January 28, 2025 • 28 mins
This week we highlight All Abilities Day at the Australian Open which took place on 21 January at Melbourne Park, featuring world #1s Grace Hobbs and Ross Patterson, who caught up with Sam to chat about their experiences.
Then after Grace and Ross we hear from Liz Dalakouras, the editor of Vision Australia's fortnightly newsletter For Your Information (FYI), and Frances joins the show for a Reader Recommended.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:13):
From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's
your host, Sam Colley.
S2 (00:23):
Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And
for the next half hour, we talk matters of blindness
and low vision. For me.
S3 (00:30):
It was a game changer in terms of being able
to access tennis. I love tennis and to be able
to be introduced to a new community who have all
have vision challenges, and to be able to share our
journey just creates a new support network. So for me,
it is. Sign up, get to the next come and
try day. And if you're not sure where that is,
(00:51):
reach out to your state tennis body or Tennis Australia
and they'll be able to guide you in the right direction.
S2 (00:57):
Welcome to the program! This week we catch up with
two number ones from the blind and Low Vision in
tennis world B4 category men's and women's gold medalists Ross
and Grace, fresh from All Abilities Day at the Australian Open.
(01:18):
And then later on I catch up with Liz Dalakouras,
editor of Fooya Information, otherwise known as FII vision, Australia's
fortnightly newsletter. Before we hear from Frances Kelland with a
reader recommended and finish up with a little bit more
(01:38):
news and information. I hope you enjoy this week's episode
of Talking Vision as world number one in the B4
category of blind and low vision tennis. Ross Paterson and
Grace Hobbs are superstars in their own right. They recently
(02:02):
took part in All Abilities Day at the 2025 Australian
Open at Melbourne Park, featuring a showcase of blind and
low vision tennis recorded by channel nine to all audiences
around Australia. Ros Grace, thank you so much for your
time today. Welcome to Talking Vision.
S3 (02:24):
Thanks for having us, Sam.
S4 (02:26):
Yeah, thank you for having us.
S2 (02:27):
Now, firstly, Ros, I might start with you. How long
have you been playing blind tennis? And how did you
get into the sport?
S3 (02:37):
I started tennis at the age of 11, and that
was regular ball tennis and played a lot. It was
my dream to be a professional tennis player. That became
increasingly challenging. And probably about five years ago, I embarked
on a Google search to find if there were any
tennis options for people with low vision. I came across
(02:58):
Blind Low Vision come and try Day in Victoria. I
went to that and haven't looked back since.
S2 (03:05):
And Grace, how about you? What's the story behind, um,
how you got into tennis and how long you've been playing?
S4 (03:11):
Pretty similar. Ros. My mum had researched blind tennis, based
in Sydney, and there was a local centre near me
who had done some classes, and that was basically just
before Covid and been playing ever since.
S2 (03:25):
Okay. Wow. And Ros, I'll come back to you. And
if you're comfortable, would you mind sort of sharing which
category that you compete in in blind and low vision
tennis and also your vision condition?
S3 (03:39):
No problem at all. I have written iris pigmentosa, so
I see the world through a tunnel. I'm in the
B4 category, which means that I play with the same
ball that all the other categories do. The court dimensions
for B2, B3, and B4 are all the same. The
only difference is that I get one bounce, whereas B3
get two and B2 get three bounces.
S2 (04:01):
Okay. And Grace, I'll come to you now.
S4 (04:05):
Uh, yes. I'm also a B4 player as well, so
I'm only allowed one bounce. And I also have usher syndrome.
Which division side is written as pigmentosa?
S2 (04:14):
Okay, now I'm keen to hear about the range of
tournaments that you've both competed in over the years. Um,
including the 2024 Ibta World Championships. And, you know, Australia
has had some great success there. Um, and the two
of you are no exception, taking home gold medals yourselves. So, Ross,
(04:39):
I'll come to you. What was that like to compete
for Australia and take home those gold medals and spending
that time at, um, number one in the world and
all that sort of thing? You're sort of there to be.
Everyone's there to beat you, but you overcame that. What's
all that been like?
S3 (04:55):
It's been absolutely amazing. You dream when you're playing sport
and you're competing at a high level is to represent
your country. And last year, Grace and I had the
had the opportunity to represent Australia for the first time
at the Ipsa World Games, which is held every four years.
It's like the Olympics of blind sport. We were very successful,
both of us taking away two gold there as well.
So we've been number one in the world now for
(05:18):
well over a year. And what does it feel like?
It feels great, but you know that there are the
competitors that are training hard, are wanting to win gold
at the next international event, wanting to be world number one.
So that gives us a lot of motivation to stay focused,
to train hard. I don't want to give up that
(05:40):
spot any time in the distant future, and I'll continue
to work hard as I can. But to represent Australia
and be supported by Tennis Australia, the way we have
has been really special.
S2 (05:51):
And Grace, I'll come to you now. What's it been
like for you as somebody who is also, as Ross said,
number one in the world and taking home gold on
the world stage. That must be an amazing feeling.
S4 (06:03):
Oh it is. It's really amazing. Um, an experience to
go overseas and compete for my country and wear the
green and gold that all the other Australians get to wear. And, um, no,
it was it's been an amazing experience. And also being
able to meet other people, competitors from across the world.
S2 (06:20):
And Ross, growing up, in your wildest dreams could you
have expected to, you know, be able to travel the
world and do something you love like this? Like competing
in tennis and taking home gold medals, traveling around to
amazing places like Italy and all that sort of thing.
I guess more broadly, what's that experience been like?
S3 (06:41):
Well, it was certainly my dream when I was younger,
and then I gave up on that dream not knowing
that I had an invisible disability. To have that opportunity
now is really special and something I cherish. To be
able to travel interstate, to compete in state and national tournaments,
and to compete now internationally in places such as Literally
(07:02):
in the UK. Prior to that, we're not quite sure
where it will be this year. It's wonderful, it's life
changing and it gives us goals to aspire to and
passions outside of, perhaps. Well, for me, employment, my work
and also my family and grace.
S2 (07:21):
I'll come to you now. And what does it mean
to you to be able to live this life that
you want, and compete in tennis at an international level
and travel around and meet so many new people and
have all these lifelong, unforgettable experiences.
S4 (07:38):
Well, absolutely. It's a lot of memories that I'll remember
for the rest of my life. You know, meeting new
people from competitors across the world and learning about their
experiences of their with their vision and how they've lived
their life. Some of them work, and some of them
have travelled the world by themselves, even with their vision loss.
And it's yeah, it's an amazing it is really amazing.
S2 (08:00):
Let's fast forward a bit to just the past few
days and All Abilities Day on Tuesday the 21st of
January at the Australian Open in Melbourne Park. So, Ross,
what was that like for you heading along to All
Abilities Day, hanging out with all the wonderful crew from
(08:20):
Tennis Australia and having a hit with Grace, and also
a special guest who will mention in here as well.
S3 (08:28):
I love All Abilities Day. It was my third All
Abilities day where I've had quite a bit of involvement
and to start the day on Margaret Court with the
tennis community, showcasing the sport was a really special way
to start the day. Grace and I had the wonderful
opportunity to participate in the Dylan Alcott and Friends exhibition,
(08:49):
where we were able to share the court with some
absolutely outstanding players in the area of Paris standing deaf,
hard hearing and ID along with Dylan in the wheelie
category and then to spend the afternoon on the padel
court with Ariarne Titmus. What a genuine person. What an
inspiration in terms of the success she's had in swimming,
(09:11):
and to showcase the sport with her and to teach
her the basics was really special.
S2 (09:17):
And Grace, what was the day like for you? What
was sort of your favourite moments and all that sort
of thing?
S4 (09:24):
Well, one of my, probably one of my highlights would
have been, um, being able to play on Kia Arena
for the all ability celebrity match and being able to
play alongside some of the others who play in the
other disabilities. That was an amazing. But I think the
other one was when Ariana managed to hit a ball
on with a blindfold, and I think that was pretty impressive.
S2 (09:44):
Certainly was. And it's great to see these absolute huge
figures on the Olympic stage, such as Ariana Titmus getting
around things like blind and low vision tennis and heading
along and having those experiences and, you know, showing people
around Australia, what blind and low vision tennis is all about.
(10:05):
So that's a fantastic spectacle, I suppose you'd call it, for,
you know, blind and low vision tennis to really get
on the map and all that sort of thing. So
if people out there, you know, are perhaps umming and ahhing,
they might have a vision condition and they might thinking, oh,
am I, you know, am I good enough to go
and play a sport or I don't know if I
(10:28):
can play tennis or I don't know if my vision
will hold up or I don't know if you know
this is the right thing for me. What sort of
message would you have for those people out there who
maybe aren't quite sure of their abilities and they might
have been experiencing vision loss, or they might just not
have heaps of confidence with sports or, you know, exercise
(10:50):
or things like that. For us.
S3 (10:52):
My advice would be to give it a go. It's
an extremely accessible sport. The community are unbelievably supportive. But
for me it was a game changer in terms of
being able to access tennis. I love tennis and to
be able to be introduced to a new community who
have all have vision challenges, and to be able to
(11:12):
share our journeys just creates a new support network. So
for me, it is. Sign up, get to the next
come and try day. And if you're not sure where
that is, reach out to your state tennis body or
Tennis Australia and they'll be able to guide you in
the right direction.
S2 (11:27):
Okay. And Grace, I'll come to you now. What sort
of message would you have for people out there who
might want to have a go, but they're not quite
sure and they don't really know where to head to
or where to begin?
S4 (11:41):
I always give the message just to come and try.
Just pick up the racquet and hit the ball. You know,
just give it a go. And also just to meet
other people that you know who could be in the
same position as you. You're not. Sometimes you're not the
only one. You're not the only one. And you could
meet some new people and learn from experiences.
S2 (11:59):
This. Well, I've been speaking today with Ross Patterson and
Grace Hobbs, both absolute legends in the Australian blind and
low vision tennis space. Here to chat to me about
their recent experiences at the All Abilities Day at the
Australian Open in 2025. Ross Grace, thank you so much
(12:22):
for your time today. It was great to catch up
with you and chat about blind and low vision tennis.
S3 (12:28):
My pleasure. Thanks so much, Sam.
S4 (12:29):
Thank you.
S2 (12:31):
And we've got a special little cameo now. It's Camille
Russo from Tennis Australia to give us a few details
about how people can get in touch and play some
blind and low vision tennis. Camille.
S5 (12:45):
Yes. That's right. So to find out more about blind
and low vision tennis, go on the tennis. Com.au website
and visit the Blind and Low Vision page and you'll
be able to find out how to get started, the events,
all the different things on in on the calendar. All
things blind and low vision tennis.
S2 (13:08):
I'm Sam Culley and you're listening to Talking Vision on
Vision Australia Radio, associated Stations of Reading Radio and the
Community Radio Network. I hope you enjoyed that conversation there
with Ross and Grace. If you missed any part of
that conversation or you'd love to hear from them again.
(13:31):
Talking vision is available on the podcast platform of Your
choice or through the Vision Australia library. You can also
find the show, of course, on the Vision Australia Radio
website at VA radio.org. That's VA radio all one word.org.
(13:52):
If you're a subscriber to Vision Australia's fortnightly newsletter for
your information, otherwise known as FII. You may have noticed
the first edition for 2025 has just hit your inbox
just a few days ago. Well, I'm here to talk
(14:13):
to the editor of, for your information, Liz Dalakouras, about
what readers can expect in the next issue. So, without
further ado, it's my great pleasure to welcome back Liz
for the first time in 2025 to have a chat
about FII. Liz, welcome back to Talking Vision for 2025.
(14:38):
Thank you very much for your time.
S6 (14:40):
Thank you for having me back, Sam. 2025 is going
to be a great year.
S2 (14:44):
Certainly will be. Now we've got a bit of a
jam packed edition of FII coming up. For people out there,
as people get back into the swing of things in January,
what's in store for people in terms of NDIS news,
there's a couple of things that have been going on.
S6 (15:03):
Yeah, there definitely is. And with Bill Shorten's upcoming retirement,
it's raised a lot of questions about the future impact
on NDIS participants. So as of January the 5th of
this new year, there has been more people with lived
experience of disability that have joined the NDIS Board and
Advisory Council. So their insights will help address barriers that
(15:24):
NDIS participants might face and help to improve fund management.
So really, really great news.
S2 (15:30):
And what else is in store for people out there?
I know there's been some education news, namely in regards
to children who are blind or have low vision in
South Australia. Tell us a bit about that. Yeah.
S6 (15:47):
So something really cool. There's a school in South Australia
and it's a South Australian school for vision impaired. And
they've begun using 3D models to better understand object Descriptions.
So these models replace handmade items and raised line drawings,
which helps to make learning more accessible. The project has
been supported by Monash University's Inclusive Technologies team, and has
(16:10):
opened up just all these new possibilities for hands on
and engaging education in the classroom. So very innovative. Very exciting.
S2 (16:17):
Super exciting. It's great to hear that. You know, the
program is really taking off. I had a chat with
Sonali and Matt a few weeks ago, and it's a
really incredible, engaging project for a lot of kids out
there who are blind or have low vision. So very
exciting to see that getting around the country and all
(16:38):
these resources being taken up by teachers and educators around
the country. So looking forward to seeing how that progresses
in the future. Now, Liz, there's been some other things
going on in terms of some radio news with the
with the emerging voices that's coming back as well.
S6 (17:01):
Absolutely. Emerging voices is back and it has a new twist.
So the Attitude Foundation's Inclusive Workplace Experience program is back.
You can gain hands on skills like studio operations, podcasting,
and live broadcasting and receive insights from ABC journalists in person.
You can go to cnnfn or Three Eyes as your
(17:24):
choice of location. Enjoy a free lunch and go on
a tour of the ABC studios. But the incredibly exciting
part of this entire day is it can lead to
a potential internship with the ABC.
S2 (17:36):
Oh, perfect. And what else is in store for people
out there in this month's issue?
S6 (17:43):
It's something that's really, really quite exciting for us at
Vision Australia is we've developed a new resource guide. So
if you or somebody you know are looking to support
someone in the blind or low vision community and just
become more Involved. We have a guide. That means that
if you are looking for practical advice or you want
to offer extra support to someone you care about, or
(18:04):
are considering volunteering for someone who is blind or has
low vision, this guide will have everything you need to
get started on how to begin. Just visit the resource
section on our website to download it today.
S2 (18:15):
Perfect. And when can people expect the upcoming issue of
FYI in their email inboxes? Liz.
S6 (18:24):
So the next one will be out on the 6th
of February.
S2 (18:28):
And if people haven't signed up, but they'd love to.
They're listening to this and thinking, oh wow, this all
sounds amazing. I'd love to sign up to the FYI
mailing list. As always, the process is the same. It
hasn't changed. So tell us a bit about how they
can get in touch and have the FYI newsletter sent
(18:51):
to them every two weeks.
S6 (18:53):
Super simple Sam, you just go to Vision Australia. Org
forward slash FYI.
S2 (18:59):
Perfect. There you go. Done. Excellent. Okay. Well, I've been
speaking today with Liz Dalakouras, editor of for your Information.
Otherwise known as FYI, the fortnightly Vision Australia newsletter hitting
your email inboxes on the 6th of February. Liz, thank
(19:22):
you so much for your time today. Great to catch
up with you again and chat about FYI for 2025.
S6 (19:30):
Absolutely. Thank you Sam for having me. I look forward
to another year doing this together.
S2 (19:37):
And now here's Frances Kelland with a reader recommended.
S7 (19:41):
If you would like to indulge in a little bit
of mystery reading, you can't go wrong with Sarah Bailey
and her novel Into the Night. Troubled and brilliant, Detective
Sergeant Gemma Woodstock finds herself lost and alone after a
recent move to Melbourne. Brokenhearted by the decisions, decisions she's
had to make. Her new workplace is a minefield, and
(20:02):
the partner she has been assigned is uncommunicative and often hostile.
When a homeless man is murdered and Gemma is put
on the case, she can't help feeling a connection with
the victim and the lonely and isolated life he led
despite being in the middle of a bustling city. Then,
a movie star is killed in bizarre circumstances on the
set of a major film shoot, and Gemma and her partner,
(20:23):
Detective Sergeant Nick fleet, have to put aside their differences
to unravel the mysteries surrounding the actor's life and death.
Who could commit such a brazen crime, and who stands
to profit from it? Far too many people, and none
of them can be trusted. Let's hear a sample now
of Into the Night by Sarah Bailey. It's narrated by
(20:43):
Kate Hosking.
S8 (20:45):
Freezing air slices my lungs every time I breathe. I
walk to the other side of the tunnel in an
attempt to shift blood into my numb feet. I peer
into its black depths. I assume it's just a long
stretch of concrete and rubbish. Shelter for rats and mice
that eventually merges with other concrete passages running underneath unsuspecting
(21:06):
roads and buildings. Faded graffiti hugs the curved wall, the
colourful scrawls, harshly exposed by a mobile spotlight and fresh
police tape across the entrance, is taut, barely shaking in
the breeze. The nearby asphalt path is slick, with recent
rain high above. A plump moon peers down at the
(21:27):
blunt edges of the city. As the white puffs exit
my mouth, I think about how much grittier the crime
scenes always seem here than they did in Smithson. So
much more sinister somehow. I was drifting into my second
hour of sleep when the call came through. A fatal
attack in Carlton. Putting the phone down, I threw a
(21:48):
glance at the lightly snoring man in the giant bed
beside me. I slipped out of the warm cocoon, stumbled
into the into the small lounge, then quietly pulled on
the clothes I'd stripped off. Only an hour earlier, after
easing the doors shut, I made my way to the
lift and rushed through the gleaming lobby. Eyes on the
floor before jumping into a cab. The city is smaller
(22:11):
at night, and less than 15 minutes later, I'm staring
into the face of a dead man, the wind biting
at my nose and ears. My body aches for rest.
I taste wine on my breath. Sex is still fresh
on my skin. I pull my wool coat tighter around
me and shake my head, forcing my brain to accept
that for the next few hours at least, sleep is
(22:33):
out of the question. The forensics officers are silent as
they go about their business, glowing in their puffy white uniforms.
Their jaws are set as they pluck items from the
ground with gloved hands and tweezers, dropping them carefully into
evidence bags. Their experienced eyes taking in the story of
the scene, all I can hear is the endless buzz
(22:55):
of the of the sprawling night. I jumped slightly as
a camera flash lights up the dingy surrounds once, twice again,
and it reminds me of a music video. But in
place of curvy dancing silhouettes, there is only the profile
of the victim, his head hanging forward into his lap,
his back hard against the wall.
S7 (23:15):
So that was Into the Night by Sarah Bailey. Available
from the Virgin Australia Library. If you'd like to contact
the library, their phone number is one 365 4656. That's
one 365 4656. Or you can email them at library
at Vision Australia. That's library at Vision Australia. Org.
S2 (23:42):
In this week's news and information, the 2025 Australia Day
Honours list has recently been published, with 19 individuals added
to the list for their services to the disabled community
to begin with. Appointed as an officer of the Order
(24:04):
of Australia is James Simpson. For distinguished service to people
with disability through legal and board leadership positions, and as
an advocate for their health and wellbeing. Appointed as a
member of the Order of Australia is Samantha Connor. For
significant service to people with disability. Carmel Crouch For significant
(24:29):
service to people with disability. Matt Formston For significant service
to people with disability and to para sports. Penelope Gurstelle
For significant service to human rights, community health and to
people with disability. Adam Johnston For significant service to community health,
(24:52):
to the law, and to people living with disability. Joan
McKenna Kerr For significant service to people with disability in
leadership and advocacy roles. Professor Julian Trollope For significant service
to people with disability, particularly as a clinician and academic.
(25:16):
Awarded the medal of the Order of Australia is Wesley
Blakely for service to people with a disability. Teresa Bourke
For service to swimming as a coach and to people
with disability. Maxwell Burt For service to people with disability.
Julie Charlton For service to sport and to people with
(25:40):
a disability. Lisa Cox For service to people with disability.
Associate Professor Jill Duncan For service to tertiary education and
to people with disability. Julia Hailes for service to people
with disability and to the arts. Brian Johnston For service
(26:00):
to the community and to people with disability. David Luck
For service to people with a disability. Martin Wren For
service to people with disability and finally awarded the medal
of the Order of Australia. Anna Maria wood For service
to people with disability. Congratulations to the 19 recipients of
(26:27):
Australia Day Honours in 2025 for their services to the
disability community, and a heartfelt thanks goes out to not
only them, but all others around Australia who work hard
every day to provide beneficial outcomes to people with disability
(26:47):
in Australia, and we applaud them for their work and
look forward to catching up with them in the future.
And that's all the time we have for today. You've
been listening to Talking Vision. Talking vision is a Vision
Australia radio production. Thanks to all involved with putting the
show together every week. And remember, we love hearing from you.
(27:11):
So please get in touch anytime on our email at
Talking Vision at Vision Australia. Org. That's talking vision all
one word at Vision australia.org. But until next week it's
Sam Kerley saying bye for now.
S1 (27:30):
You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during
business hours on one 384 7486. That's one 384 7486
or by visiting Vision Australia. That's Vision Australia. Org.
From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's
your host, Sam Colley.
S2 (00:23):
Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And
for the next half hour, we talk matters of blindness
and low vision. For me.
S3 (00:30):
It was a game changer in terms of being able
to access tennis. I love tennis and to be able
to be introduced to a new community who have all
have vision challenges, and to be able to share our
journey just creates a new support network. So for me,
it is. Sign up, get to the next come and
try day. And if you're not sure where that is,
(00:51):
reach out to your state tennis body or Tennis Australia
and they'll be able to guide you in the right direction.
S2 (00:57):
Welcome to the program! This week we catch up with
two number ones from the blind and Low Vision in
tennis world B4 category men's and women's gold medalists Ross
and Grace, fresh from All Abilities Day at the Australian Open.
(01:18):
And then later on I catch up with Liz Dalakouras,
editor of Fooya Information, otherwise known as FII vision, Australia's
fortnightly newsletter. Before we hear from Frances Kelland with a
reader recommended and finish up with a little bit more
(01:38):
news and information. I hope you enjoy this week's episode
of Talking Vision as world number one in the B4
category of blind and low vision tennis. Ross Paterson and
Grace Hobbs are superstars in their own right. They recently
(02:02):
took part in All Abilities Day at the 2025 Australian
Open at Melbourne Park, featuring a showcase of blind and
low vision tennis recorded by channel nine to all audiences
around Australia. Ros Grace, thank you so much for your
time today. Welcome to Talking Vision.
S3 (02:24):
Thanks for having us, Sam.
S4 (02:26):
Yeah, thank you for having us.
S2 (02:27):
Now, firstly, Ros, I might start with you. How long
have you been playing blind tennis? And how did you
get into the sport?
S3 (02:37):
I started tennis at the age of 11, and that
was regular ball tennis and played a lot. It was
my dream to be a professional tennis player. That became
increasingly challenging. And probably about five years ago, I embarked
on a Google search to find if there were any
tennis options for people with low vision. I came across
(02:58):
Blind Low Vision come and try Day in Victoria. I
went to that and haven't looked back since.
S2 (03:05):
And Grace, how about you? What's the story behind, um,
how you got into tennis and how long you've been playing?
S4 (03:11):
Pretty similar. Ros. My mum had researched blind tennis, based
in Sydney, and there was a local centre near me
who had done some classes, and that was basically just
before Covid and been playing ever since.
S2 (03:25):
Okay. Wow. And Ros, I'll come back to you. And
if you're comfortable, would you mind sort of sharing which
category that you compete in in blind and low vision
tennis and also your vision condition?
S3 (03:39):
No problem at all. I have written iris pigmentosa, so
I see the world through a tunnel. I'm in the
B4 category, which means that I play with the same
ball that all the other categories do. The court dimensions
for B2, B3, and B4 are all the same. The
only difference is that I get one bounce, whereas B3
get two and B2 get three bounces.
S2 (04:01):
Okay. And Grace, I'll come to you now.
S4 (04:05):
Uh, yes. I'm also a B4 player as well, so
I'm only allowed one bounce. And I also have usher syndrome.
Which division side is written as pigmentosa?
S2 (04:14):
Okay, now I'm keen to hear about the range of
tournaments that you've both competed in over the years. Um,
including the 2024 Ibta World Championships. And, you know, Australia
has had some great success there. Um, and the two
of you are no exception, taking home gold medals yourselves. So, Ross,
(04:39):
I'll come to you. What was that like to compete
for Australia and take home those gold medals and spending
that time at, um, number one in the world and
all that sort of thing? You're sort of there to be.
Everyone's there to beat you, but you overcame that. What's
all that been like?
S3 (04:55):
It's been absolutely amazing. You dream when you're playing sport
and you're competing at a high level is to represent
your country. And last year, Grace and I had the
had the opportunity to represent Australia for the first time
at the Ipsa World Games, which is held every four years.
It's like the Olympics of blind sport. We were very successful,
both of us taking away two gold there as well.
So we've been number one in the world now for
(05:18):
well over a year. And what does it feel like?
It feels great, but you know that there are the
competitors that are training hard, are wanting to win gold
at the next international event, wanting to be world number one.
So that gives us a lot of motivation to stay focused,
to train hard. I don't want to give up that
(05:40):
spot any time in the distant future, and I'll continue
to work hard as I can. But to represent Australia
and be supported by Tennis Australia, the way we have
has been really special.
S2 (05:51):
And Grace, I'll come to you now. What's it been
like for you as somebody who is also, as Ross said,
number one in the world and taking home gold on
the world stage. That must be an amazing feeling.
S4 (06:03):
Oh it is. It's really amazing. Um, an experience to
go overseas and compete for my country and wear the
green and gold that all the other Australians get to wear. And, um, no,
it was it's been an amazing experience. And also being
able to meet other people, competitors from across the world.
S2 (06:20):
And Ross, growing up, in your wildest dreams could you
have expected to, you know, be able to travel the
world and do something you love like this? Like competing
in tennis and taking home gold medals, traveling around to
amazing places like Italy and all that sort of thing.
I guess more broadly, what's that experience been like?
S3 (06:41):
Well, it was certainly my dream when I was younger,
and then I gave up on that dream not knowing
that I had an invisible disability. To have that opportunity
now is really special and something I cherish. To be
able to travel interstate, to compete in state and national tournaments,
and to compete now internationally in places such as Literally
(07:02):
in the UK. Prior to that, we're not quite sure
where it will be this year. It's wonderful, it's life
changing and it gives us goals to aspire to and
passions outside of, perhaps. Well, for me, employment, my work
and also my family and grace.
S2 (07:21):
I'll come to you now. And what does it mean
to you to be able to live this life that
you want, and compete in tennis at an international level
and travel around and meet so many new people and
have all these lifelong, unforgettable experiences.
S4 (07:38):
Well, absolutely. It's a lot of memories that I'll remember
for the rest of my life. You know, meeting new
people from competitors across the world and learning about their
experiences of their with their vision and how they've lived
their life. Some of them work, and some of them
have travelled the world by themselves, even with their vision loss.
And it's yeah, it's an amazing it is really amazing.
S2 (08:00):
Let's fast forward a bit to just the past few
days and All Abilities Day on Tuesday the 21st of
January at the Australian Open in Melbourne Park. So, Ross,
what was that like for you heading along to All
Abilities Day, hanging out with all the wonderful crew from
(08:20):
Tennis Australia and having a hit with Grace, and also
a special guest who will mention in here as well.
S3 (08:28):
I love All Abilities Day. It was my third All
Abilities day where I've had quite a bit of involvement
and to start the day on Margaret Court with the
tennis community, showcasing the sport was a really special way
to start the day. Grace and I had the wonderful
opportunity to participate in the Dylan Alcott and Friends exhibition,
(08:49):
where we were able to share the court with some
absolutely outstanding players in the area of Paris standing deaf,
hard hearing and ID along with Dylan in the wheelie
category and then to spend the afternoon on the padel
court with Ariarne Titmus. What a genuine person. What an
inspiration in terms of the success she's had in swimming,
(09:11):
and to showcase the sport with her and to teach
her the basics was really special.
S2 (09:17):
And Grace, what was the day like for you? What
was sort of your favourite moments and all that sort
of thing?
S4 (09:24):
Well, one of my, probably one of my highlights would
have been, um, being able to play on Kia Arena
for the all ability celebrity match and being able to
play alongside some of the others who play in the
other disabilities. That was an amazing. But I think the
other one was when Ariana managed to hit a ball
on with a blindfold, and I think that was pretty impressive.
S2 (09:44):
Certainly was. And it's great to see these absolute huge
figures on the Olympic stage, such as Ariana Titmus getting
around things like blind and low vision tennis and heading
along and having those experiences and, you know, showing people
around Australia, what blind and low vision tennis is all about.
(10:05):
So that's a fantastic spectacle, I suppose you'd call it, for,
you know, blind and low vision tennis to really get
on the map and all that sort of thing. So
if people out there, you know, are perhaps umming and ahhing,
they might have a vision condition and they might thinking, oh,
am I, you know, am I good enough to go
and play a sport or I don't know if I
(10:28):
can play tennis or I don't know if my vision
will hold up or I don't know if you know
this is the right thing for me. What sort of
message would you have for those people out there who
maybe aren't quite sure of their abilities and they might
have been experiencing vision loss, or they might just not
have heaps of confidence with sports or, you know, exercise
(10:50):
or things like that. For us.
S3 (10:52):
My advice would be to give it a go. It's
an extremely accessible sport. The community are unbelievably supportive. But
for me it was a game changer in terms of
being able to access tennis. I love tennis and to
be able to be introduced to a new community who
have all have vision challenges, and to be able to
(11:12):
share our journeys just creates a new support network. So
for me, it is. Sign up, get to the next
come and try day. And if you're not sure where
that is, reach out to your state tennis body or
Tennis Australia and they'll be able to guide you in
the right direction.
S2 (11:27):
Okay. And Grace, I'll come to you now. What sort
of message would you have for people out there who
might want to have a go, but they're not quite
sure and they don't really know where to head to
or where to begin?
S4 (11:41):
I always give the message just to come and try.
Just pick up the racquet and hit the ball. You know,
just give it a go. And also just to meet
other people that you know who could be in the
same position as you. You're not. Sometimes you're not the
only one. You're not the only one. And you could
meet some new people and learn from experiences.
S2 (11:59):
This. Well, I've been speaking today with Ross Patterson and
Grace Hobbs, both absolute legends in the Australian blind and
low vision tennis space. Here to chat to me about
their recent experiences at the All Abilities Day at the
Australian Open in 2025. Ross Grace, thank you so much
(12:22):
for your time today. It was great to catch up
with you and chat about blind and low vision tennis.
S3 (12:28):
My pleasure. Thanks so much, Sam.
S4 (12:29):
Thank you.
S2 (12:31):
And we've got a special little cameo now. It's Camille
Russo from Tennis Australia to give us a few details
about how people can get in touch and play some
blind and low vision tennis. Camille.
S5 (12:45):
Yes. That's right. So to find out more about blind
and low vision tennis, go on the tennis. Com.au website
and visit the Blind and Low Vision page and you'll
be able to find out how to get started, the events,
all the different things on in on the calendar. All
things blind and low vision tennis.
S2 (13:08):
I'm Sam Culley and you're listening to Talking Vision on
Vision Australia Radio, associated Stations of Reading Radio and the
Community Radio Network. I hope you enjoyed that conversation there
with Ross and Grace. If you missed any part of
that conversation or you'd love to hear from them again.
(13:31):
Talking vision is available on the podcast platform of Your
choice or through the Vision Australia library. You can also
find the show, of course, on the Vision Australia Radio
website at VA radio.org. That's VA radio all one word.org.
(13:52):
If you're a subscriber to Vision Australia's fortnightly newsletter for
your information, otherwise known as FII. You may have noticed
the first edition for 2025 has just hit your inbox
just a few days ago. Well, I'm here to talk
(14:13):
to the editor of, for your information, Liz Dalakouras, about
what readers can expect in the next issue. So, without
further ado, it's my great pleasure to welcome back Liz
for the first time in 2025 to have a chat
about FII. Liz, welcome back to Talking Vision for 2025.
(14:38):
Thank you very much for your time.
S6 (14:40):
Thank you for having me back, Sam. 2025 is going
to be a great year.
S2 (14:44):
Certainly will be. Now we've got a bit of a
jam packed edition of FII coming up. For people out there,
as people get back into the swing of things in January,
what's in store for people in terms of NDIS news,
there's a couple of things that have been going on.
S6 (15:03):
Yeah, there definitely is. And with Bill Shorten's upcoming retirement,
it's raised a lot of questions about the future impact
on NDIS participants. So as of January the 5th of
this new year, there has been more people with lived
experience of disability that have joined the NDIS Board and
Advisory Council. So their insights will help address barriers that
(15:24):
NDIS participants might face and help to improve fund management.
So really, really great news.
S2 (15:30):
And what else is in store for people out there?
I know there's been some education news, namely in regards
to children who are blind or have low vision in
South Australia. Tell us a bit about that. Yeah.
S6 (15:47):
So something really cool. There's a school in South Australia
and it's a South Australian school for vision impaired. And
they've begun using 3D models to better understand object Descriptions.
So these models replace handmade items and raised line drawings,
which helps to make learning more accessible. The project has
been supported by Monash University's Inclusive Technologies team, and has
(16:10):
opened up just all these new possibilities for hands on
and engaging education in the classroom. So very innovative. Very exciting.
S2 (16:17):
Super exciting. It's great to hear that. You know, the
program is really taking off. I had a chat with
Sonali and Matt a few weeks ago, and it's a
really incredible, engaging project for a lot of kids out
there who are blind or have low vision. So very
exciting to see that getting around the country and all
(16:38):
these resources being taken up by teachers and educators around
the country. So looking forward to seeing how that progresses
in the future. Now, Liz, there's been some other things
going on in terms of some radio news with the
with the emerging voices that's coming back as well.
S6 (17:01):
Absolutely. Emerging voices is back and it has a new twist.
So the Attitude Foundation's Inclusive Workplace Experience program is back.
You can gain hands on skills like studio operations, podcasting,
and live broadcasting and receive insights from ABC journalists in person.
You can go to cnnfn or Three Eyes as your
(17:24):
choice of location. Enjoy a free lunch and go on
a tour of the ABC studios. But the incredibly exciting
part of this entire day is it can lead to
a potential internship with the ABC.
S2 (17:36):
Oh, perfect. And what else is in store for people
out there in this month's issue?
S6 (17:43):
It's something that's really, really quite exciting for us at
Vision Australia is we've developed a new resource guide. So
if you or somebody you know are looking to support
someone in the blind or low vision community and just
become more Involved. We have a guide. That means that
if you are looking for practical advice or you want
to offer extra support to someone you care about, or
(18:04):
are considering volunteering for someone who is blind or has
low vision, this guide will have everything you need to
get started on how to begin. Just visit the resource
section on our website to download it today.
S2 (18:15):
Perfect. And when can people expect the upcoming issue of
FYI in their email inboxes? Liz.
S6 (18:24):
So the next one will be out on the 6th
of February.
S2 (18:28):
And if people haven't signed up, but they'd love to.
They're listening to this and thinking, oh wow, this all
sounds amazing. I'd love to sign up to the FYI
mailing list. As always, the process is the same. It
hasn't changed. So tell us a bit about how they
can get in touch and have the FYI newsletter sent
(18:51):
to them every two weeks.
S6 (18:53):
Super simple Sam, you just go to Vision Australia. Org
forward slash FYI.
S2 (18:59):
Perfect. There you go. Done. Excellent. Okay. Well, I've been
speaking today with Liz Dalakouras, editor of for your Information.
Otherwise known as FYI, the fortnightly Vision Australia newsletter hitting
your email inboxes on the 6th of February. Liz, thank
(19:22):
you so much for your time today. Great to catch
up with you again and chat about FYI for 2025.
S6 (19:30):
Absolutely. Thank you Sam for having me. I look forward
to another year doing this together.
S2 (19:37):
And now here's Frances Kelland with a reader recommended.
S7 (19:41):
If you would like to indulge in a little bit
of mystery reading, you can't go wrong with Sarah Bailey
and her novel Into the Night. Troubled and brilliant, Detective
Sergeant Gemma Woodstock finds herself lost and alone after a
recent move to Melbourne. Brokenhearted by the decisions, decisions she's
had to make. Her new workplace is a minefield, and
(20:02):
the partner she has been assigned is uncommunicative and often hostile.
When a homeless man is murdered and Gemma is put
on the case, she can't help feeling a connection with
the victim and the lonely and isolated life he led
despite being in the middle of a bustling city. Then,
a movie star is killed in bizarre circumstances on the
set of a major film shoot, and Gemma and her partner,
(20:23):
Detective Sergeant Nick fleet, have to put aside their differences
to unravel the mysteries surrounding the actor's life and death.
Who could commit such a brazen crime, and who stands
to profit from it? Far too many people, and none
of them can be trusted. Let's hear a sample now
of Into the Night by Sarah Bailey. It's narrated by
(20:43):
Kate Hosking.
S8 (20:45):
Freezing air slices my lungs every time I breathe. I
walk to the other side of the tunnel in an
attempt to shift blood into my numb feet. I peer
into its black depths. I assume it's just a long
stretch of concrete and rubbish. Shelter for rats and mice
that eventually merges with other concrete passages running underneath unsuspecting
(21:06):
roads and buildings. Faded graffiti hugs the curved wall, the
colourful scrawls, harshly exposed by a mobile spotlight and fresh
police tape across the entrance, is taut, barely shaking in
the breeze. The nearby asphalt path is slick, with recent
rain high above. A plump moon peers down at the
(21:27):
blunt edges of the city. As the white puffs exit
my mouth, I think about how much grittier the crime
scenes always seem here than they did in Smithson. So
much more sinister somehow. I was drifting into my second
hour of sleep when the call came through. A fatal
attack in Carlton. Putting the phone down, I threw a
(21:48):
glance at the lightly snoring man in the giant bed
beside me. I slipped out of the warm cocoon, stumbled
into the into the small lounge, then quietly pulled on
the clothes I'd stripped off. Only an hour earlier, after
easing the doors shut, I made my way to the
lift and rushed through the gleaming lobby. Eyes on the
floor before jumping into a cab. The city is smaller
(22:11):
at night, and less than 15 minutes later, I'm staring
into the face of a dead man, the wind biting
at my nose and ears. My body aches for rest.
I taste wine on my breath. Sex is still fresh
on my skin. I pull my wool coat tighter around
me and shake my head, forcing my brain to accept
that for the next few hours at least, sleep is
(22:33):
out of the question. The forensics officers are silent as
they go about their business, glowing in their puffy white uniforms.
Their jaws are set as they pluck items from the
ground with gloved hands and tweezers, dropping them carefully into
evidence bags. Their experienced eyes taking in the story of
the scene, all I can hear is the endless buzz
(22:55):
of the of the sprawling night. I jumped slightly as
a camera flash lights up the dingy surrounds once, twice again,
and it reminds me of a music video. But in
place of curvy dancing silhouettes, there is only the profile
of the victim, his head hanging forward into his lap,
his back hard against the wall.
S7 (23:15):
So that was Into the Night by Sarah Bailey. Available
from the Virgin Australia Library. If you'd like to contact
the library, their phone number is one 365 4656. That's
one 365 4656. Or you can email them at library
at Vision Australia. That's library at Vision Australia. Org.
S2 (23:42):
In this week's news and information, the 2025 Australia Day
Honours list has recently been published, with 19 individuals added
to the list for their services to the disabled community
to begin with. Appointed as an officer of the Order
(24:04):
of Australia is James Simpson. For distinguished service to people
with disability through legal and board leadership positions, and as
an advocate for their health and wellbeing. Appointed as a
member of the Order of Australia is Samantha Connor. For
significant service to people with disability. Carmel Crouch For significant
(24:29):
service to people with disability. Matt Formston For significant service
to people with disability and to para sports. Penelope Gurstelle
For significant service to human rights, community health and to
people with disability. Adam Johnston For significant service to community health,
(24:52):
to the law, and to people living with disability. Joan
McKenna Kerr For significant service to people with disability in
leadership and advocacy roles. Professor Julian Trollope For significant service
to people with disability, particularly as a clinician and academic.
(25:16):
Awarded the medal of the Order of Australia is Wesley
Blakely for service to people with a disability. Teresa Bourke
For service to swimming as a coach and to people
with disability. Maxwell Burt For service to people with disability.
Julie Charlton For service to sport and to people with
(25:40):
a disability. Lisa Cox For service to people with disability.
Associate Professor Jill Duncan For service to tertiary education and
to people with disability. Julia Hailes for service to people
with disability and to the arts. Brian Johnston For service
(26:00):
to the community and to people with disability. David Luck
For service to people with a disability. Martin Wren For
service to people with disability and finally awarded the medal
of the Order of Australia. Anna Maria wood For service
to people with disability. Congratulations to the 19 recipients of
(26:27):
Australia Day Honours in 2025 for their services to the
disability community, and a heartfelt thanks goes out to not
only them, but all others around Australia who work hard
every day to provide beneficial outcomes to people with disability
(26:47):
in Australia, and we applaud them for their work and
look forward to catching up with them in the future.
And that's all the time we have for today. You've
been listening to Talking Vision. Talking vision is a Vision
Australia radio production. Thanks to all involved with putting the
show together every week. And remember, we love hearing from you.
(27:11):
So please get in touch anytime on our email at
Talking Vision at Vision Australia. Org. That's talking vision all
one word at Vision australia.org. But until next week it's
Sam Kerley saying bye for now.
S1 (27:30):
You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during
business hours on one 384 7486. That's one 384 7486
or by visiting Vision Australia. That's Vision Australia. Org.
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