November 16, 2023 • 13 mins
As part of Countdown to Carols, Ron Hooton, CEO for Vision Australia, talks with Peter Greco about an invitation to take part in the inaugural Santa Fun Run raising funds for Vision Australia's Children’s Services.
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Episode Transcript
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S1 (00:05):
Well, Christmas is getting closer and that means that Australia
got plenty on their plate. Let's speak to their CEO,
Ron Hooton. Ron, welcome a bit of a bit early,
but Merry Christmas.
S2 (00:16):
Merry Christmas to you too, Peter. And to all your listeners.
It's great to be with you.
S1 (00:20):
Now, of course, the sort of hallmark of Christmas is
Australia's Carols Christmas Eve. But Christmas is kind of coming
early as far as Australia go.
S2 (00:29):
It is this year to bring Christmas cheer to so
many people in Melbourne and around Australia. We're having a
Santa's Fun run on the 25th of November. It's it's
a way of getting the season started a little bit earlier.
S1 (00:42):
So tell us a bit about it. I believe the
setting is a lovely setting.
S2 (00:45):
The setting is the Royal Botanical Gardens and Melbourne. There's
a track there called the Tan Track. It's 3.8km around
and it's a bit legendary really. Hundreds of thousands of
people a year run around the tan track for their
exercise or just a lovely day out in the sunshine.
So we're going to do a couple of laps of
that and everybody's welcome.
S1 (01:06):
Yeah. It's a set of fun run. And I guess
Santas the is the theme for the day as far
as dressing up goes.
S2 (01:13):
Oh look Santas of all ages, genders, creeds, races, any
Santa you like and those who register early for the
event will get a Santa T-shirt. It's a pretty special
t shirt.
S1 (01:27):
How does this idea come up? It's kind of. I'm
sure it's not coincidental that exactly. It's a month before Christmas,
so that's a good timing. It lands on a Saturday.
S2 (01:37):
It is. And it came up from us really wanting
to bring Carols by Candlelight as a, as a concept
of people just a little bit earlier so people can
get ready for the big night because the, the 24th
of December is a really, really big night for Virgin
Australia and for a lot of people around Australia who
love to tune in to Carols by Candlelight. And this
(01:57):
year it's the 86th year. Well, you.
S1 (01:59):
And I were talking a bit of cricket before we
went to air. And so next year's 87, which for
Australian cricketers is the devil's number, but I'm sure it'll
be still a very, very good occasion for the 87th
occasion next year. But maybe we'll talk about that as
the next year gets closer. Just a bit more about
the day. I believe there's a few surprises in store,
so maybe you can't tell us too much about them
(02:20):
because they're surprises.
S2 (02:22):
Well, for the Santa's Fun run, we've got Brooks as
a sponsor. They're the people who do the marvellous running shoes.
And there'll be some giveaways there. There probably be a
few seeing our dogs floating around the place, and lots
of people dressed up in centre gear. But for the
for the Carols by Candlelight this year, it's going to
be another great night. We do have a few surprises
(02:43):
in store. It's going to be a great evening for everyone,
but there'll be for the second year in a row,
a young lady who I'm very, very fond of. Great
friend of mine, Lara Naqvi, is going to be singing.
And Lara's from Sydney and she's blind.
S3 (03:01):
Yeah.
S2 (03:02):
She's been featuring already this year on on the ami
the Amy television ads as the, as a person with
a disability representing the blindness and low vision community. So
Lara's got the voice of an angel, and she is
absolutely going to rock it out there on on Christmas Eve.
S1 (03:22):
You talked about Lara and the ads. I mean, another
great thing that Lara did a couple of years ago
might be longer. Our time gets away was when she
was on The Voice. And, you know, you can't underestimate
what sort of a role an appearance like that has
as far as spreading the abilities of the person who's
bound or low vision to the general public, who, you know,
apart from maybe seeing Lara on TV, might not know
(03:44):
much about blindness or vision impairment.
S2 (03:46):
Well, she's a remarkably talented lady. I know she won't
mind me telling your listeners that she's about to graduate
from her Masters of Music therapy. So she's she's smart
as well and has a fantastic future ahead of her
with nothing getting in her way. She's just an amazing talent.
S1 (04:04):
Ron, getting back to the Santa fun run. I think
this is good news for some people. Might you have
a Collingwood premiership player there on the day as well too?
I don't know, of course a bit of havoc or
maybe sign autographs or or do something important.
S2 (04:20):
We do. We have one of the Collingwood players. They're
not terribly sure just exactly which one it is yet,
whether that's being announced ahead of the time. But you know,
they are the Premiership premiers and that's that's a fantastic
achievement for them. But we will have one of their
members along, along with lots of giveaways, the Amy Cheer event,
photo opportunities with centre Live entertainment. They'll just be a
(04:43):
whole sleigh load of surprises. On that day.
S1 (04:48):
I heard that Ron a sly light. Yes, we all
picked up on that. Very, very clever. I think that
that might get used a few more times between down
the 25th of November and maybe the 25th of December
as well. Actually, on a serious night or semi-serious night,
you say Collingwood, I think of that. Wonderful presenter of
Talking Vision, Sam Colley, who is a mad. I mean
(05:09):
that in a most reverent way, a mad Collingwood fan.
So I think Collingwood, Sam, I should say, might be
there before the gates open on that fun run day.
S2 (05:21):
Oh, I suspect so. He might even do a running
commentary and probably would want to interview the the AFL
player we've got there. But, you know, mad Collingwood supporters.
There seem to be a few of them.
S1 (05:31):
Especially after they win a Premiership run. They seem to
sort of grow in numbers.
S2 (05:35):
Oh yes. And look, you know, I have that last
year my wife was a Geelong supporter. And you know, she,
she she's she's pretty passionate, pretty keen. And you know
that the result was about an 80.180 points last year.
She was worried up until three minutes to go. That
would be a comeback from the Swans.
S1 (05:56):
Yeah I think anyone that breaks for a team that's
in front at grand final day never really relaxes to
that siren, guys, and of course this year with the grandfather,
it was quite the opposite. Wasn't with a very much
a cliffhanger in the Collingwood. You know they now very
customary close finishing and being in front when the siren goes.
S2 (06:16):
Oh yes, it's a great tradition. The grand final going
to that match no matter who's playing, is a wonderful treat.
S1 (06:23):
Well, I'll keep getting off the topic. You do that
to me. I don't know why, but getting back to
the sad, the fun run. So can anyone get be
in it? Or do you have to kind of be
a sad to to be in it?
S2 (06:33):
Well, no. You just need to register to be in it.
If people go on to the onto the internet, onto
onto Google search or one of the other search engines
and type in Santa's fun run bit in Australia, it'll
pop up a web page for people to register. And
as I mentioned before, that registration gets you a Santa
Fun Run t shirt sponsored by Brooks.
S1 (06:55):
Fantastic. Now are the funds, in a sense almost going
exclusively to the children's services at this Australia provide?
S2 (07:03):
Yeah, it'll be part of the carols by Candlelight campaign
for children's services, which are very, very important to us.
We had the Life Ready program, which we've launched this year,
and that'll support many, many children across Australia who are
blind or have low vision. They are fantastic kids. They're
well worth our support. And when I think about a
(07:25):
young lady like Laura, who has been a client of
ours for for more than a decade, the benefits show
every single time the benefit show of the great work
that my colleagues at Mission Australia do.
S1 (07:38):
Okay. It's one of the important things about something like
that is that, you know, so-called early intervention where a
child or even a baby market diagnosed, and then if
they call on this Australia to bring in their team
of professionals to kind of help out alongside very much
in conjunction with the family, that's when the best outcomes
(07:58):
are result.
S2 (07:59):
Oh, absolutely. The earlier the better. And, you know, so
much of the earlier services that we do are focused
on the on the parents and the family because it
can be quite confronting. And parents start off with a
not so much a negative but almost a catastrophize view
of the world. And we spend such a lot of
(08:19):
time just supporting those parents through those early months and
saying that, hey, just because your child doesn't have full vision,
it doesn't mean that all hope is lost. In fact,
there are so many people in the blindness and low
vision community have succeeded so well, and we're held to
help here to help you with that for your child.
S1 (08:38):
Yeah, Ron, there'd be a lot of people listening in
to not be they adults or be they children that,
you know, would probably be able to relate that as
far as their parents went, you know, when their parents
discovered that they were diagnosed with an eye condition and
maybe there wasn't much hope in terms of retention or
improvement of sight, their parents would have been, why us?
(09:00):
And what do we do from here? And what does
it mean for my child? And you know, you know,
they're kind of natural reactions. But by the same token,
there's ways to sort of alleviate or minimize some of those,
those thoughts.
S2 (09:14):
Well, we can help them on a pathway that makes
the most of their, their child's potential in the future.
And I think that's a marvelous thing to do, is
one of the things that keeps me at Bridges in
Australia for very, very many years, just the fantastic work
that our people do.
S1 (09:30):
And of course, you know, once they become adults, there's
lots of opportunities, particularly if they've been able to secure
a good education, lots of great opportunities in the area
of employment and other spheres as well, both professional and
sort of recreational as well.
S2 (09:46):
Oh, absolutely. The work that we do in the early
years for children, I mean, we start talking to children
as young as 2 or 3 years of age, about
about jobs and about their future, because creating that sense
of ambition is one of the really, really important ingredients,
along with having those. As children do the same chores
as their their siblings, and learning is learning every time. Because,
(10:12):
you know, in my view, just because a person's eyes
don't work quite as well as someone else's, that's no
reason why they can't be successful. The technology we have today,
as you well know, Peter, is so capable that it
knocks down those those barriers. And I just love seeing
children as young as a couple of years of age,
using their iPad to see the world through that piece
(10:35):
of technology. It's just marvelous. Yeah, it's a great point.
S1 (10:38):
You also make, Ron, you know, no excuse for not
making a bed or helping do the dishes or put
out the rubbish bin. You know, just because you're blind
doesn't mean you can't do those things as well.
S2 (10:47):
Dead. Right?
S1 (10:49):
I think I was taught that lesson pretty early. Hey, Ron,
just before you go, we chatted to you a little
while ago with the New Zealand trek happening next year
after the Santa Barbara. Maybe that's a bit of a
warm up event. How's that coming along? I think you've
got a full house now, haven't you?
S2 (11:03):
We're very close to having a full house. I think
there's 1 or 2 slots left in the in the,
in the trek. It's towards the end of March. And again,
it's one of those things if you Google Vision Australia
New Zealand trek. But I started my training. It's going
pretty well. I've done the trek before. It's a beautiful
(11:25):
part of the heart of New Zealand and I'm really
looking forward to it. Spending the time with with people
who support our organisation.
S1 (11:31):
We've spoken to both people of blind or low vision
and others that work for Vision Australia that are taking
part in that. They are very, very excited as well.
I've got a feeling it might get a little bit
competitive run, so you might have to keep that training up.
I think you might get shown up otherwise.
S2 (11:45):
Oh, I'm up for it Peter.
S3 (11:47):
I'm well and truly upright. All right, well.
S1 (11:50):
We'll circulate that line to all those that are taking
part just to give them a bit more motivation. Right.
Great to catch up the fun run first time. So
hopefully it'll be another tradition sort of in the following
in the footsteps of carols coming up on the 25th
of November, we'll put details up on our Facebook page. Ron,
thanks very much. And before you go, happy birthday for
(12:12):
the other day.
S2 (12:13):
Oh yeah. Thanks very much. Good news travels fast. I.
S1 (12:18):
I didn't I didn't believe that number that you were.
I didn't think you were a day over 82. Yeah.
Good to catch up on you. Take care. I better
get out of here.
S2 (12:32):
Yeah. Thanks very much, Peter. Talk to you soon.
S3 (12:34):
Ron.
S1 (12:35):
There they see I for Australia. It's had a fun
run coming up in Melbourne on the 25th of November.
And then of course on the 24th of December. That
time honoured carols sponsored and supported by Vision Australia, a great,
fun and fund raiser.
Well, Christmas is getting closer and that means that Australia
got plenty on their plate. Let's speak to their CEO,
Ron Hooton. Ron, welcome a bit of a bit early,
but Merry Christmas.
S2 (00:16):
Merry Christmas to you too, Peter. And to all your listeners.
It's great to be with you.
S1 (00:20):
Now, of course, the sort of hallmark of Christmas is
Australia's Carols Christmas Eve. But Christmas is kind of coming
early as far as Australia go.
S2 (00:29):
It is this year to bring Christmas cheer to so
many people in Melbourne and around Australia. We're having a
Santa's Fun run on the 25th of November. It's it's
a way of getting the season started a little bit earlier.
S1 (00:42):
So tell us a bit about it. I believe the
setting is a lovely setting.
S2 (00:45):
The setting is the Royal Botanical Gardens and Melbourne. There's
a track there called the Tan Track. It's 3.8km around
and it's a bit legendary really. Hundreds of thousands of
people a year run around the tan track for their
exercise or just a lovely day out in the sunshine.
So we're going to do a couple of laps of
that and everybody's welcome.
S1 (01:06):
Yeah. It's a set of fun run. And I guess
Santas the is the theme for the day as far
as dressing up goes.
S2 (01:13):
Oh look Santas of all ages, genders, creeds, races, any
Santa you like and those who register early for the
event will get a Santa T-shirt. It's a pretty special
t shirt.
S1 (01:27):
How does this idea come up? It's kind of. I'm
sure it's not coincidental that exactly. It's a month before Christmas,
so that's a good timing. It lands on a Saturday.
S2 (01:37):
It is. And it came up from us really wanting
to bring Carols by Candlelight as a, as a concept
of people just a little bit earlier so people can
get ready for the big night because the, the 24th
of December is a really, really big night for Virgin
Australia and for a lot of people around Australia who
love to tune in to Carols by Candlelight. And this
(01:57):
year it's the 86th year. Well, you.
S1 (01:59):
And I were talking a bit of cricket before we
went to air. And so next year's 87, which for
Australian cricketers is the devil's number, but I'm sure it'll
be still a very, very good occasion for the 87th
occasion next year. But maybe we'll talk about that as
the next year gets closer. Just a bit more about
the day. I believe there's a few surprises in store,
so maybe you can't tell us too much about them
(02:20):
because they're surprises.
S2 (02:22):
Well, for the Santa's Fun run, we've got Brooks as
a sponsor. They're the people who do the marvellous running shoes.
And there'll be some giveaways there. There probably be a
few seeing our dogs floating around the place, and lots
of people dressed up in centre gear. But for the
for the Carols by Candlelight this year, it's going to
be another great night. We do have a few surprises
(02:43):
in store. It's going to be a great evening for everyone,
but there'll be for the second year in a row,
a young lady who I'm very, very fond of. Great
friend of mine, Lara Naqvi, is going to be singing.
And Lara's from Sydney and she's blind.
S3 (03:01):
Yeah.
S2 (03:02):
She's been featuring already this year on on the ami
the Amy television ads as the, as a person with
a disability representing the blindness and low vision community. So
Lara's got the voice of an angel, and she is
absolutely going to rock it out there on on Christmas Eve.
S1 (03:22):
You talked about Lara and the ads. I mean, another
great thing that Lara did a couple of years ago
might be longer. Our time gets away was when she
was on The Voice. And, you know, you can't underestimate
what sort of a role an appearance like that has
as far as spreading the abilities of the person who's
bound or low vision to the general public, who, you know,
apart from maybe seeing Lara on TV, might not know
(03:44):
much about blindness or vision impairment.
S2 (03:46):
Well, she's a remarkably talented lady. I know she won't
mind me telling your listeners that she's about to graduate
from her Masters of Music therapy. So she's she's smart
as well and has a fantastic future ahead of her
with nothing getting in her way. She's just an amazing talent.
S1 (04:04):
Ron, getting back to the Santa fun run. I think
this is good news for some people. Might you have
a Collingwood premiership player there on the day as well too?
I don't know, of course a bit of havoc or
maybe sign autographs or or do something important.
S2 (04:20):
We do. We have one of the Collingwood players. They're
not terribly sure just exactly which one it is yet,
whether that's being announced ahead of the time. But you know,
they are the Premiership premiers and that's that's a fantastic
achievement for them. But we will have one of their
members along, along with lots of giveaways, the Amy Cheer event,
photo opportunities with centre Live entertainment. They'll just be a
(04:43):
whole sleigh load of surprises. On that day.
S1 (04:48):
I heard that Ron a sly light. Yes, we all
picked up on that. Very, very clever. I think that
that might get used a few more times between down
the 25th of November and maybe the 25th of December
as well. Actually, on a serious night or semi-serious night,
you say Collingwood, I think of that. Wonderful presenter of
Talking Vision, Sam Colley, who is a mad. I mean
(05:09):
that in a most reverent way, a mad Collingwood fan.
So I think Collingwood, Sam, I should say, might be
there before the gates open on that fun run day.
S2 (05:21):
Oh, I suspect so. He might even do a running
commentary and probably would want to interview the the AFL
player we've got there. But, you know, mad Collingwood supporters.
There seem to be a few of them.
S1 (05:31):
Especially after they win a Premiership run. They seem to
sort of grow in numbers.
S2 (05:35):
Oh yes. And look, you know, I have that last
year my wife was a Geelong supporter. And you know, she,
she she's she's pretty passionate, pretty keen. And you know
that the result was about an 80.180 points last year.
She was worried up until three minutes to go. That
would be a comeback from the Swans.
S1 (05:56):
Yeah I think anyone that breaks for a team that's
in front at grand final day never really relaxes to
that siren, guys, and of course this year with the grandfather,
it was quite the opposite. Wasn't with a very much
a cliffhanger in the Collingwood. You know they now very
customary close finishing and being in front when the siren goes.
S2 (06:16):
Oh yes, it's a great tradition. The grand final going
to that match no matter who's playing, is a wonderful treat.
S1 (06:23):
Well, I'll keep getting off the topic. You do that
to me. I don't know why, but getting back to
the sad, the fun run. So can anyone get be
in it? Or do you have to kind of be
a sad to to be in it?
S2 (06:33):
Well, no. You just need to register to be in it.
If people go on to the onto the internet, onto
onto Google search or one of the other search engines
and type in Santa's fun run bit in Australia, it'll
pop up a web page for people to register. And
as I mentioned before, that registration gets you a Santa
Fun Run t shirt sponsored by Brooks.
S1 (06:55):
Fantastic. Now are the funds, in a sense almost going
exclusively to the children's services at this Australia provide?
S2 (07:03):
Yeah, it'll be part of the carols by Candlelight campaign
for children's services, which are very, very important to us.
We had the Life Ready program, which we've launched this year,
and that'll support many, many children across Australia who are
blind or have low vision. They are fantastic kids. They're
well worth our support. And when I think about a
(07:25):
young lady like Laura, who has been a client of
ours for for more than a decade, the benefits show
every single time the benefit show of the great work
that my colleagues at Mission Australia do.
S1 (07:38):
Okay. It's one of the important things about something like
that is that, you know, so-called early intervention where a
child or even a baby market diagnosed, and then if
they call on this Australia to bring in their team
of professionals to kind of help out alongside very much
in conjunction with the family, that's when the best outcomes
(07:58):
are result.
S2 (07:59):
Oh, absolutely. The earlier the better. And, you know, so
much of the earlier services that we do are focused
on the on the parents and the family because it
can be quite confronting. And parents start off with a
not so much a negative but almost a catastrophize view
of the world. And we spend such a lot of
(08:19):
time just supporting those parents through those early months and
saying that, hey, just because your child doesn't have full vision,
it doesn't mean that all hope is lost. In fact,
there are so many people in the blindness and low
vision community have succeeded so well, and we're held to
help here to help you with that for your child.
S1 (08:38):
Yeah, Ron, there'd be a lot of people listening in
to not be they adults or be they children that,
you know, would probably be able to relate that as
far as their parents went, you know, when their parents
discovered that they were diagnosed with an eye condition and
maybe there wasn't much hope in terms of retention or
improvement of sight, their parents would have been, why us?
(09:00):
And what do we do from here? And what does
it mean for my child? And you know, you know,
they're kind of natural reactions. But by the same token,
there's ways to sort of alleviate or minimize some of those,
those thoughts.
S2 (09:14):
Well, we can help them on a pathway that makes
the most of their, their child's potential in the future.
And I think that's a marvelous thing to do, is
one of the things that keeps me at Bridges in
Australia for very, very many years, just the fantastic work
that our people do.
S1 (09:30):
And of course, you know, once they become adults, there's
lots of opportunities, particularly if they've been able to secure
a good education, lots of great opportunities in the area
of employment and other spheres as well, both professional and
sort of recreational as well.
S2 (09:46):
Oh, absolutely. The work that we do in the early
years for children, I mean, we start talking to children
as young as 2 or 3 years of age, about
about jobs and about their future, because creating that sense
of ambition is one of the really, really important ingredients,
along with having those. As children do the same chores
as their their siblings, and learning is learning every time. Because,
(10:12):
you know, in my view, just because a person's eyes
don't work quite as well as someone else's, that's no
reason why they can't be successful. The technology we have today,
as you well know, Peter, is so capable that it
knocks down those those barriers. And I just love seeing
children as young as a couple of years of age,
using their iPad to see the world through that piece
(10:35):
of technology. It's just marvelous. Yeah, it's a great point.
S1 (10:38):
You also make, Ron, you know, no excuse for not
making a bed or helping do the dishes or put
out the rubbish bin. You know, just because you're blind
doesn't mean you can't do those things as well.
S2 (10:47):
Dead. Right?
S1 (10:49):
I think I was taught that lesson pretty early. Hey, Ron,
just before you go, we chatted to you a little
while ago with the New Zealand trek happening next year
after the Santa Barbara. Maybe that's a bit of a
warm up event. How's that coming along? I think you've
got a full house now, haven't you?
S2 (11:03):
We're very close to having a full house. I think
there's 1 or 2 slots left in the in the,
in the trek. It's towards the end of March. And again,
it's one of those things if you Google Vision Australia
New Zealand trek. But I started my training. It's going
pretty well. I've done the trek before. It's a beautiful
(11:25):
part of the heart of New Zealand and I'm really
looking forward to it. Spending the time with with people
who support our organisation.
S1 (11:31):
We've spoken to both people of blind or low vision
and others that work for Vision Australia that are taking
part in that. They are very, very excited as well.
I've got a feeling it might get a little bit
competitive run, so you might have to keep that training up.
I think you might get shown up otherwise.
S2 (11:45):
Oh, I'm up for it Peter.
S3 (11:47):
I'm well and truly upright. All right, well.
S1 (11:50):
We'll circulate that line to all those that are taking
part just to give them a bit more motivation. Right.
Great to catch up the fun run first time. So
hopefully it'll be another tradition sort of in the following
in the footsteps of carols coming up on the 25th
of November, we'll put details up on our Facebook page. Ron,
thanks very much. And before you go, happy birthday for
(12:12):
the other day.
S2 (12:13):
Oh yeah. Thanks very much. Good news travels fast. I.
S1 (12:18):
I didn't I didn't believe that number that you were.
I didn't think you were a day over 82. Yeah.
Good to catch up on you. Take care. I better
get out of here.
S2 (12:32):
Yeah. Thanks very much, Peter. Talk to you soon.
S3 (12:34):
Ron.
S1 (12:35):
There they see I for Australia. It's had a fun
run coming up in Melbourne on the 25th of November.
And then of course on the 24th of December. That
time honoured carols sponsored and supported by Vision Australia, a great,
fun and fund raiser.
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UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd brings her championship swag to iHeart Women’s Sports with Fudd Around and Find Out, a weekly podcast that takes fans along for the ride as Azzi spends her final year of college trying to reclaim the National Championship and prepare to be a first round WNBA draft pick. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a world-class athlete in the public spotlight while still managing schoolwork, friendships and family time? It’s time to Fudd Around and Find Out!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!