Countdown to Carols: How your donation helps this Christmas.

Vision Australia Radio host Chris Thompson speaks to father Angelo and son Mikhail to learn how Vision Australia's client services help kids live the life they chose and why your donation to Carols is so meaningful.

Catch Vision Australia Carols by Candlelight from 8 pm Christmas Eve on 9 and 9 Now and tune in to Vision Australia Radio for our audio described simulcast.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

S1 (00:05):
Well, yes, as Ron was just saying. Um, the funds
raised by Carol's by Candlelight are really important for the
delivery of client services from Vision Australia. And, uh, one
of the participants in that part of the organisation's operation
is Mikhail. Um, Mikhail is on the line with his dad, Angelo.

(00:27):
Welcome to the show, the two of you.

S2 (00:29):
Hi. And thank you for having us on.

S1 (00:32):
Um, Angelo, how important, uh, is your interaction with Vision
Australia and the the ability of Virgin Australia to provide
these services to you and to Macao?

S2 (00:45):
Well, it just from basic, fundamental, everyday things that we
take for granted and the methods and the tools that
are required, um, are demonstrated to us and, um, make
Mikhail's day to day, um, a lot easier. Also, it

(01:07):
makes us understand how we can help Mikhail, um, uh,
go through day to day and build a future without
having to worry about simple things. Uh, and that could
be just a simple thing of how to coordinate, um,
his breakfast or how to get his shoelaces together or prepare, um,
his homework. There's so many things that we just don't

(01:28):
even think about that we just need to put things
in place or use appropriate tools. And if it wasn't
for the team division Australia, um, we wouldn't be able
to do these things. And we're so grateful to have
such amazing people to help us with these things.

S1 (01:46):
Mikhail, can I ask you, if you think back to
a time before you were working with Vision Australia, and
then you think about what your life is like now.
Can you describe for us what's changed over the time
that Vision Australia has been involved with you?

S3 (02:04):
So ever since I was very little, um, Vision Australia
has been involved with me. I don't remember a time
that Vision Australia was not involved with me. Uh, even
when I was little, um, when I had to walk,
I had to listen to the sound of something to

(02:27):
walk towards. It was a normal sighted kid could save
the object and would walk towards it. So Vision Australia
would help with that. And when I was in kinda
Vision Australia would make sure everything's safe and make sure

(02:47):
everything's accessible. Um, I make sure at school that rooms
are safe. Steps are highlighted so that I can see them. Um,
if even Australia wasn't helping me, things would be very
difficult to access and do.

S1 (03:08):
Now you play tennis and you play cricket. Um, yes.
It is the work that Vision Australia has done with you.
Does that assist that in some way?

S3 (03:21):
So tennis and cricket, they're blind sports and vision impaired sports.
For the so like the accessible so visually impaired and
blind people can play them which helps. For example the
ball has a bell in it. So you can listen

(03:42):
to the ball when you hit it and you get
two bounces, not one.

S1 (03:48):
Do you prefer to bet or bowl?

S3 (03:52):
For cricket. I don't mind.

S1 (03:55):
Oh, you're an all rounder.

S3 (03:57):
Yeah, because I buy trainers, like, on all positions.

S1 (04:01):
Oh, fantastic. And, uh, I think you're a bit keen
on history as well, aren't you?

S3 (04:08):
Yes. History is something that fascinates me, and it always has.

S1 (04:14):
What particular era of history are you drawn to?

S3 (04:18):
Uh, my favorite or the most interesting time of history
was World War two. Uh, because it was very interesting
how countries got drawn in to one another and the
stance that Germany took.

S1 (04:36):
Angela, I'm going to ask you the same question I
asked Mikhail. Um, and your memory will probably go back
a little bit further than Mikhail's. Yeah. Of course, if
you think back to a time before you were involved
with Vision Australia, and then you think about now, look,
can you describe the change you've seen happen in your life?

S2 (04:56):
A good example would be, um, when he was newborn and, uh,
I would come home from work, um, and Mikhail would
start crying. Um, obviously. Uh, I did not. Why? He
wasn't happy to know that I was home. And it
sort of became obvious to us once the Vision Australia, uh,

(05:17):
colleague had actually, um, explained to us, we told them
the problem and they said to us, well, the issue
is that you're not actually announcing that you're coming, that
you're in here so the child doesn't know who it is.
So a very simple thing of me just opening the
door and saying, Mikhail, home, dad's home. And all of

(05:37):
a sudden, instead of the baby crying, the baby would start, um,
smiling and giggling and, uh, you know, happy that that
would be home. So just a very simple thing like
that was was a big change for us emotionally and
mentally as well too. So there's so many examples like that, um, that, uh,

(05:58):
things that, uh, techniques that we needed to use, um,
whether it was tools or methods or we couldn't have
done it on our own, it had to be from
people that were trained in this area. And obviously, the
team at Vision Australia are experts and have the ability

(06:19):
to support families like ours through this journey.

S1 (06:23):
Fantastic. Are you both looking forward to Carol's by Candlelight?

S2 (06:26):
Oh, absolutely.

S4 (06:27):
I can't wait.

S1 (06:28):
Well, you don't have to wait very long. It's on
very soon. Um, and, uh, I've said this before, but
I'll say it again. You can donate right now or
all through the broadcast of Carols by Candlelight by calling
1800 422 077 or visiting Carol's Vision australia.org. Angela and Mikhail, thank

(06:51):
you so much for being part of this special pre
Carol's show.

S2 (06:55):
Thank you.

S3 (06:56):
Thanks for having us and everyone listening.

S2 (06:58):
It's a it's a great cause. So please every little
bit helps. So um please support um such a great um, uh,
I suppose a cause.

S1 (07:10):
Fantastic. We'll have a great night. Have a great Christmas.

S3 (07:13):
For having.

S4 (07:13):
A pleasure.

S3 (07:15):
Christmas. Bye, everyone.