streaming service also finds us. And we're
also on the Reading Radio network were everywhere. Peter Greco,

(01:06):
as I said, mentioning that it's great to welcome you
to Measurlink and this program coming to you from Candyland
come to you very, very shortly. We'll catch up with
Sara Clifton Bligh, Paralympian in the field event in a
couple of field events. We'll chat to Sara about that.
Nathan Papa will preview the APM SANFL Employment League getting

(01:26):
underway very shortly. We'll talk tennis and many other things
with the very talented Adriana Petrarca. Alison Davies will join
us talking about the sound of the bugle and the
impact that it has on our brain. We also catch
up with Aaron Chair from Guide Dogs Saint. They've got
a very interesting campaign happening at the moment. Could this

(01:47):
be the most expensive dog toy in the history of
the universe? We'll find out very shortly from Aaron Russo.
Catch up with Agata montoya, who invite you to the
Roundtable on Information access for people with a print disability.
It's happening in May. A chance for you to get along.
We'll find out some of the things that are happening.
We'll have yoga from Reva Bryce and Adjunct Professor Denise

(02:09):
Woodward joins us from USC talking about updates to ChatGPT
and to your iPad and iPhone. Well, it's always great
catching up with people for the first time on this
particular program. And indeed, the first time we're speaking to
Sarah Clifton, who went to Paris in 2024 but also

(02:32):
had a very good year all around in 2024. So
great to meet you. Thanks for your time.

S1 (02:36):
Thank you so much. Yeah, I had a really good
year last year and looking to progress it to um,
Eli as well.

S2 (02:46):
So sure that you're, you're you're an interesting uh, event
if you like. Or events. Yeah. Your track and field
in particular. Um, what was the attraction of the field
to get you involved with that?

S1 (02:58):
I do like field because it's That's kind of like
I can take some of my frustrations out on the
field and kind of. So there was that attraction, and
it's also quite fun throwing, throwing implements and seeing if
I can get them.

S2 (03:15):
Now speak about things. You things you throw, you throw
the shot put, which I guess many of us would
be familiar with. But you also throw the club.

S1 (03:23):
Yeah. So the club was, I believe, correct me if
I'm wrong was originally designed for people with not as
much hand controls. Um, so the Stoke Mandeville Games, which
were the precursor to the Paralympics.

S2 (03:44):
And it was back in 1948 after the Second World War.

S1 (03:47):
Yeah. So it was designed for people with like less
ability to throw, for example, a javelin. And it's designed
to be thrown any way you like as well, so
you can dive backwards, sideways. It's a bit like a
discus in that in that sense, because you can throw
discus any way you like. Although there are more common

(04:08):
forms of, uh, to do it.

S2 (04:11):
And of course, this uh, technique very much. A technique
but isn't there.

S1 (04:14):
Yeah. Technique. Half the battle. And a big part of
it is your mindset. On the day like technique and
then the mindset if and then like 5% of it
is muscle memory. To be quite frank.

S2 (04:31):
What's harder to get right, Sarah? The technique or the mindset.

S1 (04:34):
To be honest. It's the technique. Yeah. Okay. Because when
you're what I like to call it reverse psychology. Because.
If I focus on one aspect of my technique, it
doesn't actually work. Everything just kind of. Falls apart because
my muscles don't actually do what I want them to do.
So yeah, trying to get. technique is is the hardest

(04:57):
bit and just trying to when something doesn't go right,
trying not to get frustrated because when I get frustrated,
my muscles misbehave. So it's a hard learning process because like,
you're like, you don't want that distance, but you also
have to go. I can't get frustrated because if I

(05:20):
get frustrated, I just like the whole competition is like
shot to pieces.

S2 (05:26):
Yeah. You also do a bit of track racing, don't you?

S1 (05:28):
Yeah I do.

S2 (05:28):
Tell us about that.

S1 (05:30):
Well, I do anything really from 100 on the track
to up to 15. I haven't tried 5000 yet. And
and I do ten caves on the road, although I'm
working up to a half marathon now.

S2 (05:47):
You're still very young, so I guess what I you
got a lot of improvement just naturally and I guess
also So improve it through experience.

S1 (05:55):
Yeah. So I learned a lot at Paris and like that.
If it hadn't occurred to me that, like, a lot
of the officials wouldn't speak English, like out on the field.
So that was that was the first piece of kind
of knowledge that I gained, that not all of them
speak English and not all of them, even when you're

(06:17):
trying to articulate what you want, will understand what's being said.
And I kind of also learned that, like, not to
be too disappointed and like and not to kind of
try like with feel. Well more than half of it
is in your head like and like not to get frustrated.

(06:41):
And when it doesn't quite work to just kind of
go back to the basics and then just try and
pull the competition together, even though it might not be
the distance that I want. It was the best that
I could do on the day, and that's been quite
a learning curve to kind of get my head around,

(07:02):
because I naturally want to do well now. And if
I don't, I set up higher standards in a sense
for myself than anyone else does. And so when I
kind of don't reach the standard, I always got kind
of frustrated with myself. I couldn't quite be able to
say that. Yeah, it wasn't a great distance, but it

(07:26):
was the best thing that I could do on the day.

S2 (07:29):
That's a high standard. That's part of being an elite athlete,
isn't it? You're all very much, uh, well, perfectionist, if
I can put it that way.

S1 (07:36):
And when you're like I said, if you're like me
and you don't get you don't get the distance you
aim to get and the distance that you'd be proud of.
It's quite a hard kind of turnaround.

S2 (07:48):
Just about your coach. Sarah.

S1 (07:50):
Yes. I'm coach. My time coach is, uh, David Bruce,
and he's one of the best coaches I've ever had.
Because he knows me like he knows when to push
and when to, like, go. That's enough and kind of

(08:11):
take a break or. He's just wonderful.

S2 (08:14):
Oh, fantastic. Good to have a good relationship like that,
isn't it?

S1 (08:16):
Yeah. And my track coach is, um, Louise Savage, also
a legend?

S2 (08:21):
I think I've heard of her.

S1 (08:24):
I wouldn't be surprised if you had.

S2 (08:26):
Uh, just a little secret, Sarah. I reckon I interviewed
I reckon I interviewed Louise when she was younger than
what you are now. Gosh, that's a long time ago.
I know we're we're all very old. That's okay. You're
my third, then, Sarah. You're always going to say that's
a long time ago. You must be really old. That's
what you were thinking, wasn't it?

S1 (08:45):
Slightly.

S2 (08:46):
At least you're honest.

S1 (08:48):
I am quite blunt. I don't see battle very well.

S3 (08:52):
No, that's fair enough too. We don't have. You don't
have to be.

S2 (08:55):
Hey, Sarah. You're obviously very talented as far as an
athlete goes, but you're doing a pretty cool thing off
off the track too, aren't you? Off. Uh. Uh, yeah.
Athletic career. Tell us about that.

S1 (09:05):
Yeah. So, um, I'm currently studying a diploma in library
and information studies. Yeah. So I'm hoping to be a
library assistant.

S2 (09:15):
What? Uh, like you were down that path?

S1 (09:18):
Well, to be honest, it was actually my brother who
made the suggestion because I had a go when I
finished high school that I had, um, start up my
own fashion business, and, and I did a whole my
whole data project and major work on it. And by
the time I got to the end, um, my head
should say I, I kind of I didn't want to

(09:41):
do that just yet because I wanted to get some money.
And before I started, I'm actually trying to start a
business would cost a lot of money. Even if I
got a loan or a grant from the government. And
my brother, um, suggested it because I wanted to do
something with my time. Suggested that to do library studies,

(10:02):
and I kind of did a bit of research and, um,
landed on, um, to do a diploma at um, because
I didn't want to go to university at that point
in my life because I thought it looked too much
like school. Both my brother and my sister went to university,
and I'm like, I don't want to do something that

(10:24):
looks like school because I was a bit sick of
school at the end of it because I'd, I'd done pathways.
So I did my, I hate to say, in two years,
and it's a lot like, I don't think I would
have achieved what I'd achieved in one year, but two

(10:45):
years allowed me that flexibility to go to Birmingham as
well and to keep up the training and all of that.
So I'm rather grateful to it. Um, but you leave
your friends, um, as well. So my final year.

S2 (11:03):
Like your class.

S1 (11:05):
Your.

S2 (11:06):
Class.

S1 (11:06):
So I kind of I hung out, to be honest,
with more of the teachers than anything because, I mean,
I was an adult, like.

S2 (11:15):
Yeah, yeah.

S1 (11:16):
Good point. And it was kind of it was interesting
when I was at, at school to see the difference
between the 17 year olds and the 18 year olds.
I know I'm getting off track. So, yeah.

S2 (11:29):
So so you're doing that just before we go. We're
running out of time. We never have enough time, but
it's always the case.

S1 (11:34):
No. I'm sorry. Chatterbox.

S2 (11:36):
Well, we love Chatterboxes. You weren't. You said you wanted
to get into fashion, but that's. That's cool. That's a
pretty cool line.

S1 (11:42):
Yeah. So my idea with fashion designers creating clothes for
people in wheelchairs.

S2 (11:51):
Brilliant.

S1 (11:52):
Um, most specifically like formal and eveningwear. Um, because there's
not a lot on the market that you can get.
And it's either ridiculously expensive or doesn't quite suit. So, yeah.

S2 (12:08):
The best person to judge what something good would be
is someone with lived experience.

S1 (12:12):
Yeah. And I mean, something that works for me might
not necessarily work for another person, but my idea was
to create something that's affordable but also suits the client's
tastes as well. I haven't quite got up to my
fashion business yet, though.

S2 (12:31):
Well, you strike me as the sort of person that
you're very determined, so it's something.

S1 (12:36):
We get around to it.

S2 (12:37):
Yeah, it's something you get around to that? Sure. And
when you do, you'll do it well. Sarah.

S1 (12:41):
Thank you.

S2 (12:42):
It's been great catching up. As if we never have
enough time. But it's been great to meet you for
the first time. I'm sure it won't be the last time.
Congratulations on all you've achieved so far and I look
forward to next time.

S1 (12:52):
Looking forward to talking next time. Thank you so much.

S2 (12:56):
That's the Sarah Clifton blind Australian Paralympian studying to be
an assistant librarian, assistive technology and digital technology. And also
maybe one day being a fashion designer. What a wonderful
career is ahead. Let's find out what's happening in the
real footy the inclusion league. I think it's about to

(13:17):
get underway. Let's chat about it with from the sample
Nathan Pepper. Nathan a bit silly to say this, but uh,
happy new season anyway. If not happy, not happy New Year.

S4 (13:26):
That's right. Yeah. I mean, what are we. We're in
almost May now, so, uh. Yeah, time flies. But, um. Yeah,
thanks for having me on. And yeah, looking forward to
chatting about the the new season of the APM Inclusive League.

S2 (13:37):
Yeah, well, it gets underway soon.

S4 (13:39):
It does. Next Saturday, 3rd of May. Um, we've got
a a full round of fixtures, and I say that
because we've got a new team entering the competition this year. Um,
the Broadview Football Club. So we're really excited to have
Broadview on board. And that makes us, um, yeah, having
a team. So we don't have that buyer that we've
had for the last few years with seven teams. So

(13:59):
all teams playing this coming weekend.

S2 (14:01):
That'll be a pretty welcome thing, wouldn't it, to have
all eight teams? Uh, they say no, because I guess
it's that continuity is important, isn't it?

S4 (14:07):
Yeah. It is. Um, I think some sort of like
having that little bit of time off during the year,
but I think especially in the early rounds, everyone wants
to just be playing. So no, it's it's really nice. And, um, yeah,
we're just really excited to have a, have a new
club and I think, uh, all the players from all
the other teams will, will welcome that as well because
they love seeing, you know, a new set of colours, uh,
into the competition as well.

S2 (14:28):
Well tell us a bit about Broadview then, uh, what's
their colours and what's their nickname?

S4 (14:32):
Yeah. The Tigers. So yeah. Black and gold. Um, Phil
and Sally, um, have done a mountain of work behind
the scenes, so Phil will be the new coach. He
has a, I think, a background in disability. He's done
a lot of work in their women's football program and yeah,
wanted to get involved in the Inclusive League. And Broadview said, well, hey,
we don't want you to go away to another club.
We let's, um, set up a team here and, um,

(14:54):
you know, credit to them, they're a div one amateur
League club in the Adelaide Footy League. So yeah very
well supported club and really excited. We were hoping they
were going to get you know 1012 players to start with.
And I think they've got about 14 training with them.
So they've done a really good job to recruit some
new players. Um obviously anyone that's listening, um, if you
are still interested, they have spots available, so we'd love

(15:16):
to see them, um, get even more players before round one.

S2 (15:18):
Well, I think, as you said, part of the amateur
league or the or the AFL, I think it's called
these days, isn't it. But it's a very been a
club that's been established for quite some time and kind
of highly regarded in that area too, isn't it?

S4 (15:30):
Yeah. It is. Um, and they've uh, in the last
year or two, uh, Redeveloped their club rooms. They've got
beautiful new clubrooms that, you know, second storey outlooks over
the oval and, um, yeah, it seems like it's a
really good place to play. We had a we held
our coaches workshop there uh, a few weeks ago, um,
which was great to bring all the coaches in together and,
you know, do a bit of a meet and greet

(15:51):
because we've actually got four, four out of the eight
clubs have new coaches this year. So a little bit
of a change there. But um, we're really excited to see,
you know, what that brings for the competition. And, you know,
it's just great to hear from all of them that
they're all on the same page with what this competition
is really about.

S2 (16:07):
What about in terms of, uh, player movement between clubs?
You talk about four new coaches that the players moved
much between clubs and the off season. Nathan.

S4 (16:13):
Yeah, there's a little bit um, I think I think
winding back the clock, uh, you know, ten plus years ago,
sort of players were placed in teams a little bit
with where they needed to go. But now players are
generally playing close to where they live, which is why
they can, um, you know, hit up their training once
a week or twice a week. Some clubs train. Um,
and that's really important because I sometimes think that the

(16:35):
training is actually the most important aspect of this competition,
because that's where they build their, their friendships and their networks. Um,
on the training track. So yeah, we do see a
little bit of player movement across the teams. Um, a
little bit of shuffling. I'm sure there's many players that
just want to move to the winning team. Um, also
some that just want to play with their mates, that
might have switched because of, yeah, changing addresses and whatnot.

(16:56):
So yeah, there's a little bit of movement.

S2 (16:58):
That's a great point you make about the training that
kind of chance to build relationships. I guess the camaraderie,
it's a little bit more uh, it's a bit less
hustle and bustle and the urgency of, you know, playing
on that particular day. You've got a chance to have
a bit more of a relaxed setting, which I'm sure would,
you know, be a bit more conducive to, uh, to
friendship building and that kind of, uh, getting to know
each other thing.

S4 (17:19):
Yeah, absolutely. 100% like, uh, I think that, yeah, there's
that chaos of game day and the wild one takes
over everyone. Uh, you know, on the training track, that's
when they can. Yeah, have their conversations of what they're
doing this week, or what they're getting up to, or
what they do for work and yeah, build those relationships
that way. So that's yeah, certainly really important. And, you know,
the social inclusion element is really at the forefront of

(17:40):
this league.

S2 (17:41):
You talked about uh players you know, being close to,
to uh, living where their clubs are. I mean that's
a big thing. And and you're pretty well represented in
terms of, uh, the geographics of Adelaide now, aren't you,
in terms of, uh, from sort of north to south
and east and west etc..

S4 (17:56):
Yeah, we're pretty good now. So Salisbury is our most northern, um,
right down to Christies Beach being the most southern. Probably
need a club in the West, I reckon if there's
any clubs out there listening in the, in the western suburbs. But, um,
you know, we've got sort of. Yeah. Kilburn and Broadview
pretty close together. Tea Tree Gully Athelstone in that north
east and yeah Goodwood Saints and Kenilworth sort of that

(18:16):
south mid south sort of um set up. So yeah
there's always a club that's pretty close and we'd certainly
love to obviously this competition's primarily played in those metro regions.
But um, you know future plans would be to, you know,
have more opportunity in the, in the um, regional areas
as well. So I know in the Riverland, uh, they're
looking at setting something up as well with a few. Right.

(18:37):
So yeah, just really excited to, you know, give more
people an opportunity to play footy. And that's what it's
all about.

S2 (18:43):
Well such a strong area for football. Full stop. Is
that Riverland. I mean going back years and years. Some
of the the great players I mean well even players
like Ricciuto and Ebert uh, obviously readily come to mind
that uh, sort of come from the Riverland. So I'm
sure there's a, a great footy culture that can be
tapped into for, uh, you know, an inclusion league type
setup as well.

S4 (19:01):
Yeah, hopefully. And um, yeah, I think well, as footy
clubs are such a, um, you know, a focal point
in the, in the community that that place where people
come to every weekend and, you know, for such a
huge part of that, um, in those areas. So yeah,
there's no reason why they, we can't set up some, uh,
inclusion programs there.

S2 (19:20):
What about when your games will be played, Nathan? Is
that a regular thing, or is it a bit, uh,
depending on sort of each round?

S4 (19:26):
Yeah. Now that the primary time slots for 45 on
a Saturday afternoon. So planning sort of following on from
an A-grade footy match generally. But looking at round one
fixture we've got one that's um Christies Beach and Salisbury
kick us off at 230 on Sunday the 3rd of May.
So it's just something that there are a few different
fixture times in there just depending on bashes and whatnot. Um,

(19:50):
and we've actually seen a couple of clubs that have
requested to play the Inclusive League, sort of in between
B-grade and A-grade. So sort of starting at the 215
time slot, which, yeah, just probably gives you a different
look and, um, different people at the club that might
get exposed to the league and understand what it's all about,
playing a few different time slots, which is great.

S2 (20:09):
Christie's versus Salisbury. That's a great sort of derby, isn't it?
So the extreme north and the extreme south, if you like.

S4 (20:15):
Yeah. That's it. Yeah. Bit of a road trip there. Uh,
in Salisbury going, going down south to Christies Beach just
to start us off. But uh, yeah, I'm sure they'll be, uh,
very looking. Yeah. very much looking forward to it.

S2 (20:26):
Would you like to nominate? Here we are. The season
hasn't started yet. Who might be the toughest team to beat? Nathan,
it's fair to put you on the spot. What is it? Fair.
But I'm going to.

S4 (20:34):
Say it isn't. It's never fair. And, you know, everyone
is a very impartial. Um, I look at Hamilton, obviously
were our winners last year. They'll they'll be around the
mark again. I think a couple of players have left,
but they've got a couple of players. I think Kenilworth
will be pretty keen to get back into the grand
final after after missing out last year. Yeah, the other

(20:56):
grand final is Kilburn. I think they've lost a few
players but have recruited a few as well, so it's
all a bit of an unknown. And look, all the
rest of the teams I'm sure are just as enthusiastic
and really keen to, yeah, kick some goals and um, yeah,
obviously have some wins both on and off the field,
which is, you know, what I'm all about.

S2 (21:14):
What about the end of the season? Any news regarding
AFL open and sort of a state competition or a
state team?

S4 (21:20):
Yeah, it's, uh, we're going back to where it all
began to. Victoria later in the year. So I think
it's the last weekend in our last week of October
this year. Um, so I've got the dates right in
front of me, but last last weekend of October that
will be taking place in, in Victoria and that will
be the yeah, the AFL open. So the combined, um,

(21:41):
inclusion carnival and wheelchair championships as they were.

S2 (21:44):
Alright. We'll look forward to hearing more about that. Now.
That's the Inclusion League and still sponsored by APM, I noticed.
That's pretty good. Oh very good.

S4 (21:51):
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. We're really, really happy to have APM
Employment Services on on board again. Um, I think this
is season number six. Um, which just yeah, amazing to
have have that commitment. Um, allows us to yeah. Keep
doing what we're doing and, and obviously, you know, if
there's any players out there that need to be supported
through their employment journey, whether it's a change or a

(22:11):
change of work or new work. Um, you know, they've
been able to help those players out as well. So, um,
you know, we don't like saying it's a sponsorship, it's
a partnership. And it works both ways, which is fantastic.

S2 (22:22):
Well, the other thing is not to get too much,
too much off topic, but they're a big organization. So
to get someone like that on board, that sort of
gives your competition and your work that you're doing a
lot of credibility.

S4 (22:32):
Yeah. And I think, um, well, I can sort of
proudly say that they were, um, with partnering with us first.
And I think now they actually partner with, uh, the
Western Australian League over, over there and the Queensland Inclusion
League as well is um. Yeah. Really good to see that. Uh,
I guess they've seen value in the partnership that started
with us, and they've extended that to other parts of

(22:54):
the country as well, which is really cool.

S2 (22:56):
Well, welcome to APM employment. Of course, that opportunity for
people to get employment is such an important thing as
well as obviously being able to play footy. Uh, Nathan. Uh, no.
Later in the year, AFL wheelchair will get underway, so
we'll chat about that when that starts or just as
that starts. But you've got some happy things as far
as the AFL blind football goes later on in May.

S4 (23:15):
Yeah, really exciting news here. Uh, we, uh, have been
trying to get this program off the ground for a
little while now, but we're going to hold an AFL
blind exhibition series. So I think about this time last
year we held some come and tries have really interest
with with some players that came, came to sort of
learn the rules and understand the sport. But we're going
to hold an exhibition series at AFL Max, uh, in,

(23:38):
in May. So it's on May the 17th, 24th and
31st from 430 to 6 p.m.. Uh, on there on Saturdays.
So we'll be promoting that opportunity coming soon and hopefully
have as many people out to experience what, uh, AFL
blind is all about. So it's welcoming any players with
blind or low vision. They can find out more information

(23:59):
about writing on our Facebook page. So go to Sanford
Disability Programs on Facebook. Or you can send myself an email, uh,
inclusion at afl.com.au. So inclusion at Qrl.com.au. Um, for more
information about that one.

S2 (24:15):
Alright. We'll put that information up on our show nights.
And because it's pretty big, particularly in Victoria, I guess
understandably in a sense. But it's big in Victoria, isn't it?
I feel blind.

S4 (24:23):
Yeah, they've they've got a league that they've developed a
number of AFL clubs on board. So we're just keen
to see I guess, how many, how many players that
we have to then work out what sort of competition
or program we can develop from that. So yeah, hopefully
we get a really good showing out at this exhibition series.
You know, it's a it's a it's a different sort
of adapted game. There's a ball that Sharon have developed

(24:45):
that's specifically designed for for blind and low vision players.
It's got a buzzer in it. And then there's obviously
some modified rules that go along with it. But it's
just awesome to give players that experience of what footy
can be like, because some that may not have ever
played before, you know, they might have just supported their,
their team. Yeah. Um, to give them the opportunity to
actually play the game and participate. It's really cool.

S2 (25:08):
And it's such a great point. Many people are blind
or low vision enough to follow the footy, but to
actually be able to play it is another thing that's great.
Now where is iPhone? Mac, said Nathan.

S4 (25:16):
At the Adelaide airport. Oh yeah. The corner of Don
Bradman and Tapleys Hill Road. They're so big. Big complex there. But, um, yeah,
as I said, we'll send out a lot of promotional, uh,
information about it. Um, yeah. Have a, have a sign
up for people to register, but certainly have a check
on our Facebook page, Sanford Disability programs on Facebook.

S2 (25:36):
Terrific. Nathan, always great to catch up. Congratulations on all
the great work that you're doing. How long have you
been at the NFL now or with this, uh, football
competition now?

S4 (25:44):
Oh, it's about 6 or 7 years, I think, with
the sandfall and perhaps a bit longer. I think it was. Yeah,
it might have been 2017, I reckon. I it was
the start of the when I took over the footy
competition back at Inclusive Sport SA, it was called back then. Um,
or before that when I first sort of started. So
it's been a while but I, I love it, it's
uh really enjoyable and hopefully this season's going to be

(26:07):
the best one yet.

S2 (26:07):
Well, you don't sound any different to the day we
first spoke, so, uh, keep up the great work. Uh,
we'll put those details up in our that? Well, particularly
good luck to Broadway and we wish them well as
they get underway. And I'm sure it'll be, as I say,
another great season. We'll keep in touch throughout the year.

S4 (26:21):
No. Fantastic. Pete, appreciate your support as always.

S2 (26:24):
Magnum Pepper there from Seinfeld, the, uh, the APM Employment League.
They're getting underway. The inclusion league getting underway. May the 3rd.
We'll put those details up with our show notes, and
Nathan's giving you another place to go. And as always,
any details that you miss, you can always give us
a call at the radio station during business hours, in
particular at two, three, four, 1197. You're in elite company

(26:49):
listening to Leslie here on Vision Australia Radio, VA radio,
digital VA radio. Org and through the TuneIn radio app. Well,
Adriana Petrarca is one of our leading tennis players, but
there's so much more to Adriana as well. Let's find
out what she's been up to in recent times. Hello, Adriana.
How are you going?

S5 (27:09):
Hello, Peter, I am awesome. Thank you. How are you?

S2 (27:12):
I'm good. You're always awesome. I think you could be
triple A. Always awesome. Adriana. Yes. Now, as I said,
you've been playing great tennis for a little while. They're
still very young, but you've been doing some other great things.
So take us back to this year's International Women's Day.
How did you spend that day.

S5 (27:32):
On the International Women's Day last month? I was a
co-host for the first time.

S2 (27:39):
And where was that?

S5 (27:40):
The International Women's Day event was at the drive function
room next door to the tennis courts.

S2 (27:48):
Well, you would have felt at home, wouldn't you? The
tennis courts. Just probably like your second home?

S5 (27:53):
Yes.

S2 (27:54):
Yeah. Tell us about the day then, that you co-hosted it.
Just how the day sort of came out, how it went.

S5 (28:01):
The event was very inspiring. For example, I was a co-host, like,
where I did a This speech on introducing different guest
speakers and the main host of the event name was
Brian Trotter.

S2 (28:20):
Can you remember some of the people you introduced?

S5 (28:22):
Yes, I've introduced Doctor Trudy Lynn and I've introduced a
lady that worked for SA health, and I'm also introduced
a lady who has a son with a disability. Also,
I was part of this small panel with the year

(28:43):
12 students and a soccer player named Eli Miller.

S2 (28:50):
Terrific. So you were asked questions from the from the
audience or how did that work.

S5 (28:55):
In that small panel? The year 12 student named Millie Ian.
She asked different questions about my tennis and some positive
stuff about women. So I shared my experience in front

(29:15):
of the ladies and girls from all different walks of life.

S2 (29:21):
Fantastic. Now you've done a few of these, uh, you know,
different at different times, different venues. You get a bit
nervous when you appear before a live audience.

S5 (29:30):
No.

S2 (29:31):
Yeah, yeah. Oh. Pretty cool.

S5 (29:32):
Yes. All pretty cool.

S2 (29:35):
Now, you said you did a speech as well. Can
I ask what sort of things you spoke about during
your speech?

S5 (29:39):
Oh, that speech was about when I introduced different guest speakers.

S2 (29:45):
Okay. Did you prepare for that or did you just
do it off the top of your head?

S5 (29:49):
There was a lady from Complete Disability Services organised the
script for me.

S2 (29:56):
Fantastic. And what about when the, uh, young year 12
student was asking you questions? Did you have any idea
what they were going to be, or was it a
bit like this interview? You know, you just come up
with the answers.

S5 (30:07):
I also had the script of that questions too, and
I are for my own heart, as usual.

S2 (30:17):
You certainly do that very well. So that was great.
And I think, as I said, you've been in a
few International Women's Day, so from, uh, different years, which
is tremendous. Now you've also received some money. Tell us
about this.

S5 (30:29):
Yes. Last month on the 6th of March, I have
won the $10,000 Young Achievers Scholarship award.

S2 (30:39):
That's fantastic.

S5 (30:40):
Thank you.

S2 (30:41):
How did that happen?

S5 (30:42):
Oh, it's a bit complicated to say, but this was
a new award category from a foundation group at the Advertiser.

S2 (30:55):
$10,000?

S5 (30:57):
Yes.

S2 (30:58):
That's that's that's a lot of money.

S5 (30:59):
It is.

S2 (31:02):
Can I ask what you've done with it?

S5 (31:03):
Basically, it's a $10,000 which is supporting towards my goals,
and the $10,000 will go towards my tennis from my
own future goals.

S2 (31:19):
That's fantastic, isn't it? Well, congratulations on that. I mean,
to win the award like that is fantastic. I mean,
the money's nice, but I guess it's also the recognition
as you, as a person, as an athlete to win
something like that. People think a lot of you, which
is great, isn't it?

S5 (31:35):
Yes. I felt so delighted, grateful, humbled, honored and privileged
with the scholarship award.

S2 (31:45):
Hell, are you cold? How'd you get the news?

S5 (31:47):
What do you mean by that, Peter?

S2 (31:49):
Did you get it? Did you get an email or
a letter in the post? Or someone ring you up?
How did you. How did you get told.

S5 (31:53):
It was that the woman of the year awards night
on the 6th of March?

S2 (32:00):
Okay, so it was like before. again, before an audience
and your name was called out and you went up
to receive it?

S5 (32:05):
Yes. And I did a beautiful speech for him.

S2 (32:11):
I'm sure you would have too. What was the what
was the trip home like? You wouldn't have been able
to stop smiling.

S5 (32:17):
No. And this.

S1 (32:20):
Was.

S5 (32:20):
The week after my Victorian tournament Championships singles win.

S2 (32:27):
Terrific. Well, it was a good few weeks for you,
so that was. Obviously you're still playing good tennis. I mean,
despite or I guess with all these other things going
on in your life, your public speaking and your scholarship
wins and all that, you're still playing good tennis.

S5 (32:42):
Yes, I am, thank you.

S2 (32:44):
Now, this weekend, you're in Canberra.

S5 (32:46):
Yes.

S2 (32:47):
What's happening there?

S5 (32:48):
Well, this Thursday and Friday I have the training camp
with my Australian team. This weekend I have my tournament.

S2 (32:58):
Now the training camp. Is that the eyes?

S5 (33:01):
I know it will be at the Canberra Tennis Centre
indoor courts, but we'll be staying at the Australian Institute
of Sports.

S2 (33:12):
What's that like? Because, you know, for all the elite
athletes like you stay. So you're kind of right up
amongst them. That must be a real thrill as well,
to kind of feel like you're immersing yourself in, in
the world of, of elite athletes.

S5 (33:25):
Yes. The AI is so prestigious.

S2 (33:28):
Yeah, that's a great word.

S5 (33:30):
It is.

S2 (33:31):
Yeah. You're you're competing, as you say, and you're at
a training camp. What are you getting ready for?

S5 (33:36):
This will be for my World Tennis Championships in Kazakhstan.

S2 (33:43):
And you leave at the end of the month for that,
don't you?

S5 (33:45):
Yes. I'll be leaving home next Wednesday, the 30th.

S2 (33:50):
Have you been to Kazakhstan before?

S5 (33:52):
No. I'm so excited. The Asian continent for the first
time to compete. Tennis there and doing some sightseeing around Astana.

S2 (34:06):
That's fantastic. I mean, obviously you're a wonderful tennis player,
but these little things where I say little things, what
am I saying? These things like trips overseas and a
chance to see other cultures, see other parts of the world.
That must be a really great thing for you to experience.

S5 (34:23):
True. It is an amazing experience for me.

S2 (34:26):
I remember last year you went to Europe, didn't you?
Because we had a chat to you whilst you were
in Greece.

S5 (34:29):
Yes that's right.

S2 (34:31):
Have you ever counted up how many kilometers you've, uh, flown?

S5 (34:34):
No, I have not killed.

S2 (34:38):
So it would be a few. You have a few
frequent flyer points, Andriana.

S1 (34:42):
Um.

S5 (34:44):
Okay. From when I was a teenager. When I did
my first disability tournament in 2016, he and Adelaide, Which
are one of the singles during those times in the past.
My recognition was different and as a young adult my

(35:06):
recognition has become bigger. Peter.

S2 (35:09):
I'm sure it has. And you know what I really
like about some of the things you said even in
this interview, is you're humble and you're grateful because a
lot of people might think, oh, I kind of deserve it,
or I've worked for it, I've earned it. But you're
you're very gracious as far as the accolades and the
praise that you get. You're you're very gracious about that.

S5 (35:29):
Oh, thank you Peter.

S2 (35:32):
I only speak the truth, Adriana.

S5 (35:34):
I know that.

S2 (35:36):
Well, good luck with the camp. Good luck with Kazakhstan. Uh,
I look forward to hearing how it goes. Both, uh,
tennis wise and sort of tourist wise as well. Now,
who's going with you to Kazakhstan?

S5 (35:47):
My dad this time.

S2 (35:49):
Make sure you look after him.

S5 (35:50):
Yes, I.

S6 (35:51):
Will.

S2 (35:52):
Adriana. It great to catch up. You're a tremendous ambassador
for tennis and for people with disabilities, a wonderful advocate.
It's always great to hear from you. Thanks for keeping
us in informed as to how you're going, and keep
up the great work and safe and happy trails.

S5 (36:07):
Thank you very.

S6 (36:08):
Much.

S5 (36:08):
Peter. All the best.

S2 (36:10):
And Gianna Petrarca is there, champion tennis player and even
a better person. Well, after Easter, eggs and hot cross
buns and all those lovely things, what better way to
keep the lovely things coming by? Speaking to Alison Davies
from Alison Davies. Com.au. Ali great to catch up again.

S7 (36:31):
Thank you Peter.

S2 (36:32):
Now a serious topic this time yesterday or depending on
when people are listening, we had Anzac Day and of
course the sound of the bugle is such a part
of Anzac Day, we kind of only have to hear
a few seconds of it, and we're kind of transported
back to to think about Anzac Day. Do you want
to give us a bit of a, a sort of
an elephant Davies dobie's version of the sound of the bugle,

(36:53):
and how that relates to music and music therapy and
that sort of thing.

S7 (36:57):
Sure. Can I start with I'm not a bugle expert
or a military expert. So my conversation around this is
probably going to be more based in like how it
feels to us to hear the bugle, but actually like
the history. The bugle has a beautiful history, like it's
a very it's always been used as an instrument in

(37:18):
relation to battle. Like if you think to the movies
and you see movies either set in fantasy lands or
hundreds of years ago, and they would have a horn
and they would blow in a horn to sound the
beginning or the end of a battle. Basically, the bugle
is an extension of that as an instrument. The bugle
is sort of changed many, many times over the years,

(37:39):
always evolving. And the bugle and the trumpet are kind
of cousins is how I would describe it. So these
days the trumpet has valves, which are the buttons that
you press down to make different notes. And the bugle.
There's a version of the bugle that has valves as well,
and that's now called a cornet. So in an orchestra

(38:00):
you'd have a cornet and a trumpet, but the bugle
that you hear at Anzac Day is still basically just
a horn with no valves. So there's no buttons to
press to change the notes. So when you hear the
last post and the reverie and the the bugle being played,
all of those notes are being played by the way

(38:23):
the musician is holding their mouth and using their breath
and their muscles. So I think watching and listening to
the bugle. Well, to me is so fascinating because it's
coming from complete control and strength and power and breath
from the person who's playing it. And that's different to
all of the other instruments. Almost all of the instruments

(38:44):
now are tuned. So you like, you press a certain
note or valve down or button down and a note
will come out. But the bugle comes from just knowing
how to move your breath and your muscles and your mouth.
And so I think that's fascinating and incredible. But have
you ever like, experienced where you listen to the bugle,
especially at the dawn services. And because it's always played outside,

(39:06):
it's it's like cutting through the air and you can
just hear it all around you. The way that impacts
us emotionally, and I would say ancestrally, is different to
how we usually experience instruments. We're usually experiencing them inside
in a band room or in a town hall or
in an orchestra. But all throughout history, our ancestors have

(39:29):
even heard a version of the bugle being played outside,
in the dark, in the stillness, in a crowd of
people who are all silent for various different reasons. Not
just Anzac Day, but like throughout history, people have, as
as I spoke about before, heard these beautiful horns to
signify the end, the beginning of the day, or the
end of the day, or the beginning or the end

(39:50):
of a battle, or to celebrate and, um, think about
the people who've died in battle. And so it feels
very ancestral. It feels very potent. Like when you hear
the bugle played and the entire crowd is silent. And
this muted, beautiful sound just pierces through the atmosphere. That

(40:12):
feeling that we have is quite emotional. Would you agree?

S2 (40:16):
Oh, absolutely. I'm getting emotional. You just talking about it.
And you're quite right. I've been to a dawn service
and the kind of silence of it and the, you know, the, the,
the coolness or coldness of the morning, it kind of
all adds to the whole thing, isn't it? It is.
It's an experience.

S7 (40:31):
It is. Oh, and it's it. The other thing about
the bugle is because it doesn't have valves, so there's
not that many notes that can play. It has a
very small number of notes. You'll notice that with the
last post. And the notes are very close together. The
melody is very simple. It's not like a jazz instrument
where it's it's going up and down and all over

(40:52):
the place. There are few notes and so it's very simple.
So the tune is something that our brain loves. I've
spoken about this a lot. The brain loves simple melodies
that are very simple and repetitive. So the last post
and the reverie and all of the different pieces that
are played in relation to our military service and Anzac Day,

(41:13):
and I'm not an expert, so I don't know how
many there are, but they're all a beautiful, simple melody
where the notes are quite close together and that makes
us feel safe and it makes us feel emotional as well.

S2 (41:25):
I wonder whether the fact that as you talked about
the control of the breath, etc., I wonder if that's
almost a metaphor for either what we've been through or
what we're preparing ourselves for as well.

S7 (41:35):
Well, I mean, I think you can make a metaphor
out of anything, and I think there's a beautiful in
that because control, it's just the personal control. And so
when the bugle player is playing the last post, for example,
they have complete control over their instrument and over their
breath and their body. And you can't really play that

(41:56):
without being fully present in it. Because if you're not
being fully present and committed to that tune, any old
note could come out. And we've probably all been at
a service or heard a last post where a little
bit of a wonky notes come out. Yeah, no one
minds that, as I'm sure that that's got to be
worse for the bugle player than anyone else, because it's

(42:17):
it's not something that anyone else would, um, care about.
But it's just that, like, it's just that you have
to be completely engaged and present and aware of all
of your movements, all of your breath, everything that your
mouth is doing to make that tune come out perfectly.
And so, yeah, I do definitely think there's something in that, Peter.

S2 (42:37):
And of course, the kind of well, I guess the
irony of it. I mean, the thing is, if the
big player that might be I mean, they would have
had probably a number of rehearsals, but that kind of
might be their only chance for the day as well.
So they've got that sort of, uh, presence of expectation
as well. That is right there. And this is my
one and only chance, and maybe I might have to
wait till next year to do it. So you've got

(42:59):
to take that into account as far as their nervousness
as well.

S7 (43:02):
Absolutely. I mean, they must be so much pressure to
be there.

S6 (43:05):
Yeah.

S7 (43:06):
Because I mean, the other thing is everyone is silent.
So every single ear is on you and your tune.
It's not like, uh, in an orchestra where the cornet
or the trumpet might make a mistake, or any instrument might,
but you're in an orchestra and it gets covered up
and everyone moves on and no one knows who it was.
But playing it at dawn or at sunset on Anzac

(43:29):
Day is so, uh, significant that I'm sure that there's
pressure on everyone involved, not just, I mean the bugle
player as well, but as a listener, I have so
much anticipation for actually hearing the last post or the
reverie in the morning. In the morning services. And do
you remember that year when we were in lockdown and, um,

(43:51):
couldn't go? I got thrown out. This might be people
might be horrified by this, but I got my saxophone
out and played for my family at dawn, and, um,
it felt really beautiful because we live up in the
bush and there's no one around. And, um, you could
hear the sound of the saxophone going through the morning

(44:11):
air and getting back to what we mentioned before about
the ancestral, uh, significance of this. People used to play out,
play their instruments outside a lot, and that has become
less and less and less and less people play their
instruments outside at festivals. But that's a whole different sort of, um,
you know, context. And so actually playing your instrument outside

(44:35):
and being able to see the trees, listen to the wind,
have the natural elements around you, and and be listening
to someone play their instrument. Outside is something that used
to happen a lot and is happening less and less.
And so there's something very magical and almost like a
remembering which is suitable because that's what we do.

S2 (44:57):
Yeah, it's very much a commemoration to, to, to the
actual day. And, and I guess to the, to those
that are served and just the whole movement, if you
can put it that way.

S6 (45:06):
Yeah.

S2 (45:06):
It's interesting you talk about Anzac Day of course, or
sorry about the Covid during Anzac. Yeah, Covid during Anzac
Day or those couple of years. I mean, there were
people that were, you know, playing, uh, in their front
yards or whatever just to kind of try and, um,
you know, uh, have the day sort of still retain that,
that specialness about it.

S7 (45:25):
Yeah. Lots of people did do that. Yeah. And I mean, I,
I felt a bit like, oh, this isn't meant to
be played on a saxophone, but I thought, well, whatever,
there's no one else around.

S2 (45:35):
And a little bit tongue in cheek, but he talked about, um,
you know, if, uh, there is a knife that goes
a little bit astray, of course, because everyone knows it
so well, everyone is is going to pick up on
a little mistake that might be made, which is totally unfair,
but I guess that's kind of, uh, the way it
is with something like this.

S7 (45:53):
It's just the way of it.

S6 (45:54):
But because.

S7 (45:55):
We're all there, we're not there for the performance.

S2 (45:57):
Of course.

S7 (45:58):
Or a meaningful, spiritual, uh, emotional moment. So no one
who goes, I can't imagine anyone getting upset or being
annoyed about a missed note or a wonky note. And
I think I feel so much for the people who
are playing the bugle. If a note comes out a
bit wonky because they're the only ones that are going

(46:19):
to feel, you know, that sense of like, ah, no,
like you said before, that was my one moment.

S2 (46:26):
Yeah. Well, also, given what you've told us about, uh,
the fact that it is about controlling your breath, etc..
the breath is a thing that kind of goes first
when you're getting nervous. So that kind of, you know,
makes you a bit more prone to something maybe not
going quite right.

S7 (46:41):
Absolutely. And if you think back to to when the
bugle calls were typically made, which was at the beginning
of the day, and at the end of the day,
at the end of battle or, or when someone had died,
you know, those musical moments were not about performance. So
the note, the sound that came out was not the
most important part of the experience. So when we go

(47:05):
to the Anzac Day, uh, ceremonies and we hear the
bugle call, what we're hearing is like a historical, important
musical expression, not a performance that has to be perfect.

S2 (47:18):
You talked about the Psalms, and I think one of
the really great things that I mean, Australians often get
criticised for their Yahoo! If I can say, particularly at
sporting events. But isn't it fantastic when particularly before some
of the the football matches. They have the ceremony if
you like, and you do have that, you know, it's
chilling silence just before the last post plays and the

(47:39):
whole ceremony that that silence is such a powerful thing.
I mean, you know, it's something so quiet could be
so loud if it can make any sense.

S7 (47:47):
Oh, that makes a lot of sense. Absolutely. And I
actually think that humans are longing for more of those
moments where we're all together and all agree. We're all,
you know, everyone agrees on the on the moment of silence.
Everyone knows that. That's just what happens. It's not like
some people are going, no, we're not going to do it.
Some people are saying, you, you have to do it.

(48:07):
You can't do it. Like everyone just unanimously stands. And
there's a beautiful connectedness in that. And it feels very safe.
It's very soothing for our nervous systems to know that
a whole crowd of people can stand next to each
other in unanimous silence.

S2 (48:22):
It's a great term, isn't it? Unanimous silence. Ellie, that
was brilliant. And certainly, even though the day has gone.
We certainly respect and commemorate the day and those that
have given their time and their lives before us. Now,
if people want to find out more about you, Alison
Davies com.au. You're also on all the social media channels
that people can check you out, and we'll catch up

(48:44):
again next month.

S6 (48:45):
Lovely.

S7 (48:45):
I look forward to it.

S2 (48:46):
That's the debut there from Alison Davies. Com.au. If there's
a topic you'd like Alison to cover in the area
of music or music therapy, get in touch and we
would love to research it and bring it to the
air for us.

S8 (49:00):
You're listening to Vision Australia Radio in Adelaide on 1190
7 a.m..

S2 (49:06):
Well, coming up April 30th is International Guide Dog Day.
Rather interesting launch last week by guide dog Sante to
tell us about it. We've got Aaron share their CEO.
Always great to catch up. Aaron good to speak to
you again.

S9 (49:19):
Hi Peter. Always good to catch up with you too.

S6 (49:21):
Yeah, well, you.

S2 (49:22):
Did something just a little bit different last.

S6 (49:24):
Week.

S9 (49:24):
Yes, yes, we had our launch for our guard dogs die.
And this year, we've got a very special guest. Um, Frankie,
which is a fluffy little dog, um, has decided to
support guide dogs. And, uh, Frankie's decided to, uh, donate his, um,
favourite toy. Ropey. It's a chewed up string toy, rope

(49:45):
toy and, uh, ropey. He's put it up for us
to raise the money out of it.

S2 (49:51):
Now, uh, I'm not sure if you're allowed to tell me, but, uh,
who came up with this idea? Because I guess, you know,
it's a pretty competitive field out there to try and
get attention for different great, uh, campaigns, etc. and great ventures. But, um, yeah,
able to say who came up with this?

S9 (50:07):
Absolutely. Um, Kwp and partners. Um, so Sam Davies and
his crew at Kwp and partners, um, have come up
with this. They were great supporters of us last year,
as you probably know, in our campaign, our first Guide
Dogs Day launched last year. And yeah, this year, now
that they've come, Come along and help us out again.
And hopefully if we're doing something over this bar.

S6 (50:29):
Yeah.

S2 (50:29):
Well, so the novelty is the kind of king when
it comes to fundraising. What about in terms of, I guess,
the message behind it, because you're wanting the public to
get involved and obviously corporates to get involved as well?

S4 (50:39):
Yes.

S9 (50:40):
Um, you know, um, Guide Dogs Day coincides, as you know,
with International Guide Dog Day. And, you know, from an
international perspective, it's a great opportunity to really acknowledge the
impact guide dogs have, you know, in terms of people
with low vision and blindness and the impact on how
they can gain their independence from a Guide Dogs Day

(51:00):
point of view, I guess, you know, we're we're here
local and we're saying that, you know, it's time to
celebrate the impact we've had and also raise some funds
for much needed guide dogs, uh, moving forward.

S6 (51:12):
So that's about.

S2 (51:13):
Where where have I seen the cost to raise a
guide dog from kind of, uh, well, from from zero to, um, well,
I guess to the end of a dog's working life,
that that would be a very expensive exercise or. Well,
I guess in a sense you can't put a price
on the value of it, but I guess you can
kind of put a price on it at the same time,
if that makes any sense.

S9 (51:31):
You know, we don't cross it across the life of
the dog, but, you know, across the two years that
it takes over two years to to get a dog
to be matched. Um, it's well in excess of $50,000.

S6 (51:44):
Wow.

S9 (51:45):
To do that. But when you look at it in
terms of, uh, the volunteer time and the the training,
the full year of training after it reaches about 12
months old, it takes a lot. And because not all
dogs make it through as well, it's not an exact science,
you know, in terms of getting, uh, ten dogs out
when you put ten dogs into the program. So, um,

(52:06):
that's why it's a costly exercise.

S2 (52:08):
It's not an exact science. By the same token, I
know that the time that I've been doing this program,
I guess the kind of the genetics and the the
work that goes into kind of, you know, the breeding
programs to get the best possible chance of the guide
dog being great is is just incredible nowadays, isn't it?

S9 (52:24):
It absolutely is. And that's why it costs so much.
Because now there is. There's a lot of science behind
getting it to a certain stage. But in terms of
the the number of dogs that actually, you know, are
actually fit the bill to match to a particular client,
that's not that straightforward.

S2 (52:41):
You talked about 50,000 for for a guide dog. I mean,
I'm showing my age a bit, but when I first
started doing this program, we were talking about this sort
of thing. I mean, the kind of ballpark figure was
8 to 10,000. So, you know, that's 5 or 6
times the amount in, you know, 30 years, which I'm
not sure how inflation goes with that, but I guess
it gives people a bit of a, an idea of the,

(53:02):
the rapid rate in which the costs have gone up.

S9 (53:05):
You know, I've been involved with guide dogs now almost
eight years. And, uh, the good news is that it
hasn't really shifted during the time that I've been and, uh,
a lot of it sort of, and we try to
do our best in terms of providing a dog regardless
of whether funding is available or not. But the challenge
is maintaining those donations so that we can continue to

(53:26):
subsidize what we can.

S2 (53:27):
And one of the great things about the work that
Guide Dogs do is the high sort of, um, value
that people put on it as far as your credibility
and your integrity goes, your trust.

S9 (53:38):
Yes, yes. You know, we're continually the, the most one
of the most trusted brands around. Um, and as you know,
that sort of trust only goes by as good as
your last act. Yeah. So, you know, we have to
continue to deliver the impact that we do and continue
to protect that reputation.

S2 (53:58):
What's coming up on April 30th?

S9 (54:00):
So April 30th, uh, firstly, we're inviting all our corporate
supporters and, um, people and businesses to support Guide Dogs Day.
And probably, you know, the opportunities that are available are,
you know, having a morning tea or an afternoon tea.
You know, some places are wearing orange for the dye
guide dog. Orange, of course. And, uh, we're in house.

(54:21):
We're actually, uh, running a, uh, like a telethon. We're
actually we've got some corporate partners coming in manning the phones,
and we're jumping on the phones ourselves to to ring
potential donors and asking them to support us because, uh,
thanks to thanks to our corporate sponsors, they're going to
be matching every donation coming through. So so we're really

(54:42):
hoping to, to really ramp it up and leverage that
matching process with a target of $350,000 this year.

S2 (54:48):
And that's where that word trust is so important isn't it?

S9 (54:51):
Oh yes. Yes, absolutely.

S2 (54:53):
And you talked about matching. And of course, you know,
getting a guide dog to the point where they can
be a guide dog with a client is one thing.
But then that matching process is such an important thing.
And we spoke to David Brown a few weeks ago
about that. And, you know, he's obviously very, very happy
with what he's had more than one dog, but he's
obviously very, very happy about that. But I mean, that's
an important sort of connection as well that needs to

(55:15):
be made, and that's got to work as well.

S9 (55:17):
Yes, absolutely. You know, and we take a lot for
granted that, you know, a dog that's matches to a client. But,
you know, we've got louder clients and softer clients in
terms of speaking voices. We've got taller and shorter, faster
walkers and slower walkers and and so the personality of
the dog really needs to be, you know, matched to
the client. And where they do match, you can tell

(55:40):
it's a match made in heaven.

S2 (55:41):
Yeah. And again, the talk that, um, they speak or
the way they speak about the, the difference it can
make to their lives is just. Well, it it literally
is very, very moving.

S9 (55:51):
Oh, it absolutely is. You know, after our puppy graduation
this year, we had the father of one of our
youngest clients come up to me and said, now how
how big a change her life is had once, once
she was matched with a dog because she was able to,
you know, get a uni, you know, she had a
different circle of friends. She was able to get out

(56:14):
and about and they gave him a big hug. And
now I still have a lump in my throat every
time I talk about it, but it's. It's so sort of,
you know, the impact that we make that that makes
it makes it all worthwhile.

S2 (56:26):
And the other thing about stuff like that, and I
think about this often, and probably people here get sick
of me hearing say this sort of thing, but it's
kind of that broader message that can spread with something
like that. I mean, you talk about someone going to
uni or someone going to work, you know, uh, someone
sort of being seen out and about in their neighborhood
with that independence. I mean, all of a sudden that
the sort of narrative changes are there and say, look

(56:49):
what they can do, rather than, oh, gee, I feel
sorry for them because of the fact that they might
be blind or have low vision. And that's such a
powerful message.

S9 (56:56):
Yes, sir. Right there. Peter. You know, um, we talked
about the the price of a dog before, and we
always say the outcomes outcome is priceless. You know, because
it's not just the person with the dog that it impacts.
It impacts everyone around that person in and around that
person and and gives her that person a chance to shine.
You know, to share his or her sort of, uh,

(57:19):
values and, uh, and everything they have, they can share
now rather than, um, just be on their own.

S2 (57:26):
I guess everyone's got a personality, and sometimes you need
different things to bring it out of you. Aaron.

S9 (57:30):
Absolutely.

S2 (57:31):
Absolutely. So you've got the the telephone and all the
events around on International Guide Dog Day, April 30th coming up. Uh,
what about Frankie? People can get involved with that as well,
can't they?

S9 (57:42):
Yes, yes. Now Frankie's got a platform. Um, if you
jump on, uh, line to Guide Dogs Day, you you
can actually donate to help Frankie raise funds for guide dogs. So,
as I said before, you know, Frankie's got his favourite toy,
his favourite toy up there, and, uh, yeah, she's raising
funds for it. So we're hoping to raise as much

(58:03):
as we can off that. And, uh, thank Frankie for
her help.

S2 (58:07):
Now, I think you're trying to make rugby. What? The
most expensive dog toy in the history of the universe
or something.

S9 (58:12):
We certainly are. So? So everyone's finding out about rugby.
So I say to people, it doesn't matter if it's
a dollar or $2. You know, if, uh, if 100,000
people donate a dollar, they make.

S2 (58:23):
Yeah. Terrific. So, uh, Guide Dogs day ago is where
to go.

S9 (58:27):
That's it.

S2 (58:27):
Terrific. And we'll catch up with you next week. We'll
give you a chance to experience, uh, International Guide Dog Day.
Give us a bit of an idea afterwards of how
it's all gone. Both, uh, I guess financially and sort of, uh,
emotionally the sort of spirituality of the day as well,
because that'll be good to kind of share that. So, uh,
enjoy your weekend. Enjoy International Guide Dog Day to all
those out there, both, uh, volunteers and staff and clients. Uh,

(58:50):
it's a it's an important day. And, you know, kind
of around this time of the year, we've had Easter
or Anzac Day. It's kind of good to mark a
day like International Guide Dog Day with, uh, with an event.
And just to kind of put it in the calendar
for something for us to, uh, all observe.

S9 (59:04):
It certainly.

S2 (59:04):
Is. Thanks for your time, Aaron.

S9 (59:05):
Thanks very much, Peter. Thanks for your support.

S2 (59:07):
Always really fabulous catching up with Aaron, the very hard
working CEO for God Dogs Sant. So if you'd like
to get involved with that campaign to try and raise
money for the most expensive dog toy, Frankie is the dog.
Ropey is the toy you can get involved by going
to God dogs dicomo. God dogs.com. If you prefer to ring,

(59:30):
then ring 820383 ring god dogs and 820383.

S10 (59:39):
Hi, I'm Angie Ballard, co-captain of the 2024 Australian Paralympic Team,
and you're listening to Leisure Link with Peter Greco on
the Vision Australia radio network.

S2 (59:51):
We'll talk to Far Away. Now the roundtable on information
access to people with a print disability. Let's chat about
it with Agata montoya. Agata, lovely to speak to you again.

S11 (01:00:00):
Lovely to be here. Thank you. Peter.

S2 (01:00:02):
Now, we spoke to you and Doctor Joe Keating a
couple of weeks ago regarding your presentation at the round
table about public libraries and how they can perhaps be
a bit more accessible. Um, what other things interest you
about the conference at this stage?

S11 (01:00:14):
Well, there's it's a really exciting program. So this is
going to be the first conference that I'm helping to organize,
and the fourth one that I'm attending, and it's, um,
there's a lot going on about technology, of course. So AI,
smart devices, braille displays and basically just looking at how
technology is reshaping information access for people with disability. So

(01:00:38):
this is really exciting. We are going to also have
presentations on the impact of changing legislation. So Marrakesh treaty
but also Disability Discrimination Act and some other areas. Um,
we will talk about Braille as usual. Um, we'll focus
on lived experience and co-design. Yes. As you mentioned, Joe

(01:01:00):
and I are going to talk about, um, what can
we do to make public libraries more accessible? So there's
a lot of really exciting presentations and keynotes.

S2 (01:01:09):
I guess one of the great things about something like this,
there's kind of something for everyone. I'm thinking in terms of,
you know, sort of high end professionals, but also very
much the consumer can get a lot from a conference
like this as well.

S11 (01:01:20):
That's right. So this is a beauty. I go to
quite a few conferences, but this is a very special
conference because you have academics coming with research. You have
industry people coming with their perspective. You have disability sector
representatives coming and talking about. And most importantly, we have
people with lived experience of disability coming and presenting and

(01:01:41):
coming as audience asking us questions. It's a really amazing
space to be, and I've learned a lot from every
time I attended a conference just being in the same space.

S2 (01:01:51):
You talked about, I guess kind of that comes under
the umbrella of innovation. There's so much happening in that area,
and I guess it's good to attend something like this
to kind of catch up on what's happening, because it's
pretty hard to keep across it otherwise.

S11 (01:02:03):
That's right. I'm struggling keeping up with. They are it's
things are changing, um, so rapidly. Um, yeah. It's a
it's a really interesting, problematic space in many ways. But
in the area of disability there are amazing opportunities. So, um,
we need to look at I, you know, critically and
look at the ethical considerations, but they are really a

(01:02:25):
huge opportunities. So one of the presentation that we are
going to have from Monash University is going to be
on AI enabled assistive smart glasses for example.

S2 (01:02:36):
Yeah. Well that's certainly uh, kind of, um, you know,
something sort of new ish, but also very exciting in
terms of its opportunities or its potential. That's right. I mean,
for reading anything. I mean, I guess we might think about,
you know, print disability, but we're reading anything we're talking about, uh,
you know, those ghastly bills that might come along or, uh,
reading for pleasure, reading for, uh, school, reading for, uh, work, etc..

S11 (01:03:00):
That's right. Absolutely.

S2 (01:03:01):
What about some of the presenters that, uh, you've been, uh,
as part of your role, I guess able to kind of, uh,
arrange to come along?

S11 (01:03:09):
Yes. So I might just focus briefly on our keynote
speakers because, um, yeah, it's always exciting and we try
to find, um, really outstanding speakers to to lead the
conference discussion. So we'll have Marion Diamond, um, who's a
board member of Ndia, and she will talk about the
impact of Marrakesh treaty. Then we have, uh, Professor Gerard Goggin,

(01:03:31):
who used to be my colleague at the University of Sydney,
but he moved a year ago also to Western Sydney University.
And he will talk about digital citizenship. So his new project,
where he's looking at how we can improve digital access
via the lens of citizenship. So this is really I'm
really looking forward to it. And then we have Kylie
Iles and Jonathan Craig from vision 2020 Australia. And it

(01:03:55):
will be a really interesting Presentation. About 25 years of
collaboration and collaboration is so important in any area, but
especially in print visibility. And finally, I want to mention Sonali,
who is going to talk about the decade of progress
at the Round Table. So we've had some really exciting
news at the Round Table this year. This is going

(01:04:18):
to be this is Ali's last conference as the president because, um,
it's her the end of her second period of presidency. So, um,
she will she will have this, um, chance to talk
about what has happened within the Round Table over the
last decade or so.

S2 (01:04:34):
Interesting, isn't it, because we talked about how things are
changing so quickly, and sometimes you need that sort of
reflective period to look back and say, gee, has all
that happened, you know, in the last 5 or 10 years?
So that'll be fascinating.

S11 (01:04:47):
Absolutely. I'm really looking forward to it.

S2 (01:04:49):
And you talked about Mary Anne Darwin and the Marrakesh treaty.
I mean, I remember vividly following the the Marrakesh treaty
and Ypo and all that sort of stuff that was
happening during Mary Ann's time, particularly with the World Blind Union.
She kept us right up to date with that so
very much at the cutting edge of that development or
those developments.

S11 (01:05:06):
That's right. So now it's been, what, 11 years or
so since, since the Mark has tweeted. So it'll be
really interesting to see, you know, especially with her, you know,
being so involved in the early days like how what's
you know what the impact has been of the treaty globally.

S2 (01:05:21):
And one thing I can say about Mary, and I've
actually attended a couple of, uh, events that Marianne has
spoken at and she's the most, most impressive speaker. So
what you've got to say will be very interesting. But
how she says it will also will be captivating. So
that'll be fantastic. And Jonathan Craig, another person well known
to this program, he's always a very articulate, uh, person

(01:05:41):
as well.

S11 (01:05:42):
Yes. Yeah. Yeah.

S2 (01:05:43):
I guess because they're the round table has got a wonderful, uh,
sort of pedigree, if you like, in terms of its history,
it's probably. Well, I say easily, but, you know, people
know about you when you're approaching them to come and
speak at an event like this.

S11 (01:05:56):
Yes, we have no issues with with getting speakers to
come along to our conference. Um, so yeah, that's not
a problem at all. And now I don't know whether
somebody told you about it, but we got international awards
last year. Um, so this and we got the Wipo's
Accessible Book Consortium International Excellence Award as an initiative. So

(01:06:19):
this really highlights the work that, that, um, the members
of the roundtable have done over the last, well, more
than 40 years in improving access to information.

S2 (01:06:29):
That's pretty well, congratulations on that. We'd like to leave it. Congratulations.
Now it's happening in Melbourne in May. That's right. Do
you want to give us the details? Yeah. I'll let
people know how they can register.

S11 (01:06:39):
That's right. Um, so the conference is happening. It starts
on Saturday, the 24th of May with the Australian Rail
Authority annual meeting. And then we have a welcome to
the conference in the evening on Saturday, and then the
conference will. The conference proper will start on Sunday and
will finish on Tuesday the 27th of May, with a

(01:07:02):
very exciting gallery excursion with Sophie Schopenhauer and Doctor Matthew Butler.
So the plan is to visit National Gallery of Victoria
on the Federation Square. So this is really exciting to us.
And multi-sensory art history tour. This is how it's described.

S2 (01:07:18):
Oh, brilliant.

S11 (01:07:19):
Yes. Um, the conference is going to be held at
Stamford Plaza Hotel in Melbourne, and if people want to register,
we will be great. Um, the registration, um, you need
to go to the roundtable website.

S2 (01:07:32):
Yeah. Print disability. Org.

S11 (01:07:34):
That's right.

S2 (01:07:35):
Terrific. Actually, that's another person we've spoken to in recent
times is Sophie. Sophie. Coppenhall. So, uh, a very, very
passionate about the work that Sophie was doing as well,
doing some research as well when we spoke to her.
So that's that's tremendous.

S11 (01:07:48):
Fantastic. Really glad to hear that.

S2 (01:07:50):
Well, we wish you finale. Well, because, uh, you very
kindly stepped up to speak to us because we're going
to speak to Sonali. Sonali? Hope you're feeling very much
better very soon. And maybe we can catch up with
Sonali afterwards so she can kind of maybe summarize the
the ten years that she's been at the helm to
give us a bit of an idea of what was
said at the conference. I got it to you and
all those involved. Good luck. Congratulations on what you've done

(01:08:11):
so far. Congratulations on the award. And as I say,
we look forward to catching up afterwards and finding out
how it all goes. And if people want to find
out more, just disability. Org is the website.

S11 (01:08:22):
Thank you Peter. Lovely talking to you as always.

S2 (01:08:24):
It's the guy to move on Montoya. That is an
event not to miss an award winning weekend say it's
been well recognised. So certainly if you can get along,
get along and we'll chat more about it after the
conference is over. Let's catch up with our yoga expert.
River joins us each month. River Bryce Rivero, welcome. Thank

(01:08:44):
you for your time again this month.

S12 (01:08:46):
Hello, Peter. Tonight we're going to do eye exercises.

S2 (01:08:50):
Okay.

S12 (01:08:51):
And they're just to relax. Tired and sore eyes. Mhm.
It's all done just with your eyes. You don't move
your head. If you wear glasses take them off. Now
the repeat time I'm giving for each exercise is three.
But you can do more comfortably in a chair or
on the floor. We're back to straight. And let your

(01:09:11):
hands rest on your thighs. Now the first one we're
doing this actually two. In this one you can separate
them if you wish to. Between staring and focus, look
straight ahead and keep your eyes wide open until they
start to moisten or feel tight. Then close your eyes.
Screw them up tightly over wide and blink rapidly. And

(01:09:34):
you can repeat that three or more times. The blinking.
You can do that on its own if you want to,
but I find that it works really good with the
staring as well. Now the next one is side to
side and move your eyes to the right. So as
you can, without turning your head and back to the center,
and then to your left, and again you take them

(01:09:57):
over to the other side, the right side, and then back,
and just repeat that once or twice. The next way
is up and down. Are you moving your eyes up
and down in a straight line? So you're looking up
towards the ceiling, but don't move your head. Draw the
eyes down as far as you can. Take them up again.

(01:10:19):
Back down and repeat again once more. Remember not to
move your head. The next one is diagonal and again
you use the ceiling corners for here. And again, don't
lift your head up or eyes only to look up
to the right corner, then down to the left. Can
you repeat that a couple more times? Then you look

(01:10:42):
up to the left corner, and down to the right.
You do that a couple more times. Remember, eyes only.
Don't move your head. Now we draw a rectangle. You
can start at the right corner and draw your eyes
down in a straight line. Down on that side to
the bottom. Then straight a line across the bottom and

(01:11:04):
up to the left, right, up, and then again draw
the line back to your start. Point to that right side.
Now repeat that a couple more times and then you
reverse it. Are you starting at the left? And you
draw the straight line down on your left side, across
the bottom, up the right side, across the top that

(01:11:25):
you start with. That's your rectangle. The next one is circling.
Some call it the clock. You don't look into straight
ahead and the clock in your eyes. And you can
see 12 there. And that's where your eyes rest. And
then you circle to the right. You're going clockwise. Big

(01:11:47):
circle right around. Up to that 12 again. And repeat
that circling a couple more times. And then you go anti-clockwise.
So you'll be going to the left then going drawing
that circle anti-clockwise three times. Now that's most of the
exercises for the eyes. Now the next one is like

(01:12:09):
a resting if you like you palm. It's called palming
and you rub the palms of your hands together until
they feel warm, heating them, and then place them. Place
the palms over your eyes. Keep your eyes in close
to your chest. Now make sure there's no light coming

(01:12:30):
in through your fingers at all or through the palms.
Your is only dark. It's only darkness there. And then
close your eyes. Don't Sent me to hand to door,
keep that darkness there, and then slowly breathe in and out,
allowing you to relax more and more. You slowly remove

(01:12:50):
your hands and wait for a while before you open
your eyes and start moving around again. That being said,
I freaking love that and for you yourself now. Other
benefits beta release stress, particularly in the face and eyes,
reduces soreness and redness from the eyes. Strengthens your eye

(01:13:13):
muscles and improve flexibility. Blinking helps to lubricate the eyes,
preventing dryness. This is very important if you spend a
lot of time staring at a computer screen or on
your iPhone. Air conditioners also can dry your eyes. Lubrication
protects the eyes from bright lights, dirt, dust, and other debris,

(01:13:35):
and these exercises are all calming and relaxing to the eyes,
and we don't always get them the attention they deserve.
And you yourself will feel much better after these exercises. Now, Peter,
I have a little hint here if you like. Also
for if your eyes are looking a bit red and
a bit sore and tired.

S2 (01:13:56):
Okay.

S12 (01:13:56):
And you're bathing them. Actually, I use a little medicine
cup and you start with warm water and just with
one eye, and you need to move your head up
a little bit and then down again to splash your eye,
get the water going into your eye, and you'll do
one eye seven, ten times and then do the other eye.

(01:14:17):
And that's just with warm water. Don't have hot water.
You don't want to burn your eyes at all. And
then you put cold water in your little cup and
you do the same. You're washing your eyes. Keep your
eyes open. Keep your eye open as you splashing that
water into it. It will dribble down your cheeks and
that a little bit, but it won't matter. Now, it

(01:14:38):
might feel a bit worse to start with. You know,
they might. I might still feel quite sore, but it
will go away. And you can repeat it if you
feel you need to. And your eyes will look much better.
A lot of that redness will go out and they'll
look brighter. So there is little hint that you can
also use for your eyes. And there are some people

(01:15:00):
and I'm like that I can't use any eye drops.
My eyes are too sensitive, so the water helps terrifically
in that way.

S2 (01:15:07):
Now, if people want to contact you for some one
on one, how can we get in touch with you?

S12 (01:15:12):
Yes, on my mobile 041286096.

S2 (01:15:19):
Thank you so much for that. We'll catch up again
next month.

S12 (01:15:21):
Yes we will. The month is sliding by very quickly,
aren't they?

S2 (01:15:25):
Have a good evening.

S12 (01:15:26):
And good night, Peter. And good night to everyone.

S2 (01:15:29):
River yoga expert. If you want to contact River for
some one on. 1286096. That's 04128. 66096. And apologies, that
wasn't the best of lines this time round, but hopefully
you got enough to get out of it. As far
as some exercises that might help as far as your

(01:15:49):
tired eyes go. So it's always fabulous. Catching up with
adjunct professor from USC, Denise Wood, with lots of interesting
news about technology and related issues. Denise, good to catch
up again.

S13 (01:16:08):
Hello, Peter.

S2 (01:16:09):
Right now you've got some news from the Human Rights Commission.

S13 (01:16:12):
Yes. So the Australian Human Rights Commission has just published
its update on its guidelines to assist organisations and businesses
to meet their legal obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act
of 1992. In particular around digital products and services. So
the last update was well, more than ten years ago.

(01:16:35):
So it's really good to see that they have now
updated those guidelines. And they those updates are to reflect
the changes in the World Wide Webs Web Content Accessibility Guidelines,
which we're up to. Version 2.2 and the previous advisory
notes were version 2.0. And as you would imagine, since 2014,

(01:16:58):
there's been a lot of changes in technology and the
types of technologies that we're using. So it's really important
that these guidelines now do reflect the broader range of technologies.
And these guidelines are for organizations and businesses that create
and provide digital products and services, suppliers of hardware and software,

(01:17:21):
and of course, employers who use digital technologies for their
staff so that it ensures that all of those resources
and digital technologies can be accessible. And as the Disability
Discrimination Commissioner Rosemary Kaye um pointed out, it is unlawful
to discriminate on the grounds of disability, and the new

(01:17:44):
guidelines are for to make sure that individuals and organisations
can avoid that kind of discrimination when they're providing digital
products and services, including online learning, hybrid working arrangements and
and of course, essential services such as emergency information. They
mean grocery shopping and so forth. So really good to see, uh,

(01:18:06):
those updates. And of course, what we'll now look forward
to is, uh, all the states and territory, territory governments
now updating their guidelines because they're always aligned, of course,
with the Human Rights Commission guidelines. So I expect we'll
now see some fairly significant changes in the advisory notes

(01:18:27):
for government workers and departments.

S2 (01:18:30):
Well, it's good if I can kind of share the
ways that the government departments, I mean, it's kind of
up to them to set their example in a sense.

S14 (01:18:35):
Well, you would hope so, yes.

S2 (01:18:39):
To me, uh, some news regarding ChatGPT.

S14 (01:18:41):
Oh, yes.

S13 (01:18:42):
Well, we we have to always have a segment of
this session that talks about AI because of course, that
is is moving so rapidly. Uh, so OpenAI, which is
of course, responsible for ChatGPT, has just had really major,
major advances with their new models, as they call them,

(01:19:04):
the new version, zero three and zero four mini models, uh,
that are available to use now for Pro Plus team.
And there's even some options now for free users. And
these models significantly improve the performance of ChatGPT. They're particularly
to note they're quicker at reasoning tasks than the earlier

(01:19:28):
open AI models such as ChatGPT three. They can. Now
this is the really cool thing. They can intelligently decide
which of open AI tools to use when you put
in your text query. And this includes an ability to
reason with images, which is quite astounding. So you can
now upload an image and ChatGPT can now look at

(01:19:53):
that image and then provide advice for the example they
give you. Upload a photo of a car and it
can now tell you the model of the car, the
year of the car, color of the car, but also
you know what its value might be in five years
because it's doing it's reasoning. It's just extraordinary. And of course,

(01:20:15):
those tools don't include just the use of images. I mean,
you can put in a problem and it will automatically
know that you want to use its tool for coding
The program coding for example. So this is a a
really significant step forward in the development of AI. And
they say that this is, you know, really the next

(01:20:38):
step for AI to be able to reason much like
a human can reason. The other thing that will worry
people like myself who are educators is in this age
of ChatGPT and, you know, academic integrity. One of the
things we we were telling academics to do with their
assessments is make sure that you require the student to

(01:20:59):
explain the steps they took to arrive at the solution.
But this these new models actually talk you through the
steps it's taking to arrive at the conclusion. So Vikander
used that as a way to differentiate whether a student
has used AI inappropriately. So, uh, it's.

S14 (01:21:20):
A brave new world, Peter.

S2 (01:21:21):
You kind of wonder what impact this might have on
professionals in five, ten, 15 years time, depending how they
got to this position and then how that impacts on
their careers. But I guess, you know, only time will tell.

S14 (01:21:33):
Well, yes. Over. Stay tuned.

S13 (01:21:36):
Because, um, I know that, uh, they're contemplating the next
major release of, uh, open AI. These were many steps.
So this is what a mini step is mostly like.
You can imagine what the next generation is going to
look like. So of course, you'll hear it first on
this fashion.

S2 (01:21:54):
Uh, through you, Denise, because you're right up with it,
I just follow.

S14 (01:21:57):
Yeah.

S2 (01:21:58):
Now we're speaking about following. Of course, many of our
listeners would be using Apple, uh, either the iPhone or
the iPad, and they've got a new, uh, iOS update
out or late in March.

S14 (01:22:09):
That's right. The last day of March, Apple officially released version.

S13 (01:22:15):
18.4 and of course, the accompanying iPad OS 18.4 to
the public, which brings the new functionality for VoiceOver and Braille. Users.
And of course, we've just been talking about AI. Some
more enhancements to Apple, which as you recall, Apple is
calling AI. Apple intelligence, including priority notifications. Expanded language support.

(01:22:40):
Of course, it wouldn't be an update without new emoji
characters and new ambient music feature, a male categorization and, uh,
and more. So some of the new features for VoiceOver
and Braille users, it's now possible to change when and
if VoiceOver speaks the type of control currently in focus. Uh,

(01:23:03):
so you can now control whether it's going to speak
heading link button. So those settings are under accessibility VoiceOver
Vivocity controls. And you can choose whether control types are
spoken before or after the contents. Since you can do
an indefinite double tap and hold on a Braille display

(01:23:24):
when recording an audio message. For example, in the message app,
or trying to fast forward or rewind a podcast or
audio material so you just double press space with dots three, six, seven, eight.
Press the key combination once more to release the hold.
There's a three wing three finger swipe down at the
top of the page in Safari, so that will no

(01:23:46):
longer immediately refresh the page when the gesture is first performed,
instructing you to scroll up again to refresh. So. VoiceOver
on iOS and iPadOS will announce the positions of items
when navigating a bulleted list, and they've resolved several bugs
in voiceover and Braille. So if you are using VoiceOver

(01:24:10):
and Braille with iOS, uh, you will probably.

S14 (01:24:14):
Want these latest updates.

S2 (01:24:16):
Well, I must admit I'm a little bit reluctant to
update just in case something is unintentionally broken.

S14 (01:24:21):
Yes, well that's true.

S2 (01:24:22):
I think I think you might have given me the
all clear because I'm still on the previous version, just
in case, but.

S14 (01:24:28):
Oh well, given there were bugs in the previous version
and I think you are a pro user, this might
be this. This might resolve any.

S13 (01:24:36):
Of the problems you might have experienced.

S2 (01:24:38):
Well, I was going to say it's really cool that, uh,
you know, the Braille displays and things that work with
those braille displays are still part of the updates, because
it's very much anecdotal, I'll admit. But there's a lot
of people that do use braille displays with their smart devices,
be they laptops, computers or, um, tablets or phones and
Android or iOS. So those Braille displays that are really,

(01:25:00):
really popular, some of them are very, very good in
terms of how well they pair and how compact they
are as well. So a lot of advantages to them,
particularly if you do like Braille. You like to actually
feel the information beneath your fingers.

S13 (01:25:12):
Absolutely. So let's hope they, uh, retain that broader focus
on the variety of users and their preferences in assistive devices.

S2 (01:25:22):
Well, good news there from Apple. All right, Danny, thank
you for that. I'll go away and do my update
and I'll report back if I've got any issues. I'll
blame you.

S13 (01:25:29):
Yeah. Sounds good.

S2 (01:25:32):
All right. Great to catch up tonight. We'll speak again
at the end of May. Thanks, Peter. That's an adjunct
professor at Eastwood from USC. One of our very, very
valued and valuable contributors here on Lakeland. A final reminder
on this program, if you'd like to register and vote
by telephone, if you're blind or have low vision, you've

(01:25:54):
got all week to do it. 1800 913 993. 1800 913 993. From 830
to 530 Monday to Friday. And also up until 6:00
on Saturday the 3rd of May. But best to do
it before then. I did it during the week. You
ring up, you give your name, and then you give

(01:26:17):
them a code. They then either send you an email
or a text message, or ring you with their code,
and then you ring back to vote. The email came
to me within an hour or so, which is great.
I did vote, I voted below the line. My choice
probably took about 45 minutes. So if you do a
little bit of preparation so you're prepared for how you're

(01:26:39):
going to vote. If you vote for the lower house,
the white paper, that's the green paper, I think the
green paper, the lower house. You've got to fill in
all the boxes depending on what seat you're in. If
you do the upper house, the big white paper, you've
got to do either six above the line. If you
choose to do below the line, you've got to do
at least 12. So hopefully that makes it a little

(01:27:01):
bit clearer. If you'd like to register. If you're willing
to have low vision to vote by telephone 1800 913 993. Lots
of people voting early, so I'm not sure what that means.
I think that it might mean that it might merely
be a landslide to Labour, but that's my early thoughts.
More thoughts coming up next week. A couple of quotes

(01:27:25):
before we go. Nominees centre quite through. Newman often thinks
things a little bit differently, which is great. Newman says
peace a country that's way, way, way beyond the stars.
Thanks so much, Newman for yours. And also one from Devon.
Devon's quite is. Failure is a possibility, but not an option.

(01:27:48):
So thanks very much for Devon and Newman for their quotes.
Of course, if you'd like to send a quote through,
get in touch and we'd love to share it with
our listeners. So before we go. Well, a couple of
weeks ago we had Brad and Wayne Kinross twins having
a birthday. This week we've got Luke and Jesse Goodman
having a birthday. We spoke to Nathan Pepper about the

(01:28:09):
NFL league getting underway, the IPM Improvement League getting underway. Certainly,
those two boys will feature greatly again this year. Happy
birthday to Emily Petricola. Paralympic gold medalist more than once
as a cyclist. So happy birthday to you, Emily. And
Hannah Dodd, one of our mighty fine gliders. Our wheelchair
women's basketball team. Also having a birthday. That's it for

(01:28:32):
the program. Sam, Richard, thanks so much for your help.
Pam Green, thanks so much for yours. If you're listening
through 1190 7 a.m. in Adelaide. You know what to do.
Stay tuned because Vicki Cousins is coming up very soon
with Australian Geographic. The program no one misses. Be kind
to yourselves. Be thoughtful and look out for others. All
being well. Let's look back at the same time next

(01:28:55):
week on Australia Radio and the Reading Radio Network. This
is leisure link.

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