November 11, 2025 • 28 mins
This week we celebrate the nine Vision Australia Award winners who received their awards at the recent Vision Australia Annual General Meeting on October 31.
You'll hear from all in attendance at the awards with introductions from master of ceremonies Ian Finlayson and chair Bill Jolley.
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S1 (00:21):
From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's
your host, Sam Colley.
S2 (00:31):
Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And
for the next half hour, we talk matters of blindness
and low vision.
S3 (00:38):
I warmly congratulate all of the award recipients, and I
thank you all for your contributions to Vision Australia and
to the people whom we serve.
S2 (00:47):
Welcome to the program. You may or may not have
heard the Vision Australia Annual General Meeting special, which aired
on the 31st of October. But one thing we didn't
get around to including was the new Wine Vision Australia
award winners from this year's meeting. So that's exactly what
(01:13):
we're going to be featuring today. Every single one of them.
You'll be hearing from them all throughout the show. So
without further ado, I hope you enjoy this week's episode
of Talking Vision. To kick off proceedings, we're here from
(01:33):
Master of Ceremonies Ian Finlayson, who introduces the awards and
the first recipient of the awards. So let's hear from Ian.
Right now.
S4 (01:46):
I'm going to ask David and Bill to kindly make
their way towards the front of the lectern. Now, as
we move towards the announcement of this year's Vision Australia
Awards each year, Vision Australia awards prominent contributors to the
blind and low vision sector. These awards. This year we
(02:07):
have nine recipients. The award is an acrylic glass award
made in the shape of Vision Australia's three linked logo.
This symbolises and represents Vision Australia's role as a link
between our clients, our services as well as the donors
and volunteers who support them. Our first recipient this year
(02:32):
is Mr. Paul Hedley. Paul, if you'd like to make
your way forward, Paul is a member of the Client
Reference Group and has been from October 2017 to October 2024.
He played a key role in the development of the
CRG during this time. Paul has also been involved with
(02:55):
our Quality Living Group program and the regular induction programs
that we conduct for our new Vision Australia staff. He's
been a passionate advocate for employment of blind and low
vision individuals, and provided valuable feedback to Vision Australia. In
all of the roles that I've just set out above,
Paul's enthusiasm for life and overcoming obstacles from his loss
(03:20):
of vision are an inspiration to us all. In particular,
his passion for building hot rod cars in his spare time,
and it's an indicative of his strength of character and
desire to lead the life that he chooses for himself. Congratulations, Paul.
S1 (03:42):
Congratulations.
S5 (03:43):
Thank you.
S4 (03:44):
Now, Kate, if we've got a roving microphone. Yes, it's
it's there. Paul, please invite you to speak.
S5 (03:51):
Thanks, Ian. Um, look, I'm. I'm very humbled by this award. It's, uh,
it's a it's a massive surprise. And I do, um,
appreciate it and value it immensely. So thanks again. Uh,
my time with the sig was, uh, for me, a
time of of growth. I suppose. I only lost my
(04:13):
vision a few years earlier, and I suppose I really
didn't know where my life was headed. Um, both the
Quality Living program and the Client Reference group were a
really good conduit for me to, I guess, grow as
a person, both personally and professionally. Um, and I guess
gained some confidence and, and, and realize that there was
(04:36):
life after vision loss. And I think, uh, meeting such
a great bunch of people, working with a great bunch
of people, uh, and a great organization really helped me, uh,
become the person I am today. And so I, I
do appreciate it. And, uh, I thank you immensely.
S4 (04:57):
Thank you, Paul. Thank you. And congratulations once again. Paul.
Our next recipient is miss Holly McClellan Brown. Holly is
a young, successful artist who has roots in the Yorta
Yorta region, with her father, originally from Kyabram, and other
members of her family living locally. A First Nations artist,
(05:21):
Holly has created Vision Australia's rap artwork and is a
strong advocate for us. In addition to the rap artwork,
Holly has also collaborated with us on our Vision Australia
uniforms and also the table in the outside our courtyard
area at Kooyong where staff enjoy their lunch. Holly has
(05:41):
kindly decorated this table with the rap artwork, so we
thank Holly for your generosity and we congratulate you on
your award today. And if you'd like to come forward.
Thank you. Now, Holly, I might actually ask you to
(06:04):
just stay with us for our next award recipient because
I believe you might have something for him. So our
next recipient is, uh, one of our retiring directors, associate
Professor Julian Rait ome. It is both customary and entirely
appropriate that the board presents a Vision Australia award to Julian,
(06:28):
who is leaving the Vision Australia board this year. Julian
was first appointed as a director of Vision Australia in
October of 2019, and we have been privileged to have
Julian's clinical expertise and deep insights for the past six years.
Julian is currently the vice president of the Australian Medical Association,
(06:49):
and we wish him well in that ongoing role, which
we know takes up a lot of his time. We
will invite Julian to speak a little bit later, but
for now, we'd like to, uh, invite him to come
forward to not only accept a Vision Australia award, but
a a further gift, uh, a gift that is a
tactile rendition made by our accessible format team in Sydney
(07:12):
of a special piece of artwork that I mentioned before,
created by Holly. Holly. It's at this point, is there
anything that you would like to sort of say in
relation to how you created such a wonderful canvas?
S6 (07:32):
Yeah, sure. I'm not really much of a speaker. I
like to be on that side. Um, but yeah, I
really enjoyed making this piece, and it's so lovely that
it's been quite a few years now. And to see
it so respected and loved and so alive, um, within
the community here is really beautiful. When creating the artwork,
(07:54):
we started with the four focuses of Vision Australia being education, employment,
creating independence and social inclusion. Um, yes. And I think, yeah,
we started with those elements creating, um, symbolism to represent
(08:14):
that and then put them together with the meeting place
in the middle representing Vision Australia. I think when you, um,
probably usually hear it described, you would hear it from,
you know, starting in the middle and then working outwards.
But it was really those focuses that we started with
and then blended them all together afterwards. Yeah. And it's
just incredible to see. I think it's been an amazing
(08:35):
learning opportunity for myself. To see it come to life
in a tactile version is just, yeah, amazing for me,
perhaps who might not have come across something like that.
So I'm very grateful to have had the opportunities that
I've had here to create work that's quite different.
S4 (08:51):
Um, thank you, Holly, and congratulations, Julian. I will ask
David and and Bill to keep keep standing here. Um,
our next recipient is Mrs. Susan Diver. Now, Susan's not
in attendance here today, but Susan is someone that we
hold in very high regard. She has been the current
(09:15):
president of the Black and White Committee and has been
a member since 1974, which is an incredible 52 years,
but serving as its president for the last 26 years.
The Black and White Committee are a fundraising group that
is run by a team of entirely of volunteers, and
(09:37):
they've fundraised for Vision Australia's Children's Services now for over
89 years, raising an incredible $7 million during that time.
We thank Susan for her tireless efforts to support Vision
Australia and the wider blind and low vision community. Susan
is unfortunately unable to join us today. However, we will
(09:59):
have great pleasure in presenting to her in early December
at a black and white function will have pleasure in
presenting that award to her amongst her loyal band of
followers at a cheque presentation that they'll make to us
in December. So, on behalf of Vision Australia, we warmly
(10:19):
applaud Susan's award today. The next recipient is also a
retiring director of Vision Australia. In this instance, it's Mr.
Stephen O'Brien. Now Stephen is online with us today. Um,
but as again, uh, similar to Julian, it is customary
(10:42):
for us and very appropriate for us to award a
Vision Australia award to Stephen as he retires from the board.
Stephen was first appointed as a director of Vision Australia
in October 2016, and we've had the privilege of Stephen's
specialised business and commercial skills and strategy skills for the
past nine years. As I mentioned, he's unable to join
(11:05):
us in Kooyong today as he's living, uh, a long
way away at the moment, permanently in the United Kingdom,
and doing wonderfully well given the 11 hour time difference
to be joining us online. Our board meetings for Stephen
of recent times have been brutal in terms of their timing,
but we thank him for joining us online. And you'll
(11:26):
hear from Stephen a bit later, but a round of
applause for him. The next recipient is a rather interesting one.
It's from a company that many of us will know,
and many of us will enjoy the product of their technology.
So it's from a company called Apple. Uh, and it
(11:50):
is actually their recruitment team that we wish to commend, uh,
with a Vision Australia award today. Vision. Vision Australia is
deeply indebted to Apple's recruitment team representatives are that are
Fiona Cochrane and Kylie Goodwin and Kylie. Kylie have been
(12:13):
instrumental in recent times in placing 15 Vision Australia employment
clients into ongoing employment at Apple, most of whom remain there,
with some progressing to leadership roles. The team have also
placed several clients with seeing Eye Dogs into their Apple
(12:34):
retail stores. We are humbled by Apple's leadership in this practice,
and their recruitment team are to be commended for their
continued support of Vision Australia and the wider blindness and
low vision community. The Apple team, unfortunately, are unable to
(12:55):
join us here today, but by happy circumstance we have
the opportunity to present this award to them in Sydney
on Monday. So David and Chris Edwards, our manager of
government relations and advocacy, will be will be delighted to
present that award to the Apple recruitment team in Sydney
(13:16):
on Monday. So a round of applause for those guys
as well.
S2 (13:26):
I'm Sam Corley and you're listening to Talking Vision on
Vision Australia Radio, associated stations of the Radio Reading Network
and the Community Radio Network. I hope you enjoyed the
first half of our award winners from this year's Vision
(13:46):
Australia Annual General Meeting. If you missed any part of
those conversations or you'd love to hear them again. Talking
vision is available on the podcast app of your choice
or through the Vision Australia a library. You can also
find the program on the Vision Australia Radio website. Simply
(14:08):
head to VA radio.org. That's VA radio. All one word.
And now back to Ian as he introduces the next
award winner.
S4 (14:21):
Our next recipient is another retiring director, Mr. Darren Fittler.
Also joining us online today. Darren was first appointed as
a director of Vision Australia in October of 2016. Like
his colleague Stephen, and we have been privileged to have
had Darren's knowledge and lived experience and in particular his
(14:42):
specialised legal skills for the past nine years. Very much
an expert in the not for profit sector, Darren is
unable to join us in Kooyong today, as I've mentioned,
but we do look forward to presenting him this award
later this year. Uh, and we will invite Darren too,
to speak later on in today's proceedings. The next award
(15:07):
recipient is Mr. Arkin. Yusuf. Now, Arkin, if I can
ask you to come forward. Um, now, Arkin. Despite the
challenges he's faced, including the loss of his sight, he's also, uh,
had to challenge learning English as his third language and
returning to study later in life. But he's not that
(15:29):
that stop him. He's completed not only one, but two
master's degrees in mathematics at UTS and is now working
towards a PhD. His goal wasn't just academic, though. He
wanted to show people, especially those living with disability, that
nothing was impossible. Arkin has been volunteering since 2011, teaching
(15:54):
maths to migrant students, supporting blind individuals to learn adaptive
technology and spending over a decade regularly visiting residents in
aged care to bring them some hope and encouragement. We
thank Arkin for his continued support of people who are
blind or have low vision, and want to congratulate him
(16:15):
today with the awarding of a Vision Australia award. Now,
I believe that Arkin will want to say a few
words and then we'll pause for a photo. Arkin, over
(16:36):
to you.
S7 (16:40):
Thank you for all the staff in Virgin Australia to
let me stand here and give this award. This award
made me happy and give me a power to give
more and more and more. Thank all the people who
nominated me. I think. I think I made them. I
(17:02):
don't know anyone of them. Now I will search and
find that just one thing. When I attend the uni,
all they asked me you are blind. What were useful
of the uni? What they useful of PhD and master's
degree I complete two master's degree. My goal wasn't master's degree. Always,
(17:28):
always I am saying my goal is you to show
all the people around me what the meaning of challenge.
Inspire trust in yourself. You can do it. We need that.
We need to teach, especially the young, how to be confident,
(17:50):
how to be trust in yourself. Nothing is bigger than you.
Thank you all.
S4 (18:05):
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you indeed. Now,
our final recipient of a Vision Australia award today is
another retiring director, doctor Cameron Rowles. Cameron, if I could
ask you to come forward, please. Cameron is retiring from
the Vision Australia board this year, but he was first
(18:28):
appointed as a director of Vision Australia in October of 2015.
Cam has made a very strong contribution through his lived experience,
chairing our Client Services Committee and serving on other committees
across his board career here at Vision Australia. His labor
law expertise has benefited our board greatly. We would like
(18:51):
to invite Cameron to speak shortly, but at this time,
please come forward, Cameron, and Accept Your Vision Australia award,
and also along with the gift that was bestowed on Julian. Uh,
one of Holly's lovely canvas artworks as well. So congratulations, Cameron.
S8 (19:16):
Thank you. Thank you. You'll hear you'll hear from.
S4 (19:19):
Cameron very shortly. Now, in a few moments. In a
few moments time, I'll invite Bill to address you again
with a message around our departing board members. So, over
to Bill once more.
S3 (19:36):
Thanks, Ian. I warmly congratulate all of the award recipients,
and I thank you all for your contributions to Vision
Australia and to the people whom we serve.
S2 (19:52):
And as promised, here's cam right now, but not before
a quick intro from outgoing chair Bill jolly.
S3 (20:01):
I'll now invite Cameron Rolls to speak. Cam has contributed
strongly to the board through his lived experience and expertise
in industrial relations. He's worked hard to deepen the embedding
of lived experience in the DNA of Vision Australia, and
to give blind and low vision staff the chance to
(20:22):
shine and progress to leadership in the organisation. I know
cam is very proud to leave the board, knowing he
contributed strongly to the recruitment of a CEO with lived experience.
So I'll pass over to you now, cam, to say
some words. Thank you very.
S5 (20:40):
Much.
S3 (20:41):
For this opportunity, Bill, to speak with you today. And
I understand it's very dangerous to ask a lawyer if
they'd like to say a few words. Um, but I
promise I won't wear out my welcome. So I was
lucky enough to join the Vision Australia board back in
2015 to fill a vacancy created by my friend and mentor,
(21:04):
Professor Ron McCallum, who in turn had joined the Vision
Australia board following the resignation of its first chair, Doctor
Graeme Innes. And I was privileged to follow in professor
McCallum's footsteps and would like to take this opportunity to
pay tribute to him for showing faith in me and
recommending me to the board, and to thank him for
(21:26):
his guidance and advice throughout my career. As some of
you might know, my background is as a workplace relations
and corporate lawyer who has worked in private and government
practice and for the last couple of decades as a
legal academic, and I'd served on boards of smaller organisations before,
and I thought that this experience, combined with my legal skills,
(21:49):
would equip me well for a role on the Vision
Australia board. In retrospect, Respect. I had no idea what
I was getting myself into. I learned so much, not
only about the way boards work, but about the disability sector,
the way services were and are delivered, relationships with funders
(22:11):
and donors, and in particular about the blindness and low
vision community of which I'm a member and which I
have had the privilege to serve. I also learned about
the breadth of Vision Australia's activities, and continue to be
impressed by the dedication of Vision Australia's wonderful front line
(22:33):
and other staff. And so when one is asked to
speak on leaving an organisation, there's a temptation to look
back and reflect on key highlights. You'll be relieved to
hear that I'm not going to do too much of
this other than to say that I am proud to
(22:53):
have contributed substantially to Vision Australia, creating an inclusive and
blind and low vision friendly recruitment process, which led to
many blind and low vision applicants and of course, many
sighted applicants, and ultimately to the appointment of a very
well credentialed CEO who has his own lived experience of
(23:16):
low vision. David, I wish you all the very best
in your new role, and I've no doubt that you
will bring a perspective of lived experience, which is similar
to the vast majority of our clients who are not
totally blind like me, but low vision, facing the prospect
of losing more of their sight as their lives progress.
(23:38):
I am also proud to have brought strong advocacy for
the rights of blind and low vision people, underpinned by
a commercial focus to my work on the board. As
the NDIS and the about to be introduced, changes to
aged care funding have given clients never before seen choice
and control over how the funding which supports them will
(24:01):
be used. And I believe Vision Australia still has some
way to go to fully adapt to this new reality.
Some of you who follow Vision Australia's governance closely might
remember that prior to last year, I'd served nine years
on the board. Last year, I was elected to a
(24:23):
final three year term as permitted by the Vision Australia Constitution.
So I hit I officially hit Darren's long service leave cap.
The last year in particular has been a challenging one
for the board. As you're aware, the board is undergoing
a reset with the departure of several long serving directors
(24:48):
and the current chair stepping down. It has made a
decision to go to market for its new chair, as
it did when appointing the organisation's new CEO. I'm pleased
that the board has opened up the chair opportunity to
all members of the blind and low vision community with
(25:10):
the appropriate skills. As the board should look, in my view,
to the widest field of blind and low vision candidates
when selecting its new leader. I had aspirations to potentially
be chair of this wonderful organisation, but I can only
offer because of constitutional limits. The organisation two years and
(25:33):
there's a feeling that the organisation may need more chair
stability than I can offer. And so in these circumstances,
I've decided to assist the organisation's reset by resigning from
the board. So having done that, I've certainly got a
few thank yous. To conclude, I'd very much like to
(25:54):
thank my board colleagues who have worked with me and
taught me so much over the past ten years. I'd
also like to thank the leadership team and all of
the wonderful Vision Australia staff. I'd also like to thank
the members of Vision Australia and the staff for the
trust you placed in me as a director, and for
(26:16):
the privilege of serving this wonderful organisation. Finally, I would
like to thank my family. Roles like this, in addition
to full time employment, inevitably mean long absences from family activities,
and I thank them for their patience and love. I
(26:36):
wish the organisation all the very best as it continues
to serve the blind and low vision community of Australia.
And thank you so much for the privilege.
S2 (26:52):
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.
So please get in touch anytime on our email at
Talking Australia. That's talking vision all one word at Vision
(27:18):
Australia dot. But until next week it's Sam Coley saying
bye for now.
S1 (27:27):
You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during
business hours on one 384 7406. That's one 384 74
six or by visiting Vision Australia that's Vision Australia.
From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's
your host, Sam Colley.
S2 (00:31):
Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And
for the next half hour, we talk matters of blindness
and low vision.
S3 (00:38):
I warmly congratulate all of the award recipients, and I
thank you all for your contributions to Vision Australia and
to the people whom we serve.
S2 (00:47):
Welcome to the program. You may or may not have
heard the Vision Australia Annual General Meeting special, which aired
on the 31st of October. But one thing we didn't
get around to including was the new Wine Vision Australia
award winners from this year's meeting. So that's exactly what
(01:13):
we're going to be featuring today. Every single one of them.
You'll be hearing from them all throughout the show. So
without further ado, I hope you enjoy this week's episode
of Talking Vision. To kick off proceedings, we're here from
(01:33):
Master of Ceremonies Ian Finlayson, who introduces the awards and
the first recipient of the awards. So let's hear from Ian.
Right now.
S4 (01:46):
I'm going to ask David and Bill to kindly make
their way towards the front of the lectern. Now, as
we move towards the announcement of this year's Vision Australia
Awards each year, Vision Australia awards prominent contributors to the
blind and low vision sector. These awards. This year we
(02:07):
have nine recipients. The award is an acrylic glass award
made in the shape of Vision Australia's three linked logo.
This symbolises and represents Vision Australia's role as a link
between our clients, our services as well as the donors
and volunteers who support them. Our first recipient this year
(02:32):
is Mr. Paul Hedley. Paul, if you'd like to make
your way forward, Paul is a member of the Client
Reference Group and has been from October 2017 to October 2024.
He played a key role in the development of the
CRG during this time. Paul has also been involved with
(02:55):
our Quality Living Group program and the regular induction programs
that we conduct for our new Vision Australia staff. He's
been a passionate advocate for employment of blind and low
vision individuals, and provided valuable feedback to Vision Australia. In
all of the roles that I've just set out above,
Paul's enthusiasm for life and overcoming obstacles from his loss
(03:20):
of vision are an inspiration to us all. In particular,
his passion for building hot rod cars in his spare time,
and it's an indicative of his strength of character and
desire to lead the life that he chooses for himself. Congratulations, Paul.
S1 (03:42):
Congratulations.
S5 (03:43):
Thank you.
S4 (03:44):
Now, Kate, if we've got a roving microphone. Yes, it's
it's there. Paul, please invite you to speak.
S5 (03:51):
Thanks, Ian. Um, look, I'm. I'm very humbled by this award. It's, uh,
it's a it's a massive surprise. And I do, um,
appreciate it and value it immensely. So thanks again. Uh,
my time with the sig was, uh, for me, a
time of of growth. I suppose. I only lost my
(04:13):
vision a few years earlier, and I suppose I really
didn't know where my life was headed. Um, both the
Quality Living program and the Client Reference group were a
really good conduit for me to, I guess, grow as
a person, both personally and professionally. Um, and I guess
gained some confidence and, and, and realize that there was
(04:36):
life after vision loss. And I think, uh, meeting such
a great bunch of people, working with a great bunch
of people, uh, and a great organization really helped me, uh,
become the person I am today. And so I, I
do appreciate it. And, uh, I thank you immensely.
S4 (04:57):
Thank you, Paul. Thank you. And congratulations once again. Paul.
Our next recipient is miss Holly McClellan Brown. Holly is
a young, successful artist who has roots in the Yorta
Yorta region, with her father, originally from Kyabram, and other
members of her family living locally. A First Nations artist,
(05:21):
Holly has created Vision Australia's rap artwork and is a
strong advocate for us. In addition to the rap artwork,
Holly has also collaborated with us on our Vision Australia
uniforms and also the table in the outside our courtyard
area at Kooyong where staff enjoy their lunch. Holly has
(05:41):
kindly decorated this table with the rap artwork, so we
thank Holly for your generosity and we congratulate you on
your award today. And if you'd like to come forward.
Thank you. Now, Holly, I might actually ask you to
(06:04):
just stay with us for our next award recipient because
I believe you might have something for him. So our
next recipient is, uh, one of our retiring directors, associate
Professor Julian Rait ome. It is both customary and entirely
appropriate that the board presents a Vision Australia award to Julian,
(06:28):
who is leaving the Vision Australia board this year. Julian
was first appointed as a director of Vision Australia in
October of 2019, and we have been privileged to have
Julian's clinical expertise and deep insights for the past six years.
Julian is currently the vice president of the Australian Medical Association,
(06:49):
and we wish him well in that ongoing role, which
we know takes up a lot of his time. We
will invite Julian to speak a little bit later, but
for now, we'd like to, uh, invite him to come
forward to not only accept a Vision Australia award, but
a a further gift, uh, a gift that is a
tactile rendition made by our accessible format team in Sydney
(07:12):
of a special piece of artwork that I mentioned before,
created by Holly. Holly. It's at this point, is there
anything that you would like to sort of say in
relation to how you created such a wonderful canvas?
S6 (07:32):
Yeah, sure. I'm not really much of a speaker. I
like to be on that side. Um, but yeah, I
really enjoyed making this piece, and it's so lovely that
it's been quite a few years now. And to see
it so respected and loved and so alive, um, within
the community here is really beautiful. When creating the artwork,
(07:54):
we started with the four focuses of Vision Australia being education, employment,
creating independence and social inclusion. Um, yes. And I think, yeah,
we started with those elements creating, um, symbolism to represent
(08:14):
that and then put them together with the meeting place
in the middle representing Vision Australia. I think when you, um,
probably usually hear it described, you would hear it from,
you know, starting in the middle and then working outwards.
But it was really those focuses that we started with
and then blended them all together afterwards. Yeah. And it's
just incredible to see. I think it's been an amazing
(08:35):
learning opportunity for myself. To see it come to life
in a tactile version is just, yeah, amazing for me,
perhaps who might not have come across something like that.
So I'm very grateful to have had the opportunities that
I've had here to create work that's quite different.
S4 (08:51):
Um, thank you, Holly, and congratulations, Julian. I will ask
David and and Bill to keep keep standing here. Um,
our next recipient is Mrs. Susan Diver. Now, Susan's not
in attendance here today, but Susan is someone that we
hold in very high regard. She has been the current
(09:15):
president of the Black and White Committee and has been
a member since 1974, which is an incredible 52 years,
but serving as its president for the last 26 years.
The Black and White Committee are a fundraising group that
is run by a team of entirely of volunteers, and
(09:37):
they've fundraised for Vision Australia's Children's Services now for over
89 years, raising an incredible $7 million during that time.
We thank Susan for her tireless efforts to support Vision
Australia and the wider blind and low vision community. Susan
is unfortunately unable to join us today. However, we will
(09:59):
have great pleasure in presenting to her in early December
at a black and white function will have pleasure in
presenting that award to her amongst her loyal band of
followers at a cheque presentation that they'll make to us
in December. So, on behalf of Vision Australia, we warmly
(10:19):
applaud Susan's award today. The next recipient is also a
retiring director of Vision Australia. In this instance, it's Mr.
Stephen O'Brien. Now Stephen is online with us today. Um,
but as again, uh, similar to Julian, it is customary
(10:42):
for us and very appropriate for us to award a
Vision Australia award to Stephen as he retires from the board.
Stephen was first appointed as a director of Vision Australia
in October 2016, and we've had the privilege of Stephen's
specialised business and commercial skills and strategy skills for the
past nine years. As I mentioned, he's unable to join
(11:05):
us in Kooyong today as he's living, uh, a long
way away at the moment, permanently in the United Kingdom,
and doing wonderfully well given the 11 hour time difference
to be joining us online. Our board meetings for Stephen
of recent times have been brutal in terms of their timing,
but we thank him for joining us online. And you'll
(11:26):
hear from Stephen a bit later, but a round of
applause for him. The next recipient is a rather interesting one.
It's from a company that many of us will know,
and many of us will enjoy the product of their technology.
So it's from a company called Apple. Uh, and it
(11:50):
is actually their recruitment team that we wish to commend, uh,
with a Vision Australia award today. Vision. Vision Australia is
deeply indebted to Apple's recruitment team representatives are that are
Fiona Cochrane and Kylie Goodwin and Kylie. Kylie have been
(12:13):
instrumental in recent times in placing 15 Vision Australia employment
clients into ongoing employment at Apple, most of whom remain there,
with some progressing to leadership roles. The team have also
placed several clients with seeing Eye Dogs into their Apple
(12:34):
retail stores. We are humbled by Apple's leadership in this practice,
and their recruitment team are to be commended for their
continued support of Vision Australia and the wider blindness and
low vision community. The Apple team, unfortunately, are unable to
(12:55):
join us here today, but by happy circumstance we have
the opportunity to present this award to them in Sydney
on Monday. So David and Chris Edwards, our manager of
government relations and advocacy, will be will be delighted to
present that award to the Apple recruitment team in Sydney
(13:16):
on Monday. So a round of applause for those guys
as well.
S2 (13:26):
I'm Sam Corley and you're listening to Talking Vision on
Vision Australia Radio, associated stations of the Radio Reading Network
and the Community Radio Network. I hope you enjoyed the
first half of our award winners from this year's Vision
(13:46):
Australia Annual General Meeting. If you missed any part of
those conversations or you'd love to hear them again. Talking
vision is available on the podcast app of your choice
or through the Vision Australia a library. You can also
find the program on the Vision Australia Radio website. Simply
(14:08):
head to VA radio.org. That's VA radio. All one word.
And now back to Ian as he introduces the next
award winner.
S4 (14:21):
Our next recipient is another retiring director, Mr. Darren Fittler.
Also joining us online today. Darren was first appointed as
a director of Vision Australia in October of 2016. Like
his colleague Stephen, and we have been privileged to have
had Darren's knowledge and lived experience and in particular his
(14:42):
specialised legal skills for the past nine years. Very much
an expert in the not for profit sector, Darren is
unable to join us in Kooyong today, as I've mentioned,
but we do look forward to presenting him this award
later this year. Uh, and we will invite Darren too,
to speak later on in today's proceedings. The next award
(15:07):
recipient is Mr. Arkin. Yusuf. Now, Arkin, if I can
ask you to come forward. Um, now, Arkin. Despite the
challenges he's faced, including the loss of his sight, he's also, uh,
had to challenge learning English as his third language and
returning to study later in life. But he's not that
(15:29):
that stop him. He's completed not only one, but two
master's degrees in mathematics at UTS and is now working
towards a PhD. His goal wasn't just academic, though. He
wanted to show people, especially those living with disability, that
nothing was impossible. Arkin has been volunteering since 2011, teaching
(15:54):
maths to migrant students, supporting blind individuals to learn adaptive
technology and spending over a decade regularly visiting residents in
aged care to bring them some hope and encouragement. We
thank Arkin for his continued support of people who are
blind or have low vision, and want to congratulate him
(16:15):
today with the awarding of a Vision Australia award. Now,
I believe that Arkin will want to say a few
words and then we'll pause for a photo. Arkin, over
(16:36):
to you.
S7 (16:40):
Thank you for all the staff in Virgin Australia to
let me stand here and give this award. This award
made me happy and give me a power to give
more and more and more. Thank all the people who
nominated me. I think. I think I made them. I
(17:02):
don't know anyone of them. Now I will search and
find that just one thing. When I attend the uni,
all they asked me you are blind. What were useful
of the uni? What they useful of PhD and master's
degree I complete two master's degree. My goal wasn't master's degree. Always,
(17:28):
always I am saying my goal is you to show
all the people around me what the meaning of challenge.
Inspire trust in yourself. You can do it. We need that.
We need to teach, especially the young, how to be confident,
(17:50):
how to be trust in yourself. Nothing is bigger than you.
Thank you all.
S4 (18:05):
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you indeed. Now,
our final recipient of a Vision Australia award today is
another retiring director, doctor Cameron Rowles. Cameron, if I could
ask you to come forward, please. Cameron is retiring from
the Vision Australia board this year, but he was first
(18:28):
appointed as a director of Vision Australia in October of 2015.
Cam has made a very strong contribution through his lived experience,
chairing our Client Services Committee and serving on other committees
across his board career here at Vision Australia. His labor
law expertise has benefited our board greatly. We would like
(18:51):
to invite Cameron to speak shortly, but at this time,
please come forward, Cameron, and Accept Your Vision Australia award,
and also along with the gift that was bestowed on Julian. Uh,
one of Holly's lovely canvas artworks as well. So congratulations, Cameron.
S8 (19:16):
Thank you. Thank you. You'll hear you'll hear from.
S4 (19:19):
Cameron very shortly. Now, in a few moments. In a
few moments time, I'll invite Bill to address you again
with a message around our departing board members. So, over
to Bill once more.
S3 (19:36):
Thanks, Ian. I warmly congratulate all of the award recipients,
and I thank you all for your contributions to Vision
Australia and to the people whom we serve.
S2 (19:52):
And as promised, here's cam right now, but not before
a quick intro from outgoing chair Bill jolly.
S3 (20:01):
I'll now invite Cameron Rolls to speak. Cam has contributed
strongly to the board through his lived experience and expertise
in industrial relations. He's worked hard to deepen the embedding
of lived experience in the DNA of Vision Australia, and
to give blind and low vision staff the chance to
(20:22):
shine and progress to leadership in the organisation. I know
cam is very proud to leave the board, knowing he
contributed strongly to the recruitment of a CEO with lived experience.
So I'll pass over to you now, cam, to say
some words. Thank you very.
S5 (20:40):
Much.
S3 (20:41):
For this opportunity, Bill, to speak with you today. And
I understand it's very dangerous to ask a lawyer if
they'd like to say a few words. Um, but I
promise I won't wear out my welcome. So I was
lucky enough to join the Vision Australia board back in
2015 to fill a vacancy created by my friend and mentor,
(21:04):
Professor Ron McCallum, who in turn had joined the Vision
Australia board following the resignation of its first chair, Doctor
Graeme Innes. And I was privileged to follow in professor
McCallum's footsteps and would like to take this opportunity to
pay tribute to him for showing faith in me and
recommending me to the board, and to thank him for
(21:26):
his guidance and advice throughout my career. As some of
you might know, my background is as a workplace relations
and corporate lawyer who has worked in private and government
practice and for the last couple of decades as a
legal academic, and I'd served on boards of smaller organisations before,
and I thought that this experience, combined with my legal skills,
(21:49):
would equip me well for a role on the Vision
Australia board. In retrospect, Respect. I had no idea what
I was getting myself into. I learned so much, not
only about the way boards work, but about the disability sector,
the way services were and are delivered, relationships with funders
(22:11):
and donors, and in particular about the blindness and low
vision community of which I'm a member and which I
have had the privilege to serve. I also learned about
the breadth of Vision Australia's activities, and continue to be
impressed by the dedication of Vision Australia's wonderful front line
(22:33):
and other staff. And so when one is asked to
speak on leaving an organisation, there's a temptation to look
back and reflect on key highlights. You'll be relieved to
hear that I'm not going to do too much of
this other than to say that I am proud to
(22:53):
have contributed substantially to Vision Australia, creating an inclusive and
blind and low vision friendly recruitment process, which led to
many blind and low vision applicants and of course, many
sighted applicants, and ultimately to the appointment of a very
well credentialed CEO who has his own lived experience of
(23:16):
low vision. David, I wish you all the very best
in your new role, and I've no doubt that you
will bring a perspective of lived experience, which is similar
to the vast majority of our clients who are not
totally blind like me, but low vision, facing the prospect
of losing more of their sight as their lives progress.
(23:38):
I am also proud to have brought strong advocacy for
the rights of blind and low vision people, underpinned by
a commercial focus to my work on the board. As
the NDIS and the about to be introduced, changes to
aged care funding have given clients never before seen choice
and control over how the funding which supports them will
(24:01):
be used. And I believe Vision Australia still has some
way to go to fully adapt to this new reality.
Some of you who follow Vision Australia's governance closely might
remember that prior to last year, I'd served nine years
on the board. Last year, I was elected to a
(24:23):
final three year term as permitted by the Vision Australia Constitution.
So I hit I officially hit Darren's long service leave cap.
The last year in particular has been a challenging one
for the board. As you're aware, the board is undergoing
a reset with the departure of several long serving directors
(24:48):
and the current chair stepping down. It has made a
decision to go to market for its new chair, as
it did when appointing the organisation's new CEO. I'm pleased
that the board has opened up the chair opportunity to
all members of the blind and low vision community with
(25:10):
the appropriate skills. As the board should look, in my view,
to the widest field of blind and low vision candidates
when selecting its new leader. I had aspirations to potentially
be chair of this wonderful organisation, but I can only
offer because of constitutional limits. The organisation two years and
(25:33):
there's a feeling that the organisation may need more chair
stability than I can offer. And so in these circumstances,
I've decided to assist the organisation's reset by resigning from
the board. So having done that, I've certainly got a
few thank yous. To conclude, I'd very much like to
(25:54):
thank my board colleagues who have worked with me and
taught me so much over the past ten years. I'd
also like to thank the leadership team and all of
the wonderful Vision Australia staff. I'd also like to thank
the members of Vision Australia and the staff for the
trust you placed in me as a director, and for
(26:16):
the privilege of serving this wonderful organisation. Finally, I would
like to thank my family. Roles like this, in addition
to full time employment, inevitably mean long absences from family activities,
and I thank them for their patience and love. I
(26:36):
wish the organisation all the very best as it continues
to serve the blind and low vision community of Australia.
And thank you so much for the privilege.
S2 (26:52):
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.
So please get in touch anytime on our email at
Talking Australia. That's talking vision all one word at Vision
(27:18):
Australia dot. But until next week it's Sam Coley saying
bye for now.
S1 (27:27):
You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during
business hours on one 384 7406. That's one 384 74
six or by visiting Vision Australia that's Vision Australia.
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