29 Mar 2025

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:16):
It's just gone 5:00 and we channel a bit of
Alice Cooper, and I want to be elected. Well, thank
you for selecting to listen to leisure link here on
Australia Radio 1190 7 a.m. Adelaide, online at Viva radio,
radio Digital in Adelaide and Darwin, also through the Reading
Radio Network. Our friends listening through 103.9 Hope a feminist

(00:41):
voice in Western Australia. Also a tremendous supporters at Disability
Media Australia. Find out more about them. Powered media. Peter
Greco saying wonderful to be here. Thank you for giving
us some time to listen to us. This program coming
to you from Garner Land come to you very shortly.

(01:02):
We'll speak to Rob Van Bunch, who was the coach
of the Australian men's deaf team. They're just back from
playing cricket in India. How did we go? David Brown
will join us. A big event for guide dogs. Sant
David graduated with his dog, Grant. We'll find out about that.
Also catch up with Sarah McMahon, who did a climb

(01:23):
for a cause climbing Mount Kosciuszko for rare cancers. Sarah
will share her story with us. Alison Davies from Alison
Davies will say what happens to us when we're at
a concert? We'll also hear from Mark Diplock from salute
for service, providing wonderful support for our veterans. We'll chat

(01:43):
to Mark. We'll have yoga from Reeva Bryce. Adjunct professors
at Eastwood will join us for the latest news in
the Arab accessibility and technology. And Hugh Bartlett from Farah
will join us. Mum's gift. That's their next production. Your
personal invitation is coming to you via the radio. Not
too far away. Australian deaf cricketers have just returned from

(02:09):
a tour of England. Let's catch up with our coach
yob Yobbo. Thanks so much for speaking to us and
welcome home.

S2 (02:16):
Thank you. Yes. Appreciate the opportunity. Thanks, Peter. How was it? Amazing.
Every time you get to play cricket in the subcontinent,
especially India, this time is amazing. And we certainly took
the opportunity to play some really good cricket and take
it all in.

S1 (02:34):
Now, Australia's been pretty strong in cricket for quite some time.
What about as far as India go in the area
of deaf cricket?

S2 (02:40):
India has definitely got the majority of the deaf players
in the world by sheer population. So there's all of that,
that that we don't have yet in Australia. India is
really strong. India is strong in all departments. So it
was a super big challenge for us to go and
play India in India. But we definitely rose to the

(03:01):
challenge at times.

S1 (03:02):
Yes, I know in blind cricket that there's a huge
pool of players to choose from, so it figures that
it would be the same in deaf cricket. What about
in terms of the kind of cultural experience? What was
that like?

S2 (03:13):
It was um, in one word, it was amazing. Peter.
It's the whole culture around cricket, around hospitality has been fantastic. Um,
we were treated to a very kind and welcoming atmosphere.
I think Australia sits pretty high up there in the
Indian cricket circle, so there was a lot of respect shown. Um,

(03:36):
everybody was friendly. Obviously it was a big challenge for
a lot of our players travelling overseas for the first
time and, um, not being able to have their regular, uh,
chicken pie for dinner. So food. Food was fantastic. Um,
if you're open to it. So it had some extra
challenges around the team's performance that, that we had to

(03:56):
keep count with. But, uh, with all that, the boys
were amazing. They adapted really well. They showed a lot
of resilience and really took in the Indian, the Indian
culture and spirit while we played over there.

S1 (04:07):
We speak about things like this quite frequently on the programme,
as you can appreciate job and I guess that's obvious.
It's great to be able to represent your country, but
then to be able to experience another culture. It's part
of the the rich tapestry of of playing a sport,
isn't it?

S2 (04:20):
It's it's fantastic. And it's it's so enriching. And I'm
sure the players, as you do, you get caught up
in results. And, and we played some really good cricket,
but we also played some really bad cricket. But in
the end, if they will look back at this tour
in about 10 or 15 years time, I hope that
they can reflect on that. It's been a fantastic experience

(04:40):
that they've witnessed India, they've experienced India and all it
has to offer. So, um, yeah, from that perspective, it's
been it's been an enrichment for all of us.

S1 (04:50):
What about in terms of the competition that was played?
Was it mainly T20s or what sort of format?

S3 (04:55):
So the first part we played with South.

S2 (04:57):
Africa and India a T20 series. We've all played each
other twice before a final, and we've beaten and lost
to South Africa a little bit over the years or
over the years, so we're a little bit more equal
to them. India was definitely the big target for us.
The first game, we really had to find our feet
and we kind of got smashed, but we backed it

(05:19):
up or the boys backed it up with a win
against South Africa, an amazing win against India, which was
the first 1 in 20 years.

S1 (05:27):
Okay.

S2 (05:28):
Another win, another win against South Africa the next day.
And that was in the final against India, which unfortunately
we couldn't keep up our high level of cricket. But yeah. India.
India got us there and that was the first bit.
And South Africa went home. And then we played a
three match ODI series against India. And that's uh, that's

(05:49):
really where India showed their true strength. And we improved
every game. And the last game we probably had some
opportunities to, to to get the cookies, but we couldn't
we couldn't maintain our level. So yeah, India got that
three zero over us.

S1 (06:04):
Well I guess if we beat them once, I guess
it shows that we can beat them.

S2 (06:07):
Exactly. Right. And that's that's exactly one of the messages
we've had for the players is that you've done it once.
You're much closer than what you think you are. And
I think that definitely showed in that last game where
where there was a real feeling that we can we
can get these guys. So for the future and for
the future champions Trophies and world championships, that's something that, uh,

(06:28):
will take, take a long of course.

S1 (06:30):
Uh, we know through, uh, other cricket and other interviews
that the NCIC is a big event that's held every
year in Australia. Now, I guess that's where you kind
of choose your, uh, pool of players from from as
far as the Australian team go.

S2 (06:43):
Correct. And there is not a great group of of
eligible players for this program as, as I alluded to earlier.
But the NCIC that's been going on for the last
few seasons is definitely the biggest opportunity for us to
see all the players in action. We try to follow
them in their state competitions, and we're building a system
where we have a bit more contact with them throughout

(07:05):
the year. We obviously know where they all play and
so we keep we keep tabs on that. But yeah,
the NCIC is most definitely the biggest opportunity to see
all the players in one go in a week where
they all play T20 against each other.

S1 (07:19):
Yeah. Well, we were put on to you by Jess
O'Reilly from Cricket Australia. So it sounds like you're kind
of that under that umbrella, like say, blind cricket and
cricket for athletes who are the intellectual disability. So you're
all sort of coming under the the bigger picture of
Cricket Australia. Would that be fair to say?

S2 (07:34):
Absolutely, yes. Yeah. We wear the same outfits with the
same gear. We've got similar support. Not sure if you
followed any of the social media, but the Cricket Australia
socials were full of our tours as well. So we're
very grateful that that there's such an inclusive environment at
Cricket Australia to to support this program and to give
it the attention it gets and needs to grow in

(07:56):
the future.

S1 (07:56):
Yeah, but is it fair for me to ask you
who played well for Australia? Do you want to single
some players out or is that a bit unfair?

S2 (08:03):
No no no no no that's not that's not unfair
at all. I think the good thing about this team
is that we've had a lot of contributors who played
a role in certain games. Um, we've had Tom Robertson
from uh, Regional Victoria, who who was the player of
the series at the end of the tournament? He bowled

(08:23):
extremely well. Um, we didn't expect the wickets to be, uh,
pace bowler friendly, but, um, he's one of our pace
bowlers and he took a lot of wickets. I made
it pretty tough for the better. So he was one
that stood out. We had young Nick, uh, Mani from
the Gold Coast. Uh, I think he scored a match
winning innings, um, in one of the games. And then

(08:43):
he's a big hitter and bowls of heavy ball as well. Nick.
Nick button from Chinchilla in Queensland. He was also, uh,
very productive with the bat. So we've actually had a
few players that that contributed really well. Lewis Beard from
New South Wales got his first 50 for Australia in
a really crucial time. So wickets were taken and runs

(09:05):
were made. And then the good thing is that we
kind of spread it out and that's kind of the
strength of our team at the moment.

S1 (09:11):
What about next year? What happens now as far as. Well,
both the Australian team goes and I guess the players
that have represented Australia I guess. Well of course we're
coming into the winter in Australia now aren't we.

S2 (09:22):
Yes, correct. So this program is consistent at the moment
of of an annual annual event, whether it's a World
Cup or a bilateral series, as well as the NCIC,
I guess, and a training camp. So we don't get
to spend a lot of time with the players. But
we really in the process of building something where we
have a bit more contact with the players, and we're

(09:45):
asking the players to to keep up their fitness and
to keep bowling a few balls over winter and to
to keep hitting balls because as they can see and
as they've experienced, we're not that far off from the
better countries and with a bit more skill in our
game going forward, I think we can yeah, we can.
We can rise up to where deaf cricket was a

(10:06):
while ago. So we're well on our way and and
all the players will go back to their own states and,
and do what they do. And yeah, we'll hope to, uh,
keep in touch with them and then keep progressing their
skill work.

S1 (10:18):
It sounds like cricket is in very good hands with
the coach like you at the helm.

S2 (10:22):
I appreciate that, I appreciate that, thank you.

S1 (10:24):
Well, I've got a bit of passion and uh, certainly
vested invested in the, in the game, which is tremendous. Yeah. Congratulations.
Thank you for speaking to us. First a win over
India for quite some time and also uh, beating South
Africa which is always good news to, uh, talk about
wins but also about the cultural experience. I look forward
to speaking to you again in the future and following, uh, the, uh,

(10:44):
the fortress of our deaf, uh, a deaf Australian cricket team.

S2 (10:48):
Likewise. And thank you for the opportunity, Peter.

S1 (10:50):
That's that's great. That's a job. Van Bunge, a coach
of the Australian deaf team just back from maturing India.
Sounds like it's pretty successful and well done to all
those involved. And I'm sure we'll talk more in the future.
Well the big adventure in the week called by God
Dogs assignment there was David Brown. David, great to meet you.

(11:14):
Thanks for your time.

S4 (11:15):
You're welcome.

S1 (11:15):
Pete, how'd the event go? Of course. Uh, a few
dogs graduated. Uh, a few were retired. A lot were
kind of recognized.

S4 (11:22):
Yeah, it was quite a number. Um, I think there
was about ten on the retirement list from memory. Five
graduations and, um, and a few puppies and things involved
as well. It's quite a nice evening, actually.

S1 (11:33):
And I know there's an ambassador dog, also a name,
which is pretty cool.

S4 (11:37):
Yeah, it was an ambassador dog and a facility dog there. Yeah.
As always, we had those big guide dog events. They
always had, um, dogs there to help people understand a
little bit more about what's involved.

S1 (11:47):
So tell us a bit about your story. You're on
your second guard dog now.

S4 (11:51):
I am, yeah. I, um, retired my, um, my previous
guard dog, Corey. I got him into 2016 start of 2017,
and I had him for, um, working with me for
eight years or thereabouts. And he retired in August last year,
and I got grabbed by new guard dog in late
July last year and trained with him whilst I kept

(12:13):
Corey operational. And then once graduated with me, um, Corey was,
you know, retired. And then last night was the official
graduation and retirement.

S1 (12:22):
What was that like? Kind of, uh, pardon the expression
a bit. Juggling two dogs at the one time.

S5 (12:27):
Oh, look, I've got three dogs in my house. We
had a pet labradoodle.

S4 (12:32):
And, uh. Yeah. Look, the dogs are.

S5 (12:35):
Easy.

S4 (12:36):
It's looking after.

S5 (12:37):
Them.

S4 (12:37):
There's a bit of emotion, um, and a bit of, um,
I suppose, a bit of sadness when you retire a
guide dog and then move on to a new one.
And that's a that's an interesting time because I think
you can to I use the word anthropomorphises the, the
feelings of the dogs. Um, you know, my when, um,

(12:59):
my dog Corey retired and I get out with my,
with the harness and ready for Grant to go off
to do something for the day. And Corey jog up
and ready to go. Dad. No, mate. Not today. You know,
it's a bit sad, actually. I talked about that a
little bit last night, and I think I might have
jerked a few tears out of people because it actually,
it's funny when I reflect on it, it does create

(13:21):
a bit of emotion, and it's something that I think
it's bittersweet because you appreciate the dog that you've had
for a long time, but you know that it's time
for them to retire and you know that, you know,
to keep them going is particularly good for them. So
but then you could be feeling it. I'm literally letting
them down because they're not doing what they always want
to do. But as I reflected on last night, I said, look,

(13:43):
you know, really, you give them something to eat and
a and a treat for doing the right thing and
staying at home. And you still do lots of things
with them as pets. Anyway, we kept Corey as a pet,
so it's fine. But you know, it's just that time
when you it's difficult and it's hard to describe, but
it's a little bit of a a little bit of
a lost feeling, I suppose, when they go through that

(14:03):
process description.

S1 (14:06):
Because if you're working with a guide dog one day,
then sort of shortly after you take up with the
new one, like in terms of, uh, their experiences and
your relationship with them, how does that kind of go?

S4 (14:17):
You know, at one point there I was training with
Grant was a brand new guide dog. So he'd been trained,
but he hadn't graduated, so he hadn't worked with me
for long enough for us to be an operating team.
So we both had to go through the motions and
all the training and make sure that we're working well together.
So it's all of that. So you're bonding with the
new dog, and then at the same time, if I

(14:39):
had things to do then I, you know, that weren't
training trying. Related. I couldn't take the non graduated dog
if you like. So the new dog out to work
with me. If I had to go to the shops
or whatever. So Eric and Corey might, you know, the
retiring guy dog and I work the M5 operating with
two dogs. It's not that much different. Um, well, it
wasn't in my experience. And, um, I'm very, very lucky.

(15:02):
Corey was an excellent dog, and Grant is also an
excellent dog. So the different one walked a little bit
faster than the others, a little bit more the younger
guys a little bit more feisty. And Corey's very stoic
and very, you know, measured in his approach to everything. Um,
Grant's a little bit more, you know, you can imagine
he's like a teenager and Corey's a, you know, a

(15:23):
retiring old chef. So there's that difference between them. But
they still obey the same commands. They still know what
to do. You just have to be mindful that, you know,
they're different animals and they had different personalities. You know,
I suppose I didn't really find it that difficult, but
it was. Yeah, there was some differences there. So, um, yeah,

(15:43):
particularly in the speed of operation. I think the thing
that I'd say was probably the, the main thing that
I dealt with.

S1 (15:51):
Yeah, they're going to be a little bit presumptuous and guess,
but I'm thinking that Guide Dogs is saying and he
probably thought that you were capable enough to be able
to manage that, if I can put it that way.

S6 (16:00):
Yeah. And look, I returned.

S4 (16:01):
To Adelaide after 20 years away. I moved near Canberra, um,
for 20 odd years, and, um, I had I got
Corey when I was over there from Guide Dogs, New
South Wales, when I came back to Adelaide, cut a
long story short, I came back with a dog that
was nearly ready to retire. So what I did, I
contacted Guide Dog here and said, look Tractoring my dog

(16:23):
over from New South Wales, can you come and help
me with some orientation? You know, as they do. And
they were terrific with that. And I said, and you
know what? I'm going to need a new dog in
the next 12 months. How about we do an assessment?
They were terrific, you know. Of course they they were
very keen to do that. So they, they'd worked with
me a little bit and saw me operating with Corey.
They knew I was a pretty high functioning handler, and

(16:47):
I walk a lot of miles every week, so. Or
kilometers we say these days, I do a lot of
a lot of distance. Like today, for example, this morning alone,
Grant and my labradoodle and I, who walked with us,
I have him on a strap around my waist. This
is how good the relationship is between my dogs. We
have walked 12km this morning.

S1 (17:07):
Jeez.

S4 (17:07):
You know. So yeah, it's a pretty it was a
pretty decent walk. I had my daughter on the phone.
We were talking about some stuff, and, you know, we're
on this meandering along and the dogs are cruising along.
We're doing our thing. And so God knew that I
had fairly high usage of my dog. And I do
lots of things walk with Beyond Blindness every week. And I,

(17:27):
I tend to keep myself pretty fit and active. I
use public transport, all that sort of stuff. And I
do travel sometimes. So planes, trains. Corey's been on ferry
the whole lot, you know. And so they knew that
I knew how to handle a dog. So when they
transition you to a new dog, they they match you
to the dog that they think's going to work with you.
You get an interview, of course, they talk to you

(17:49):
about your life changes since you got your first dog
and all that sort of stuff. And so they match
you with a dog. And, um, I got all the questions,
and you know what I was saying to the ABC
earlier this week, I don't think I would have cared
what sort of personality they got as long as the
dog could keep up. Because the dogs tend to want
for you and their Labradors, they're all nice. They're all

(18:10):
just a little bit different. And I think in terms
of functionality, they knew that I could handle the dog.
And in that way as well, it meant that my
my training the second time around was a lot shorter.
I didn't need as much training to handle the dog.
It was more to get the dog used to working
with me and getting used to the routes and all
that sort of stuff that we, you know, the regular

(18:31):
things that you do like going to the shops, going
into town, catching the bus, you know, those sort of things,
going to the dog part very important. And so yeah.
So they knew all that. And so matching was pretty easy.
So I, I think late June they told me we're
going up to Queensland. We found a dog we think
will be a good match. Fingers crossed. Well they got

(18:52):
back and by the end of July Grant was at
my house. So how good is that you know. Yeah.
So I'm very, very grateful to them. They're a terrific organization,
terrific people. And um, I feel really supported in that regard.
But yeah, you're right. There's there's a lot goes into it.
And um, and different people have different levels of training.

(19:12):
So we're all different. And our, our thought experience, as
you know, is also very different. I've got a little
bit of vision and sometimes it's a little bit better
than others. If the light's good, I might even be
able to see the curb ten feet in front of me.
You know, some people can't do that and some people
can see a little bit further. So that's how it goes.
And the thing about Grant, if he gelled with me
really quickly. So we were we were, Well, I hate

(19:35):
to say it, but probably taking shortcuts, you know, taking
some of the shortcuts you'd take with a more experienced
dog a little bit quicker than you would with a
new dog. Things like, I'll give you a quick example,
but every time five when you're turning right, when you're learning,
you stop and you make a formal right hand turn,
which is, you know, be an indication moving your feet

(19:56):
around and waving your arms around, things like that. When
you experience with your dog, it's fine, right? And the
dog would just do it, you know? So that stuff
was a little bit quicker because Grant is with me
really quickly. I think it's probably because I had a
bit of confidence as well. So that's helpful. Overconfidence is helpful.

S1 (20:15):
Grant says that a day at a time this time,
but fascinating. Thank you for spending a bit of time
with us. I've really enjoyed and appreciate it.

S6 (20:22):
You're more than welcome, Tia. Thank you very much for
your time, Steve.

S1 (20:25):
That's David Brown, who graduated with Grant yesterday along with
a number of other guide dogs from Guide Dogs SA
and NT.

S7 (20:33):
During elite company listening to Leslie here on Australia radio, radio, radio,
radio.org and through the TuneIn radio app.

S1 (20:43):
Well, certainly an event with the difference happened a few
days ago. To tell us more about it, we've got
Sarah McGowan. The event was to raise money for Rare
Cancers Australia, and she was going to share a bit
of time with us. Sarah, thanks so much for your
time and thank you for speaking to us.

S8 (20:57):
Oh my pleasure, Peter, thanks so much.

S1 (20:59):
How are you going? Uh, a few days after the event. Uh,
still catching your breath?

S8 (21:03):
Yeah, absolutely. Muscles are definitely a little bit tender and, um,
a little bit worn out. Um, the walk was a
little harder than I had imagined, but, um. But, yeah,
definitely got to the top with absolute glee. And, uh,
the downhill was definitely much easier than on the way up.

S1 (21:20):
Okay. I've heard often that the downhill can be a
little more dangerous, because I guess you're kind of a
bit more relaxed. And, you know, you kind of think, well,
that's that's the achievement done. So, uh, you got to,
you know, sort of keep your, uh, heightened awareness up
all the way down.

S8 (21:33):
Yes, that's true. I think it probably had more to
do with the number of times I stopped for snacks
and enjoying the view. That's perhaps why it was a
bit easier for me.

S1 (21:43):
Well, I think you're quite entitled to do that. And
as we mentioned, you did it for Rare Cancers Australia.
You happy to share a little bit of your story
with us? I believe you've been living with your diagnosis
for quite some time.

S8 (21:54):
Yeah. Yeah that's right. I, um um, so actually just
on the weekend just, uh, turned 47, but, um, I've
been living with gastrointestinal stromal tumors, which is a type
of ray cancer since I was 18 years old. So
my entire adult life has been navigating cancer treatment and

(22:15):
trying to stay on top of the disease. Unfortunately, the
there has never there hasn't been a cure. And they
haven't quite worked out the cure yet. Um, but a
whole range of treatments to, to slow progression or stop
progression for periods of time. So, um. So being a
rare cancer, I think presents a whole range of different

(22:37):
challenges to perhaps more common cancers. Although, of course, all
cancers are horrendous in, in all cases. Um, um, but yeah,
it has been a very, very long haul. But, you know,
I also appreciate that I'm one of the fortunate ones
that am still alive to be fighting and navigating such
a relentless disease.

S1 (22:58):
You said a rare cancer. Was it difficult to have
it diagnosed with a sort of telltale signs that things
weren't quite right? And I mean, you know, obviously at
18 you kind of think, well, my whole life's ahead
of me. Uh, you know, I it shouldn't be happening
to me.

S8 (23:09):
Yeah. That's right. I've actually had three years of just
feeling unwell and chronic anemia, and my parents just kept
taking me to different doctors and getting second opinions. Third opinions.
And at one stage, they thought maybe I might have
had lymphoma, but they weren't sure about that. And it
wasn't until they did exploratory surgery, because I'd had a

(23:31):
major internal hemorrhage that they found over 50 tumors in
inside my small bowel. So, um, that was a definitely
a pivotal moment in my life. It was six months
into uni of primary school teaching. Three. And, uh, yeah.
So so it was at that stage I had just
turned 18 and was at, you know, what should have

(23:53):
been the beginning of a, um, a fairly carefree, um,
and adventurous time. But, um, had my wings clipped a
little bit with, with just the burden of managing the disease.

S1 (24:05):
What about your quality of life now, Sarah? What's that like?

S8 (24:07):
My life has been action packed and wonderful with tremendous quality, um,
in so many ways, but, um, but it's definitely different
to the life of someone who has, um, who's more healthy,
I guess, you know, every week, month, year. We have

(24:28):
different checkpoints to navigate. Have the tumors grow and if so,
how much is the emerging treatments working? How long will
they work for? So that is my normal. That has
been my normal since I was 18. Um, I'm fortunate
enough that I met a my fabulous husband when I was, um,

(24:48):
probably about 3 or 4 years into my disease, and
he was willing to take, take me on and everything
that came the complexities with it. Um, because my prognosis
when diagnosed was around about 12 months.

S1 (25:01):
Wow.

S8 (25:02):
Um, and so we everything in my entire adult life
has been that sense of living on borrowed time. But, um,
I guess because of that, we seize every opportunity we
can to live life as full as we possibly can.
When my health is in reasonable shape and then store

(25:23):
up the energy to then navigate Eight weeks like this
week where I'm, um, in the midst of radiation treatment,
where the focus is just getting through, getting through the treatment.
And I'm fortunate to have a village of people that
can then just support us and help with food and
transport and all the difficult things that that come with

(25:43):
managing a complex disease.

S1 (25:46):
I think that probably says a lot about the person
you are, though. It had that sort of village helping
you out. That's kind of, uh, testament to, uh, to
you and your character and, and I guess the, the
good stuff that you give off, if I can put
it that way.

S8 (25:58):
Oh, that's lovely of you to say.

S1 (26:00):
Yeah, obviously you get it for Rare Cancers Australia, I
guess kind of almost by definition because it's a rare cancer.
The research going on in those sort of cancers is
probably less than, you know, the more well known cancers.
Is that a kind of a bit of an issue
as well?

S8 (26:14):
It sure is. Um, it can be grueling and somewhat
heartbreaking to watch the speed for rare cancer diseases and treatments.
When I was diagnosed, there was no treatment, no cure,
and which was where my 12 month prognosis has come from.
Over probably the first 15 years of my disease, I

(26:37):
hadn't met another single person who had the same disease
as I had. So navigating that is quite difficult, and
just someone to be able to understand what you're going through.
And perhaps, yeah, I guess getting that support. Um, there
are I think what is reassuring in, you know, in

(26:58):
particularly in the last 10 to 15 years is the
development of research in genomics, which, um, gives I think
so many cancer patients hope that there's a just will
be a, that they will work it out. Eventually we
will all find out how the tumours are. Um, you know,

(27:21):
how they're growing, how they're growing, how we can target
treatment so every single person can get the treatment that
they deserve. Whereas at the moment, with the current way,
that funding structure that, um, for research and for treatment,
there is a huge inequity between having a rare cancer
and a more common cancer.

S1 (27:42):
So what about the kind of complementary side of things,
just in terms of the dietary complementary medicine meditation, that
kind of, uh, non-medical sort of stuff, are you much
into that? And B does it make much difference? And
like I say, do you even believe in it?

S8 (27:58):
Look, I, you know, I think from a personal point
of view, I know that from my wellbeing, my mental health,
eating well, staying active, um, makes me feel better. There's
no question about that. Improves my quality of life all around.
I've also been involved in clinical trials where, uh, there's
been evidence that the effectiveness of treatments have been improved

(28:20):
Moved by physical activity and high intensity workouts so that
without a doubt, um, so so so I embrace. I'm
at the gym three times a week and I'm really
hard on staying fit, eating well, and then more broadly,
you know, meditation and, um, all the, all the allied

(28:41):
health professionals I lean on tremendously, um, to climb Mount Kosciuszko.
It was exercise physiologist, dietitian nutritionist, physiotherapist. There's a whole
team just to try and help me get up the mountain. And,
you know, just meditation and mindfulness. I think, um, benefits
everyone in society just to try and, you know, face

(29:02):
the challenges, face the challenges that, that, that everyone faces. I,
I think what does frustrate me sometimes is that just
because you have, um, the complexities of cancer doesn't mean
you still don't get pressures of paying the bills or
getting stuck in traffic or, you know what? Am I
going to cook for dinner? All of those ones are

(29:22):
still there. So, you know, I find that, you know, um,
that mindfulness and meditation is, is really helpful, um, in
moments like that.

S1 (29:31):
So you talked about enjoying it on the way down.
What was it like when you actually got to the top?
And I said your husband was with you? I think, uh, other, uh,
or friends and family with you as well when you
got to the top.

S8 (29:41):
Yeah. So I've climbed a few times before this particular walk,
my husband and I, we walked together, uh, so we
have a, um, 18 year old son who has walked
with us in the past. Uh, he finished school last year, and, um,
has just started a new job. So we said, you know,
focus on that. And we climbed up the mountain together,

(30:04):
and it was wonderful. It was it was it was
definitely the hardest work I've done compared to the previous
because I because of my previous surgery and just being
in recovery and silly enough to tear my ACL and meniscus.
Won't be here for Christmas time, but that was just
playing beach cricket with the family, so that was purely self-inflicted.

(30:25):
But yeah, climbing to the top, especially with 700 other
people who were there for the same cause, for the
same reason that they were they were there, you know,
huffing and puffing and and fighting as hard just for
all of the patients. You know, I felt like I
was walking. Yes. For me and, and our family, but

(30:48):
more so for the patients who are no longer with
us or the, you know, tens of thousands of patients
who are just not well enough to, to walk themselves.
So just being able to be a patient, walking amongst
so many people who, you know, whether they're in pharmaceutical
industries or other community groups or other families, um, you know,

(31:09):
just being in a space where everyone was united for
such an important cause is energizing and Gives me hope
as a patient, and I got many messages from other
other patients with the same disease from around Australia that, um,
felt buoyed and, um, felt the gratitude of, um, so

(31:29):
many people fighting and, um, working so hard to try
and improve the system that we currently have just to
make it more fair.

S1 (31:36):
There are it's been a delight to speak to you.
Thank you so, so much for spending some time, particularly
given the fact you're also going through treatment and recovering
from the climb, climbing for a cause. If people want
to find out more, I guess the Rare Cancers Australia
website is a good place to go if they'd like
to help out. Is that, uh, is that a good
starting point?

S8 (31:53):
Yeah. That's right. The, um, the team at Rare Cancers
Australia are a remarkable group of people, and they've got
an amazing new website that, um, is really full of
information about how they can, uh, support the organisation or how,
if they're a patient, how they can access, uh, support themselves. Um,
and they've also got, um, um, support lines as well

(32:16):
that you can call up. And I think what's, what's
so remarkable about them is that, you know, as a patient,
when you call up and they have thousands and thousands
of patients that phone up, they just, um, they're always there.
And they'll, they, they'll, they'll help in any way they can,
whether it's navigating you to, you know, a range of
different supports or even just listening or if you're, um,

(32:40):
you know, needing financial support to, to, to fund treatment.
They're just a remarkable organisation that are just there to
support people in every possible way. So their website's a
great place to start. And you can pick up the
phone and have a chat. That's the best way.

S1 (32:57):
We'll put those details up there. Show notes. Sarah, it's
been a privilege speaking to you. Congratulations for what you're doing,
and we wish you well.

S8 (33:04):
Wonderful. Thank you so much. And thanks for for for
giving us time for such a, um, an important cause
close to our heart.

S1 (33:11):
That's inspiring, isn't it? That's Sarah McGauran McGowan, who just
recently took part in the climbing for a cause. Getting
right to the top of Mount Kosciuszko.

S9 (33:20):
Hi, I'm Gemma Finlayson, a silver medalist in boccia in
the Paris Paralympic Games, and you're listening to Leisure Link
with Peter Greco on the Vision Australia radio network.

S1 (33:39):
For the autumn equinox has just happened. Someone who brings
more than just balance to our lives is Alison Davies
from Alison Davies. Commu. Ali, lovely to speak to you again.

S10 (33:49):
Thank you so much, Peter.

S1 (33:51):
Now, at last time we spoke to you, you talked
about ageing voices and my kind of take home message
from that was kind of, um, you know, enjoy the
fact that you're ageing. It's part of the natural cause.
But towards the end of it, we started talking about
we started reminiscing about some of the concerts that we'd
been to of, shall we say, mature age performers. And
you said what would be a good topic for next

(34:12):
time is what happens to us at concerts. So over
to you, Ali.

S10 (34:17):
Okay, so I think this really is I'm so pleased
that former me suggested this topic because Future Me or
Present Me is very happy. It's really, really important to
understand that when we go to a concert, if we're
in the crowd, we are having equally as musical and
experience as the famous musician on the stage. So when

(34:40):
we are, music is an experience, not a skill. So
when we are experiencing music together collectively, especially at a concert,
because whether it's a small, intimate concert or an arena,
you have people collectively having this experience together. It is
so regulatory for our nervous system. It feels so safe

(35:01):
to feel connected with other people in a way that
you know you're complete strangers, but you're having an experience
that matches when you're at a concert. You can look
around and make eye contact with people and know that
you're having a experience together. Do you know what I mean?

S1 (35:16):
Yeah. So even with the crowd kind of joins in
with the chorus or something.

S10 (35:20):
Yeah. I mean, it's similar to if you're at a
football game or something if that's your thing. And well, actually,
there are similarities to this because picture yourself at a
sporting event and everybody's singing the sporting team song.

S1 (35:32):
Yeah.

S10 (35:32):
Anthem. There's a shared connectedness in that. You don't have
to be good at singing. You don't have to be
able to sing it in pitch or anything. The the
expectation is you are part of a community and we're
all chanting this thing together because we have a shared
connection of love, admiration, passion for this team or whatever
it might be. So all of a sudden, there's no

(35:55):
musical expectations on you. It's just a you are part
of this, you are part of this community, and every
voice is welcome. It's like that at a concert when
we go to a concert and we sing along and
we clap and we sort of dance in our seats,
or however we might mosh in the mosh pit. There's
no expectation of us to be doing it a certain

(36:15):
way in that moment. We're expressing ourselves musically without there
being a standard that we have to meet. It liberates us.
It's very liberating. It's very freeing because we are all
humans are musical, but there are certain environments where we
feel like we have to be good enough at it
to be part of it, but going to a concert

(36:38):
is not one of those times. When we go to
a concert, we can express ourselves musically in the audience
and know that that that's okay, that it's safe, that
there's no, uh, focus on how good we are at
it or not. And so even though the person on
the stage is the musician, uh, quote unquote, that we've

(36:58):
come to see who has the skills that make them,
you know, so amazing they are sharing in the same
experience as us. We're all collectively equal. And that's one
of the things I love about going to a concert.

S1 (37:15):
You are so insightful. Because actually, just in the last
few weeks, we've had the Adelaide Fringe Festival on, and
one of the things about the Fringe Festival is invariably
they hold it very sort of, shall we say, boutique
venues and very small crowds compared to, say, an entertainment
centre or even an outdoor concert. And I went to
a couple and one of them there was probably sell out.

(37:36):
There was 100 people. I know that for a fact.
Or that was the capacity and it was sold out.
And another one, I guess there would have been maybe
25 to 30 people at it. And the atmosphere, understandably,
was different. And I even like feeling the connection with
the performers was different. So that's that's quite an incredible
comment that you made. And, you know, sort of, uh,
so timely given what just happened to me in the

(37:58):
last few weeks.

S10 (37:59):
Yeah. And isn't it a welcoming feeling? It makes you
feel like, oh, um, I've been part of something more
than just a gig or just I've been part of.
You go home feeling soothed and like you belong, because
that that is how a musical performance impacts our nervous system.

(38:20):
So when we go to a gig or a concert,
we're hearing melody and rhythm and all other elements of
music and those, they do things to our brain, you know,
they inform our brain. They tell our brain how to
inform our body, how to move. They help us release
and express and move emotion. So when we go to

(38:41):
a concert, we will feel things and the feeling of things.
It doesn't have to be drastic, you know, but we
still feel lots of feelings at concerts and that releases
emotion from our body so that our body is lighter
and then our brain feels safer. And it just has
such a snowball impact on what's happening from a regulatory perspective.

(39:01):
And that feeling lasts long after the concert, so it
will help our sleep that night. Well, it depends what
kind of concert we've been to. We may be wide
awake and not slept that night. However, it will increase
our capacity to cope with triggers or difficult things that
pop up the next day and maybe the next day.
And it will. It will help us feel lighter and
able to cope with emotional baggage or burdens or triggers

(39:26):
throughout the week. Because the act of going to a
concert removes emotion from our body so we have more capacity.
So there's all these invisible things happening that we don't
really know about. So going to a concert, even if
it's a small one in your town hall, in your
very small town, you're having the same regulatory impact as
if you were, you know, going to something huge and

(39:50):
epic and very therapeutic.

S1 (39:52):
Invariably, we go to a concert because we like the artist.
Sometimes maybe you might be dragged along by someone because
they haven't got anyone else to go with, or you
got to come along and see this person or this group,
this band, this orchestra, whatever. What if you kind of
don't like it? I mean, you talked about, you know,
if you can connect and the, the whole, uh, crowd
is like into it, as it were. What if it

(40:15):
doesn't quite do it for you?

S10 (40:16):
Well, this happened to me once. I went to see
the band America. Oh, you know them?

S1 (40:22):
Sister Golden.

S6 (40:23):
Hair.

S10 (40:24):
Been through a desert on a horse with no name.
And I went to the concert and I couldn't stay
in there. And it wasn't because of them, but it
was because of the sound. And it was probably because
of where I was sitting and the speakers. But found
was just like sensorily overwhelming for me. And I didn't
know I was autistic back then and I didn't know

(40:44):
I had, um, auditory difficulties. And so I just left
and waited out in the foyer, and I listened to
it through the foyer, and then the sound was much
easier to cope with. So whatever your needs are, I
think being accountable for your needs. If you are at
a concert and you're like, oh, I don't like this,
this is making me feel annoyed. This is making me

(41:06):
feel stressed. This is making me feel whatever word it
is that's uncomfortable for you. It's okay to leave. And
it's not always a reflection on the artist. And it's okay.
You don't have to feel like you're offending someone because
self-accountability for our needs is a really, really responsible thing
that a lot of us don't actually know we are

(41:28):
able to do. So yes, it's okay to leave a
performance if it's making you. If you're feeling things that
aren't comfortable at.

S1 (41:36):
That point, you do make because sometimes, you know, obviously
for whatever reason, the quality of the audio is better
at some concerts than others. And as you quite rightly
point out, it depends on, you know, where you land
as far as your seat goes.

S10 (41:48):
Absolutely. And it genuinely isn't. It's not like if you leave,
people are going to think, I don't like that person
or I don't like that band. It doesn't have to
be a judgement call. It's just like if you can
be neutral about just doing what you need to do
to feel safe and feel, you know, soothed and all
the things you want to feel, then leaving a concert

(42:10):
that doesn't feel good is just, um, neutral. Like just
a a basic part of taking care of yourself. And
it doesn't have to mean that you're being, like, petty
or I think I'm too good for this or I
can't waste my. I bought the tickets, so it's a
waste of money. Like even if you've bought the ticket,
you're going to want to feel good rather than feel

(42:31):
bad at the end of it. So it's okay to leave.
It's okay to do what you need to do.

S1 (42:35):
Cut your losses in a sense. Uh, we're talking obviously
what we've been talking. I've been thinking more about sort
of pop concerts, rock concerts, etc. what about, say, uh,
an orchestral performance or an operatic performance? Something a little more, uh,
shall we say, uh, more mellow?

S10 (42:52):
Uh, well, the same thing. But the thing about sort
of classical or orchestral music, is it, by the nature
of that kind of music, it's so repetitive that it's
going to, like, really soothe you. So I mean, all music,
by the nature of being music, has elements that will
impact our brain in lots of positive ways for the

(43:14):
most part. Most music does that. But classical is one
of those real like this is definitely. It's like a lullaby.
It's so soothing because of the repetition and because usually
in classical music and orchestral music, the melody goes up
and down as if it's on ladders. It doesn't bounce
all the way around the place like jazz, which can

(43:34):
sometimes feel confusing. But then it also comes down to
your individual musical profile. So you might be someone who
has had an experience with classical music that has been
part of a trauma or something like that. So wherever
you are and whatever situation you're in, if it is
not safe for you, it's okay to leave. I mean,

(43:56):
classical music is definitely used as lullabies, and it's definitely, um,
one of the things that we know, there was a
whole book written on it, The Mozart Effect, which is
about using Mozart to support brain. And a lot of
the science in that was debunked. But also, I think
there were the signs was probably a bit problematic. And
I think there's still a lot in that, that theory
that classical music can support your brain to function at

(44:18):
its best. But still, if it's bringing up stuff for you,
and that's like everybody's life has had experiences that no
one else can fully understand, and everybody can potentially have
triggers with different types of music. So yeah, by all means,

(44:39):
leaving a concert if it's harmful is really, really good
for you.

S1 (44:43):
Yeah, well, it's probably better to leave early than to
stay and do more damage.

S10 (44:49):
Yeah, I would say for me personally, I love an
orchestral performance. Ah, I wish I could be one of
those people who just go and watch all the symphony
orchestras all the time.

S1 (45:00):
Well, I don't want to get too much into the weeds.
We're running out of time. But my earliest recollections of, uh,
orchestral music was actually going to the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
a number of times as a child, and I was
sort of cool, hip, happening person, but I thought I
was I was more into rock and roll, so it's
probably not quite the same for me, but that's exactly.

S10 (45:20):
See, we're all so different.

S1 (45:21):
Story for another day.

S6 (45:23):
Yeah.

S1 (45:24):
Great to catch up Alison Davies. Com.au with your website,
you've got, uh, YouTube and Instagram and all those other
cool things that people can access. Great to catch up.
We'll speak again next month.

S10 (45:35):
Thanks so much, Peter.

S1 (45:37):
Uh, that's always fun, isn't it? It's more than fun.
It's educational as well as fun. So we're learning without realizing.
We're learning. Alison Davies says there's a topic you'd like
to cover. Get in touch, and, uh, we'll ask Ali
to do it.

S11 (45:49):
You're listening to Vision Australia Radio in Adelaide on 1190
7 a.m..

S1 (45:55):
Well, for the first time, let's talk about an organization
I haven't heard of before. Salute for service. Tell us
a bit more about it. And some of the gaps
they're trying to fill. Is Mark Diplock. Mark great to
meet you. Thanks for your time.

S6 (46:06):
Yeah. Thanks for having me along, Peter.

S1 (46:08):
Tell us a bit about Salute to Service, how and
why you set it up.

S6 (46:11):
So Salute to Service has been around in the background
for a few years, but really hit the ground in
the last 6 to 8 months. We went through and
we actually identified quite a few gaps that the veterans
and veteran families are needing around the country and areas
where the support isn't probably the best. So what we
decided to do was, was step up an organization that's

(46:32):
going to be grassroots, hit the ground running and deliver good,
high quality services to those that really need the support
and have positive outcomes for those veterans and families.

S1 (46:43):
You're talking about services in all sorts of areas. I mean,
one of it is, I guess, transitioning back into things
like employment and society.

S6 (46:50):
Yeah, we've got a program called Combat to Career, which
is both for veterans who have been out for a while,
but also for those that are transitioning out of the
ADF at the moment. You know, we're seeing over this
year alone, over 7000 ADF members are transitioning from the
Defence force. And for those that are transitioning out, you know,
there's for a good majority of those that are transitioning out.

(47:12):
There's extra needs that they're requiring. They're looking at different roles.
They're looking at different jobs and trying to utilize their
skill sets that they've learnt in the military and translate
that into civilian life. So we're there to help them
and assist them with that, give them a bit of
guidance and coaching. But also we work with really high
end suppliers and employers around Australia that really value that

(47:37):
veteran work ethic, and they're happy to support the veterans
and their families.

S1 (47:41):
Well, I think Conor McPherson admire what they've done and
obviously appreciate what they've done. So I guess without being
too glib about it, it's kind of the least we
can do is kind of walk them back into either
our business or into society in general.

S6 (47:55):
Yeah, exactly. Exactly right. Um, you know, the the glamour
of defense has changed over the few years. I remember
myself being a military child or what we call a
military brat, uh, growing up with both parents in the
defense force. And, you know, it was it was a
proud thing to be in the in the military. Um,
you know, over the, over the last few years, I

(48:17):
think the, the luster and the shimmer has sort of
diminished a little bit. So it's, it's vitally important to
help those that are needing that extra bit of help
and support. But also, you know, the the skill set
that they offer, you know, back into the wider community
is fantastic. And it's second to none.

S1 (48:33):
Of course, even things like discipline and, and those sort
of skills and those sort of characteristics you have to
display to be able to serve well would be the
sort of thing that most people would welcome into their
to their business or indeed into their community.

S6 (48:46):
Yeah, definitely the, the leadership and and the ability to
think on their feet, get things done is fantastic. Unfortunately,
there is a bit of a narrative out there that
all veterans are broken and busted. Uh, which isn't true.
It isn't. It isn't correct. You know, some veterans have got,
you know, some injuries, bad knees, bad backs, bad shoulders. Um,

(49:06):
but they're still, you know, full functioning and able to
contribute to any organization or business that's out there.

S1 (49:13):
Lack is the problem made worse or accentuate is probably
a better way to say. The longer someone has served, like,
the longer they've kind of been out of regular life.
Is that that's one of the kind of challenges that
you got.

S6 (49:26):
It is one of them. Um, it's quite interesting. There's
a few particular challenges that are highlighted, and those that
are joining the Defence Force are very young, you know,
that are getting straight out of school, 17 years of age,
haven't had much life experience to then be indoctrinated into
the Defence Force where, you know from day one you're
told you know went to go to bed. Uh, how

(49:49):
to dress, when to eat, uh, and then coming out
of that life where you've got a lot of support in,
in the defense to try and then navigate, you know,
what's out there in the wider community, things like Medicare Cards,
Services Australia, and then add in complexities like an injury
on top of that, whether it be a physical or
a psychological injury. It just makes it ten times harder.

S1 (50:12):
Great point. Now you're obviously looking to, uh, beat around
a little while and sort of ramping up at the moment,
looking to kind of be a long term, quote unquote
solution to the issues that are out there.

S6 (50:23):
Yeah, definitely. We're actually opening up our first, uh, sloop
for service centre in south east Queensland over the next
four weeks. So we've we've secured a location in Woolloongabba
where we'll actually open the doors up for veterans. We'll
do a lot of stuff around that combat career, uh,
and employment services. But also we do the grassroots support

(50:45):
to for veterans as well from that location, which is
things like financial aid and financial assistance, direct financial support.
We're receiving a lot of requests for support at the moment.
You know, veterans are finding it hard with that, you know,
cost crunch of living at the moment. Plus also things
for the families as well, you know, supporting the kids
and the partners of those veterans, which is just as

(51:06):
important as supporting the veteran.

S1 (51:07):
I was going to make that point about the families
as they like, you know, partners and also children.

S6 (51:13):
Yeah, it's it's very difficult. Um, when you look at
sort of the family dynamics for somebody who's in the
Defence Force, you know, you're getting posted every two years,
so you go from one city to another, which makes
it difficult if you're in a family relationship for that
partner to have a long term career. Yeah, they're pretty
much having to upshift their life. And we see that
a major difficulties for partners of current serving to get

(51:36):
long term, really meaningful careers. But then we also see
the impact it has on kids. I remember myself, I
think I over the 12 years of schooling, I think
I went to eight different schools. Yeah, because we were
posted around, um, to each different location. Now, in saying
that like defense do help and support. Um, it's not

(51:57):
all doom and gloom. You know, a lot of those
kids I found for myself. Uh, I was it made
me very adaptable to be able to lift and shift
and and find new friends continually. But we also do
see it does affect some kids with their education. Um,
so we run education programs for those children's with tutors
and just to give them that leg up. So they've

(52:19):
got a bit more of an advantage.

S1 (52:21):
It's very comprehensive. Now, what have you got happening at
the moment? Have you got a giveaway happening at the moment?
Have you?

S6 (52:26):
We definitely do. We're quite lucky to be donated a
brand spanking new Toyota Hilux Rogue, which was fantastic. And
and we decided that it was a great way to
get the brand out, to give it away to either
a current serving veteran or a Ex-serving veteran. So with
no tickets, it's not a raffle that they've got to
buy tickets. It's pretty much they can jump on our

(52:47):
website or follow one of the posts that's on social media,
Register their details, and they're in the draw to win that.
What that has actually done for us is it's identified
for a lot of veterans, the support that what we
do provide. Salute for service. Over the last eight weeks,
we've already had over 2000 veterans around the country reach

(53:10):
out for some form of support from salute to Service.

S1 (53:13):
I guess that's kind of sad in a sense, but
also very much speaks to what you're doing and kind
of affirms that what you're doing is, is something that
is so much needed.

S6 (53:22):
Yeah, definitely. Um, we pride ourselves on the team that
we have that support. The veterans, you know, from our,
our ops managers are all veterans who have gone through
their own lived experience. So they're able to provide that
guidance and that support really directly to that veteran. And yeah,
the care team that we have in our case, coordinators

(53:43):
and case managers that really have that strong passion, uh,
to support the veteran community is is just great. Uh,
so hopefully we'll see us expand into a few new
locations over the next 6 to 12 months across the
country as well.

S1 (53:57):
I was going to ask you about that in terms of, uh,
I guess, you know, you want to well, part of
the expression, but crawl before you run and rather than, uh,
you know, bite off more than you can chew. Uh,
better to do what you're doing. Well, now and then expand.

S6 (54:10):
Yeah, definitely. And I've been in the, uh, ex-service organizational
space for the last eight years myself with other organizations.
And there is a lot of providers out there. You know,
we do see in the ex-service organization space, I think
off the top of my head, it's about 4000 other
providers around the country that do all some form of
support for the veteran community. So we're making sure we

(54:33):
have a really marked and measured approach to our expansion.
We don't want to grow and then retract, but also
we want to partner in with other organizations. You know,
there's only so much that each organization can do. But
as a collective, you know, we're pretty much unstoppable in
in that veteran space.

S1 (54:49):
It's a fantastic attitude. Mark, if people want to find
out more, as I said, you've or as you said,
I should say, you've got a website that people can
go to and also the conventional social media channels as well.

S6 (54:59):
Definitely. So people can jump on and have a bit
of a look at, um, salute for service. Org, um,
or even jump on either Instagram or Facebook. Um, and
check us out. Have a bit of a look. Um,
and also those businesses that want to support or get
involved or are looking for employees, uh, there's a pathway
for them to be able to jump on. Um, and

(55:22):
over the next couple of weeks, we'll actually fire our website,
launch our national toolbox, which is going to be one
of the largest veteran informational hubs for all veterans. Whether
you're currently serving, getting out, or your families requiring support,
there's is everything on there from information around psychology, you know,

(55:42):
physical health, psychological health. There's meditation programs, there's yoga sessions, there's, uh,
relationship programs, uh, that's been designed for all veterans all
around the country that they can access for free.

S1 (55:54):
Marc, great talking to you. We wish you well in
the future and hopefully we can speak to you again,
because this has been most enlightening. And, uh, congratulations on
all the initiatives you're undertaking.

S6 (56:03):
Thanks, Peter. Thanks for having me on.

S1 (56:05):
That's Marc Bloch there from Salute to Service. We'll put
all those details up with our show notes, but, uh,
we certainly wish them well. Filling a very important gap.

S12 (56:18):
Welcome aboard the leisure lift. Please select your floor.

S1 (56:33):
Always an absolute pleasure to welcome to the program for
our regular yoga segment. Would love to have you back
with us. Thank you for your time.

S13 (56:41):
Thank you Peter.

S1 (56:43):
What have you for this afternoon or this evening?

S13 (56:45):
Neck movement, something that's often overlooked. But people certainly do
get tight necks, particularly if you're working at a desk
or something like that, because your head is always forward
that little bit. But a lot of the time we
don't realize how tight our neck actually is. And you
can do this any time, and we work with the
breath as well, which helps to make it even more relaxing.

(57:08):
And one of the things is when you're doing them,
just move your head gently. You don't do this fast.
You're making it tighter. If you're doing it fast, it
needs to be done. And I've got about one, two, three, four,
about four here. Even if you only do one during
the day, something like that. When you're having a break

(57:29):
or something, just do some neck movements. It's very beneficial
for you. He wrote. Let's make a start here. First
of all, we're going to do some forward movements, and
this is just with your head. So shit comes straight
back in there nice and straight. Now take a breath in.
And as you breathe out, slowly bring your chin forward

(57:50):
and halfway down, pause another breath in and breathing out,
gently move your head forward and down, tucking your chin
in towards the notch at the bottom of your throat.
It doesn't matter if you can't touch it, you just
take it as far as you can then and don't
let your shoulders move forward. Keep them nice and straight
and have them dropping back and down. Now keep your

(58:12):
chin tucked in. Take a breath in and then, breathing out,
slowly move the chin towards the right shoulder. You might
not be able to reach it, but you take it
as far as you can. You feel stretching on the
left side of your neck and the top of your
shoulder as you take, depending on how much your neck
is tight, but you will feel that tightness coming in

(58:33):
is to turn the chin, and slowly you take your
breath in and slowly breathing out, come back to the
center and then you have a slight pause, and then
we take the head to the left again, breathing in first.
And as you breathe out, keep that chin down and
slowly turn your head to your left. Pause again and

(58:53):
have a breath in. And as you breathe out, bring
your chin back to the center and that's it. And
you can do that 2 or 3 times. Make sure
your shoulders don't move forward at all when you're, you know,
turning your chin around. Get them back and down. Keep
them relaxed with the chin one when you bring it
back to the center. If you're lifting your head and

(59:14):
you take the head halfway first, take your breath in
and then breathe in. Get up about halfway, and then
another breath in. And as you breathe out, straighten the
neck up so you're back to your start position. Now,
this next one would take the head back there, breathing in,
keeping your head straight. Stretch. Stretch the neck up a little.
Just a little. Not all the way. Have another pause here.

(59:37):
Let the breath out. And then as we breathe in again,
we take the breathing out. We keep the head back
towards the ceiling. Now. So you're stretching your throat here? Yeah.
Your head is back and you're stretching the throat, the
muscles around the neck there as well. And you take
another breath in and breathing out, bring your head halfway

(59:59):
back forth again. Breathe in, breathing out, bring your head
back to the center. We're turning your head to the
start position. It is, um, critical in a way. Don't
bring it back fast. It's better to take your time
bringing it back. Uh, particularly with people who are in
a year, 60 plus, perhaps, um, a bit more. Now,

(01:00:21):
where are we? Yeah, we've got a side wave. Turn again.
Head nice and straight. Make sure your shoulders are back
and down. Take a breath in. Then breathing it slowly,
turn your head to your right. Make sure that left
shoulder doesn't follow the head around. But here you pause,
then another breath in and breathing out, bring your head

(01:00:42):
back to the center again, pausing that breath in and
breathing out. Slowly turn your head to your left side
and make sure that right shoulder doesn't follow around. When
are you doing this particular one? You can bring your
arm around back behind you a little bit, and that
will make sure that your shoulder doesn't turn when you're

(01:01:03):
turning your head. Okay. So, um, and you keep that
arm relaxed and then again, you keep that breath in
and bring your head back to the center. So you
go to the right side first, and then you go
into the left side. And you can repeat that 2
to 3 times. And as I said, you know, if
you cut your arm just behind your back comfortably there.

(01:01:25):
When you turn your head, that makes sure that that shoulder,
If you're turning the head to the right and make
sure the left shoulder doesn't come forward and try and
follow you around. Now the next one is ear to shoulder. Now,
you probably won't be able to get the ear to
your shoulder, but and again, you've got to keep your
shoulder down. You don't lift the shoulder up, so you

(01:01:47):
get it close to the ear to hear. So you
need to keep the head nice and straight until we
kick the head towards you know. So here again take
a breath in. Breathe out. Tilt the right ear towards
the right shoulder or. And breathe in and breathing out.
Bring your head back to the centre. Then you have
that slight pause again. Breathe in and as you breathe out,

(01:02:11):
tilt your head towards the left shoulder. That slight pause
and then, using incoming breath and breathing out, bring your
head back to the centre. Very simple one. And you
can again, you can repeat that three each side 2
to 3 times, Let me assure you that. Lift your
shoulders up. Yeah. Now, to finish it off. Lift your

(01:02:33):
shoulders up and place the back of her head. So
you bring your head up and back. So it's back
of the head is between your shoulders. And then you
slowly turn your head from side to side. Don't do
it fast. And is it sort of a relief, the
area that occipital part of our head. And you just
turn it slowly a few times that back to the center?

(01:02:55):
Just give your shoulders a bit of a shrug and
that's it benefits all the nerves connecting different parts of
the body with the brain must pass through the neck.
So this is a vital crossroad in the body and
should be regularly exercised. Tight neck muscles impact on the
ears and eyes, and tightening of the upper shoulder area,

(01:03:16):
and gently stretches cervical bones of the neck and stretches
the throat. Muscles and vocal chords help to ease headaches.
Very relaxing and you feel so much better in yourself
when you do these. So that's it. Very, very simple movements.
But always do it slowly. And once you got used
to these. And as I said, you breathe in and

(01:03:40):
breathe out turning your head. And you pause. Take a
breath in. And as you breathe out, I'll get people
to bring the head back to. The centre. But you
can if you can breathe slowly and fully, you can
take your head. Straight away to the other side. Always
moving slowly. So you don't don't necessarily. Have to have
that pause in the centre each time. But that's only

(01:04:02):
if you can breathe. Sort of slowly out so you're
not waking to take your head to the opposite side.

S1 (01:04:09):
I was actually doing it as you were going through it. Riva.
I was following your instructions as you were speaking.

S13 (01:04:15):
Oh, good. Peter, I like it when you do that.

S1 (01:04:17):
Nah, it was very easy to follow.

S13 (01:04:19):
It is. It's very simple. I said we tend to
Neglect that heads the neck until it's really tight. And
by doing these, make it a practice. You know, sometimes
in the morning, the way you factor what you've been doing,
you know, in the previous day, you'll wake up on
your next tired and so do them in the morning

(01:04:40):
or after work when you're back home relaxing, not doing
anything much, you can do them, you know, don't watch
the television.

S1 (01:04:49):
I needed you to remind me to. Don't go quickly.
Do it slowly because the temptation is to do it quickly.
So we need you in the background saying to just
take it slowly. We need that reminder.

S13 (01:05:02):
Yeah, that's right. It's take it slowly. Slow down. You've
been busy all day at your office or whatever work
you're doing, wherever you are. And it's a slowing down,
relaxing you. And even though we're working on the neck,
the relaxation. Relaxation comes through the whole body. But this
is the brain, and we're relaxing the brain as we're doing. um,

(01:05:23):
these movements.

S1 (01:05:24):
If people want to contact you for one on one,
how can we contact you?

S13 (01:05:29):
Uh, yes. Um, 341286096.

S1 (01:05:35):
River, you have a great month. We'll catch up after Easter.
Have a good Easter and a good month.

S13 (01:05:40):
Oh, golly, that's coming up quick for that. All right,
talk to you then, Peter.

S1 (01:05:45):
All the best, everyone. Riva. Bruce. That absolute jam. Hashtag
Campbelltown senior citizen of the year 041286096. If you want
to contact Riva. It's always great to get the latest

(01:06:08):
information in the area of accessibility and technology with the
Adjunct Professor from USC. Denise would please welcome again.

S14 (01:06:16):
Hello, Peter. Good to be with you today.

S1 (01:06:18):
Now lots happening season. Are you telling me just before
coming to where? Their 40th anniversary. So they must be
doing something right?

S14 (01:06:25):
That's true. Well, in fact, March marks the, uh, two
big events in our calendar. Uh, so we also have
Microsoft's 15th annual Ability Summit, uh, with over 20,000 attendees
from 164 countries. And we might pick up on some
of the announcements at that event at our, uh, on

(01:06:46):
future sessions together. But yeah, season, um, 40th anniversary, it
was held from the 10th to the 14th of March.
It's it's an annual event, uh, that really focuses on
the latest innovations in assistive technology. And of course, we've
come a long, a long way in 40 years, of which, uh,

(01:07:08):
we know that, um, AI is now featuring very, very
strongly in many of the, uh, product announcements and demonstrations
at CSUN this year. One of the really exciting innovations
that was, uh, demonstrated at CSUN this year is called glide.
It's available for pre-order already now. It looks like a

(01:07:32):
bike came with wheels on the bottom. Uh, and it's
a robotic device, but, uh, it is for those with, uh,
who are blind and vision impaired. Now, this is basically
a smart white cane that will take you wherever you
need to go comfortably, safely, and independently. They're in the

(01:07:55):
alpha testing stage. Uh, but they're expected to start delivering
in what would in in the fall for the US,
which I guess is around September this year. So if
you go to the glide. And Got you covered. There

(01:08:19):
are videos and demonstrations, but but essentially you walk along,
holding the ergonomic handle in one hand in front of
you at whatever pace, and it guides you steering its wheels.
It has smart obstacle detection for stationary and moving objects,
so they claim you can navigate really high traffic areas.

(01:08:40):
It has cameras and sensors so it can detect waypoints,
line of sight targets. It has a haptic handle, so
it also has that feel to it. But it also
automatically brakes when you arrive. It also, as you are walking,
audibly describes the active scene around you to keep you

(01:09:04):
updated on your environment, and you will be able to
pre map the route that you are taking so that
it already knows the direction that you need to go.
And in the demos and the videos, you can see
that it also guides people. If there are objects at

(01:09:25):
the chest level, for example a branch in the way.
So it is based on a high intensity computer vision
and sense making based on AI, which connects all active
glides and powers their ability to understand complex spaces and
guide you through them. Using real time data from their

(01:09:45):
advanced sensors to map the best routes, identify targets of interest,
and avoid obstacles. So, um, really exciting technology. It extends
to 22in in height, uh, when fully extended, but it's
a telescoping handle. Has the built in speaker microphones, Bluetooth connection,

(01:10:06):
programmable buttons. The terrain wheels have intelligent steering, power assist,
dynamic brakes. There's This stereo depth camera with 50 foot
range and near range for obstacle and cliff detection. The
rechargeable battery for six plus hours of active use and

(01:10:27):
full day on standby mode, and it can be charged
just with a normal USB-C cable and it only weighs.
This is us. So we're talking, um, pounds that only
weighs £6. Uh, it and which is a very, very
light device. So, uh, they're available. You can go to
the website and preorder already. I haven't checked on, you

(01:10:50):
know what their global delivery will look like over time, but, uh,
check it out. It's very exciting technology. So also from
CSUN demonstrated in the area of smart glasses was smart
glasses called Echo Vision, which they claim will revolutionize independence
for the blind and low vision. And I guess, again,

(01:11:12):
the Be Us, but they're available for preorder at four
for 49 USD. So they claim it's not just any
old smart glasses. It is designed with the blind. For
the blind to empower individuals to access vision information effortlessly.
Live with hands free. They are pretty cool looking glasses.

(01:11:37):
They're not chunky and ugly like the ones we've seen.
So it provides live prescription assistance. Um, so it will
describe what's in front of you. Uh, you just press
a button and receive detailed descriptions of the surroundings. And
it will work whether you're in a crowded street or
a new environment. It has hands free remote assistance, which

(01:11:58):
means you can connect to, you know, the applications we've
talked about before. Be my eyes. And there's another one
very similar to be my eyes now that was also
shown at CSUN called Aira. So that with hands free,
you'll be able to ask for a loan. Um, uh, vision, uh,
sighted people to help you. If the. I guess if

(01:12:20):
the auto generated details are not sufficient, it has seamless
text accessibility. So using your glasses, you can read mail, um,
manuals and other printed handwritten text. Obviously, that's using advanced
OCR optical character recognition technology to convert that printed text
into spoken words. And it has open air Bluetooth audio.

(01:12:45):
So being open air, of course, it doesn't stop you
from hearing other you know what you need the safety,
other cells in your surroundings. So, uh, but no one
else in the room can hear what is coming through. Uh,
those speakers as the Bluetooth audio. So they're lightweight men's
cutting edge technology with sleek, fashionable design, uh, comfortable to

(01:13:09):
wear are all day. And as you know, we've seen, um,
Ray-Ban and and meta and collaborating too. But this looks
to be, uh, one step even further ahead. And also,
there were a number of new innovations in braille displays.
Orbit reader announced a couple of different models which have, uh,

(01:13:32):
a Qwerty keyboard. And there were also Braille displays that
are multi-line. So some new devices coming on the way.
This particular one, the orbit reader, uh, can be used
standalone or connected to a computer or mobile device. It
has a book reader mode, note taking mode, uh, and

(01:13:54):
can connect up to six computers and mobile devices over
tooth or USB. It works on all, uh, pretty much
all the popular operating systems. So and some some really
good innovations coming, coming out that are out there. Sony
was also, uh, showcasing itself, fitting over the counter hearing

(01:14:15):
aids at the moment, still only available in the US,
but this is also a trend, of course, we are seeing,
which is much more affordable and less obvious as assistive
devices in that hearing aid space. And you may not, uh,
from see some, but you may also have seen the
update that, uh, Apple's AirPods Pro two are now available

(01:14:39):
in Australia, which will provide both a hearing test for
you as well as hearing aids. And they were launched
actually yesterday. So hot press, uh, and just looking at
some of the commentary from, um, National Acoustic Laboratory and other, uh,

(01:14:59):
health experts in this space, they're seeing it as a positive.
They're saying, you know, obviously they are more affordable. It
will encourage more people to seek professional help if the
hearing test indicates that they may be having problems so
they don't actually see that it will, you know, be

(01:15:20):
a competition, if you like. For the the gold standard
in hearing aids, there will be still people that will
need those. But for those that just need that additional amplification.

S1 (01:15:31):
Do they thank you for that? We'll leave it there.
We'll catch up again next month.

S14 (01:15:35):
Sounds good.

S1 (01:15:36):
Thanks.

S14 (01:15:37):
Bye.

S1 (01:15:37):
Hey, Jack. Professor from here with the Denise Wood. Or
Terry have got their next season coming up very soon.
Sounds like a fantastic show. As always. Let's chat about
it with their president, Jill Bartlett. Always great to catch up.
Thanks for your time.

S14 (01:15:54):
Oh, you're most welcome, Peter. It's always a pleasure to
speak with you.

S1 (01:15:58):
Now, you've got this great tradition, haven't you, that after
the fringe and the Adelaide Festival, you kind of come
in and keep the festival spirit going?

S14 (01:16:04):
Well, it's not just theory that does that. There's quite
a few theatre groups who cannot get their usual venues
during the fringe, so their first show for the year
is immediately following the fringe. So there's quite a few
theatre groups opening their shows in the next week.

S1 (01:16:20):
To care about their work. You don't care about the others? Yeah, well, we.

S14 (01:16:24):
Do care about.

S15 (01:16:25):
Them, but we.

S1 (01:16:26):
Do care. Yeah, that's right.

S15 (01:16:28):
Guys.

S1 (01:16:28):
That's right. Well, tell us about the show, then.

S14 (01:16:31):
Oh, this show is called Mum's Gift, and it is
a comedy. And it's a lovely little set up the story.
And I don't usually go for this sort of story.
Mum's been dead 11 months, but she comes back as
a ghost. But the only person who can see her
and hear her and talk with her is her older daughter.

(01:16:54):
Nobody sees mum, hears her, commutes with her. So mum
makes an appearance 11 months after her death at her
her husband's birthday party, and their older daughter, who's in
her 20s, has been court ordered to attend the husband's

(01:17:15):
birthday party or her father's birthday party. And it's part
of an anger management course because she assaulted a police officer.
There we have the older daughter, university educated, highly intelligent
young woman, a water engineer meeting her mother, who has
been dead 11 months, and mum has to resolve an

(01:17:39):
issue to get her ghosts wings and she doesn't know
what the issue is. And there's lots of issues in
this family. Mum. Deceased dad, two daughters, one in her
late teens, one in her late 20s and the boy
next door and the nosy neighbour. It is a very

(01:18:04):
funny tale, but there's a twist in the tale at
the end. Towards the end of the show. So it
is a comedy, but there's a bit of a heartwarming
twist in it. We're not allowed to say that it's
a South Australian premier, but it is the first time
it's been staged in South Australia. Um. Written by an

(01:18:26):
American writer, Phil Olsen, multi-award winning, um, play and screenplay writer.
And I don't think any of his plays have been
done in Australia. I should have actually, because I initially
contacted him when we found, when we saw this play
and by email, and he he of course, very nicely

(01:18:49):
referred me to the agents. But, um, the playwright has
given us permission to australianised the play because originally it
was set in in a town in the United States,
in Minnesota. But he's given us permission to australianised it.
So we're referring to AFL football and an Australian things.

(01:19:11):
And of course, we've australianised the title because the original
American title was mum spelt with an O in the middle.

S1 (01:19:18):
Yes. You said you don't normally go for this sort
of thing. So what swayed you with this?

S14 (01:19:22):
I personally don't like these ghost story type things, you know?
I just think they're way out.

S1 (01:19:30):
Okay.

S14 (01:19:30):
But this one has got so much human interest and
so much comedy in it. And the twist at the end,
I'd really, really moved me. So I just loved it.
There's just something about this story that really appealed to me,
and fortunately appealed to the other people on Ferry's committee
who read scripts, and the director wouldn't have put it

(01:19:53):
up if she didn't like it. So there we are.
We open on Thursday the third. We've got Performances on
Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m. and then over the
weekend on Saturday the fifth and Sunday the sixth, we've
got matinees at 2:00 in the afternoon, and then the
following week, Wednesday the ninth, which is Saturday the 12th.

(01:20:15):
We play each night, and then on the Saturday we
also have a 2:00 matinee.

S1 (01:20:20):
You got three matinees. You got the Sunday, Sunday, then
the following Saturday.

S14 (01:20:24):
Saturday and the Sunday of the first weekend and the
Saturday of the second weekend. And tickets are available through
try booking or if you go to the ferry website.
There's links there to the various shows that you can
book on. If you are already a subscriber, you can

(01:20:44):
ring and book and you get all that information in
your subscription booklet. But if you're not a subscriber, think
about subscribing to theory because it's excellent value. You can
buy a double subscription, including the musical, for $180. So
that's $90. Each gets you two plays and a musical. Now,

(01:21:08):
the normal price for our musical is for an adult
is $50. And for our straight plays, I think we're
now at $35. So it's a fair saving. It's a
discount about 30%. But the other thing with this year,
with buying a a subscription or every year you buy

(01:21:29):
your subscription, you can buy it with or without the musical,
but if you buy it with the musical, you're still
entitled to unlimited specially priced tickets to the musical. And
the musical this year is the beautiful and wonderful Come
From Away. Now, if you haven't seen it, it is
one of the best musicals you'll ever see on a stage.

(01:21:51):
And as a subscriber, you get unlimited tickets for $35,
so you save $15 a ticket. Your musical tickets and
you can bring friends. Give them away as birthday presents. Wow.
And of course, if you go to the website, there's
a link there to subscribe online.

S1 (01:22:10):
Joe, who's directing mum's gift.

S14 (01:22:11):
Mum's gift is directed by first time director Lucy Johnson.
She's only a young woman. I shouldn't say only. She
is a young woman with a fair bit of experience
in theatre and she has assisted others to direct. But
this is the first show she's directed, and she's doing
such a wonderful job of it, and she's got a
wonderful cast too. I don't know whether any of your

(01:22:35):
listeners will know Jenny Allard, Zoe Battersby, Jessie Corrie. She's
been in a number of ferry shows. Katie Packer and
Rodney Barton are both. They play the mother and the father.
They have both worked with ferry, but as musical directors,
they've never been on stage with us before. All right.

(01:22:55):
There's somebody new to therapy. Paul and Angela Short, who's
assistant to the director and also has a small role
as Mrs. Nora Norquist, the nosy neighbor, the nosy and
inappropriate neighbor.

S1 (01:23:10):
There's got to be one in every show, doesn't there?

S14 (01:23:12):
Yes. Yes. Look, I can recommend this to you listeners,
but if they're going to come along, please consider subscribing
because you will not regret it. Our last show for
the year is another zany comedy called I do, I do,
I do. I'll talk to you about that later in
the year. The program is certainly worthwhile, and you can

(01:23:36):
buy a single if you're a single person, or if
there's three of you want to come along, buy a
double and a single.

S1 (01:23:42):
Now, Joe, as you mentioned, you can't book online. But
if people do prefer ringing, you can do that as well.

S14 (01:23:48):
Yes you can. Uh, we I'll give you the mobile
phone number if somebody wants to pick up a pencil now.
The bookings are from 12 noon until 5:00 on Mondays
and Tuesdays, and 12 noon until late the other days,
and the number is 04192456. And I'll repeat that. 041924566.

S1 (01:24:20):
Perfect. Jill, we'll put those details up with our show
notes as well. So if people have missed that they
can check them out there. Good luck. It sounds like
a lot of fun and certainly good to keep the, uh,
the festivities rolling. So, uh, good luck to you and
the staff and, uh, good luck to you and the cast.
And also, it's great that, uh, sort of new chums
getting different roles to, uh, also, uh, show their work.

(01:24:40):
So they'll be pretty excited about, uh, a season like this.

S14 (01:24:43):
Wonderful. Thank you. Peter. Always lovely to speak with you.

S1 (01:24:46):
You, Bartlett Bear, the wonderful president of, uh, theory there.
A season of are mum's gift coming up from April
the 3rd. If you've missed those details, you can go
to our website. Or also you can check out 04192456.

(01:25:07):
Early call through from Andrew Kyprianou. Club call for April
is happening on Sunday the 13th of April. Please note.
Sunday the 13th of April for club call. Not clashing
with Easter Sunday. A quote through from Gail who quotes
Oksana masters, who was a Ukrainian Paralympian. Oksana quote is

(01:25:31):
the race of life is run better when we have
our effort with love rather than anger. So thanks very
much for sending that through. Gail from Oksana and Stacey
have sent it quite through. It's not so much a quote,
but it's something that wants to share with you. Stacey
says I call my Mike John, Jim because it sounds

(01:25:52):
so much better when I say first thing I do
when I get up in the morning is go to
the gym. So thank you, Stacy, for sending that through.
Certainly put a smile on our faces. Hopefully it did
that for you too. Birthdays before we go. Jonty O'Callaghan,
our champion Paralympian having a birthday. Also twins having a birthday.

(01:26:14):
Surprisingly enough, Brad and Wayne Kinross. Wonderful. Basketballers. Happy birthday
to you two fine gentlemen. Also, Saskia Newman having a birthday.
Captain of the Australian women's deaf football team. Of course,
the 2027 games being held in Australia and Gerard Mentis
having a birthday. Former leader at Vision Australia. That's it

(01:26:35):
for the program coming up very soon. A very happy
Vikki Cousins. The SANFL is back. So so is Vicki.
Well Vicki's always here. Doesn't go away like the SANFL does.
Vicki's here with Australian Geographics. Please stay tuned for that.
You won't regret it. Sam Rickert, thanks so much for
your help. Pam Green, thanks so much for yours. Reminding
you that Lash Link is available on that favorite podcast

(01:26:58):
platform of yours. Please tell a friend. Always room for
one more listener. Thank you so much for joining us
all being well. Let's link back at the same time
next week on Vision Australia Radio and the Reading Radio Network.
This is leisure link.

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