Dr Ros Sackerley

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Episode Transcript

S1 (00:18):
On Vision Australia Radio. This is Vision Xtra with Peter Greco.

S2 (00:25):
Well, some really wonderful news for a person that we've
got to know quite well over the years. Rosalind Sackley
has just been awarded an honorary doctorate from the University
of Sydney. And it's great to welcome Rosalind or as
some people call her, Auntie Ros to the program. Rosalind,
thanks so much for your time and congratulations.

S3 (00:43):
Thank you. Peter.

S2 (00:44):
How did you receive this news? How did you feel
about it when you were told?

S3 (00:48):
Well, actually it was back in December because, you know,
like if she should take a while to get things
in the pipeline so that I received it on the
1st of May.

S2 (01:00):
And how did you feel about it? What was your
kind of initial reaction?

S3 (01:04):
Well, I had an idea that I was still quite,
you know, until it actually happened on the day. It
was quite weird. I felt like, you know. Strange.

S2 (01:16):
Yeah. Emeritus Professor Alan Pettigrew said some lovely things about you.
That must be nice when you know someone of that ilk,
if you like, says nice things about you. That kind
of count carries a lot more weight.

S3 (01:28):
Yes, yes. It was an amazing day. The 1st of
May and all the lovely words. And then I was
dressed up, of course, in my gown and everything, and
I had. Yeah, it was very unusual. I like to
be casual normally. And I also had an Aboriginal doll,

(01:49):
you know, it goes over your shoulders. Yeah. And it
had the Aboriginal colour. Oh, fantastic. Yeah. It was beautiful.
The best part of it really was I had all
these lovely guests that I could invite.

S2 (02:01):
Well, it's great to share moments like that with special people,
isn't it?

S3 (02:05):
Yes it is. And I had about 12 guests all together. Mhm.
And some of them were families. Some of them were
friends I'd made through various universities I've worked at and
friends that I've known, you know, through my childhood and everything.
So I wanted it to be a big mixture. So yeah.

(02:25):
And that was really, really, you know, because I hadn't
met before, of course. So it was an amazing day.

S2 (02:33):
Yeah. Now you're recognized for your work in advocacy for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the area of health
and disability. And I was thinking kind of health and disability,
particularly in the indigenous community. It's a kind of interrelated,
isn't it? A number of issues that lead to bad
health could also lead to disability.

S3 (02:53):
Oh, look, I could have you listening to me for
three days. If it's a massive, massive, it's a massive,
massive topic. So I don't know, I can't really go
back to the history of it. And it's still very,
quite alarming really. But things are changing very slowly.

S2 (03:15):
Yeah. Well it's people like you that are making a difference.
Then I noticed with Emeritus Professor Alan Pettigrew, who talked
about the impact you've had on the students and the staff.
So it's not just the students that are kind of
being educated, but the staff. So again, that's such a
powerful message.

S3 (03:31):
Well, you know very well that there's always accessibility, you know,
things that you need to alert, alert staff and students about.
And then such a huge institution as Sydney Uni, it's
just massive you know. Yes. Websites. Even though, you know,

(03:51):
people try to work on them are still huge. And
unfortunately there's still a lot of inaccessibility.

S2 (03:58):
Ross. Where does it start for you? Where does this
kind of sense of social justice, this ability to advocate
so well? How did that sort of happen for you?
Was there a person or a thing that kind of
set you on that path?

S3 (04:12):
Oh, you know, I think, you know, I listen a lot.
I listen to lots of stuff on the radio, lots
of podcasts, lots of. And I cannot remember the angel
that gave me my first transistor radio.

S2 (04:27):
Okay.

S3 (04:28):
I cannot remember their name. And, you know, while I
was at boarding school and I, they, they may not
be around anymore, but a real angel, that kind of
really set me free. I was listening to plays, stories, news,
you know, music. But even after that, you know, just

(04:50):
talking to people. And then I joined BCA and I'm very,
very interested in cross-disability issues as well. And so I've
got a, you know, fairly wide well appreciation of how
things should be and how things need to be in
the future, but aren't quite there yet.

S2 (05:11):
I'm smiling to myself. Right. Because you talked about, you know,
as a young person getting a transistor radio and the
impact that's had on your life. And what about now?
The work that you're doing at university with staff and students?
You're kind of influencing them. So in a sense it's
kind of going full circle or it just keeps going.

(05:32):
That sort of link.

S3 (05:33):
Yes. Well, I have all my Bluetooth technology now and
which I really appreciate.

S2 (05:39):
It certainly can make a difference technology can't it? I
guess it's one of those things that can kind of
bridge that gap or, you know, that gap gets accentuated
depending on the kind of touched on earlier how accessible
things can be.

S3 (05:52):
Well, I'm very lucky to be working in a wonderful,
supportive team and things that we can't manage. We work out,
you know, together. So, you know, it's just you have
to be able to work in the system to some extent.
But I have to admit I can't do everything.

S2 (06:10):
But I think it's alright to admit that you can't
do everything or kind of acknowledge it, because who can?
I mean, none of us can really, if we're really
truth to ourselves. None of us can really do it
on our own. We all need people in some way,
shape or form to kind of help or support us.
That's kind of what makes society tick.

S3 (06:30):
Yes, that's right. And well, I work in a really
wonderful team, so we're very supportive of each other.

S2 (06:37):
What about as far as the future goes? You kind
of touched on it again, but I know there's a
lot of work to do. But do you have a
little bit of hope that, you know, things are on
the improve? And as time goes on, we're kind of
getting better at this sort of stuff, maybe resolving some
issues and sort of working together better.

S3 (06:57):
Oh yeah, I'm going to work as long as I
can in as many fields as I can. I'm not retiring.
I am, you know, as long as my health, life,
I'll be I'll be out there.

S2 (07:08):
Because that's important as well.

S3 (07:10):
I think it's a real danger if people are thinking
that they're old and they're, you know, can't do, you know, whatever. Yes.
You've got to, you know, tweak some things sometimes, but
as long as your health works, it helps the things
to work on.

S2 (07:24):
It doesn't matter whether you're being paid the big bucks
or whether it's like a regular full time job. We
could all kind of be advocates in our own unique ways.

S3 (07:35):
Oh, definitely. Yeah, I agree. Teaching isn't a a field
or a specialty casualty where you're not, you know, it's
not massive, but you have to be a good budgeter.
And if you can just keep working.

S2 (07:50):
You know, it's kind of interesting. We talked about the
fact that the influence that you're having on your students,
they're probably taking things away from the things you're saying
to them at the moment, that they're learning from you
at the moment. And it might be ten or 20
or 30 years time that something that you said will
come back and kind of, you know, resonate with them.

(08:12):
It's not just what you're doing today. It's the impact
that it could have going forward that I think is
the really powerful thing about recognition like you've received.

S3 (08:20):
Yes, I am very, very proud of it and I
certainly did not expect it or will never, you know,
say that I, I did expect it. It's something that's
the wonderful team I work with and lots of them
I've known for the many, many years.

S2 (08:37):
He talked about the 12 or so special people that
were there for the event. What about since then? I'm
sure that you would have received congratulations and maybe heard
from people that you know you might not have expected
to hear from. I noticed that the Canberra Blind Society
put up a lovely, lovely post about you.

S3 (08:56):
Yes, I lived in Canberra for many years and I'm
still in touch with them. And you know, I really
value that society, Canberra blind society and really, really, really
get upset if the smaller society gets, you know, have
to leave the scene. I think, you know, for choice,

(09:18):
for people's choice and for people, you know, in their
own locality. We should have more. Not huge organizations. I
really enjoy the smaller organization.

S2 (09:31):
Well, they kind of know their members or they know
the people that they're delivering services to. Probably better. You're
kind of, you know, not not caught up in a
big pond. You kind of a bit more relatable, if
I can put it that way. Some of those quote
unquote smaller organizations.

S3 (09:46):
Yeah. In general, you know, I'm not a huge fan
of bureaucracy. Yeah. You know, so I just stay on
the fringes and do what I can.

S2 (09:56):
Now, what about the day itself, though? Was there one
particular highlight, or were you painted a lovely picture of
your gown and your indigenous clothing as well? That kind
of touch of both the the tradition and the tradition,
if I can put it that way. Was there one
particular moment that stood out for you?

S3 (10:13):
Well, a very, very special, special thing happened. I have
Guide Dog. She received a certificate as well.

S2 (10:23):
That says it all, doesn't it?

S3 (10:25):
So beautiful. Yeah. That's it.

S2 (10:28):
What's your dog's name?

S3 (10:30):
That's. Brooklyn.

S2 (10:31):
Brooklyn.

S3 (10:32):
Brooklyn.

S4 (10:33):
That's a lovely name.

S3 (10:34):
He received a certificate as well. And so, you know,
Professor Pettigrew presented that to us as well. And my
great supporter, John Gilroy, professor, he was there. He read
out the citation and everything. And, you know, at the bottom. Yes,

(10:54):
I did hear from people that I haven't heard from,
but I've really, really kept media at a very limits.

S2 (11:02):
Well, I'm glad you've spoken to us, Ross, because that
that means a lot to me. I've known you a
long time, and you've always been very accessible. And more importantly,
you've always been quick to sort of say, look, don't
worry about speaking to me. Speak to this person or
that person. You're very good at delegating or sharing the
the limelight. So I really thank you for that. I
congratulate you again. Thank you so much for speaking to

(11:23):
us and we wish you well. Keep up the great work.
The world is a much better place for a person
like you.

S3 (11:29):
Oh, thank you very much, Peter. And I hope I can,
you know, get people to realise that they don't have
to give up. They can, you know, advocate for whatever
it is that's important to them.

S2 (11:41):
The lovely dog. All the best, Rosalind.

S3 (11:44):
Thank you. Thanks very much.

S2 (11:46):
That's Artie Roswell. Now, doctor Rosalind Thackery with their doctorate
from the University of Sydney. So well done to Rosalind.
And certainly a very powerful message. And long may Rosalind continue.

S1 (12:00):
Thank you for listening to Vision Xtra with Peter Greco.
You can find this interview on Apple, Google, Spotify or
your favorite podcast platform. This show was produced in the
Adelaide studios of Vision Australia Radio.