Good evening and welcome to Focal Point here on Vision Australia Radio. You have the 90 7 a.m. in Adelaide online at radio Bay, Radio Digital in Adelaide and Darwin through the TuneIn radio app for the Vision Australia Radio Adelaide Peter Greco saying great to be here on behalf of Phillip Napier and the big hello to Wendy McDougall listening in this program, coming to you from Garden Land. Come to you very shortly. We'll catch up with the doctor, Abby Jayasuriya, who's done a very interesting PhD, I'm sure, a topic that is rather unique, but certainly very interesting. Then catch up with Mia Gardner back with us from Crime Stoppers. Victoria. Mia's topic. Home safety. So important. We'll then catch up with bon vivant a Tony Doyle who's got his big show happening March First part of the Adelaide Fringe. Vistas and visions of a Blind Man. Your personal invitation to attend is minutes away, and then we'll catch up with Damien LaLanne, who's the editor for a publication called Paper Chained. Also behind the Inside Voice program that's now on Australia Radio, very much featuring and aimed at people who have either been incarcerated or are in jail at the time. I'm sure you'll enjoy that interview, too. If you're listening through 1190 7 a.m. in Adelaide at 8:00 for your listening pleasure. Lizzie and Sam are here with Studio One just before we hear what they've got on their menu. Just letting you know that the SA branch of Blind South Australia. Their next catch up is coming up on Saturday the 22nd of February at 22 Jetty Road, Glenelg. The green Tea House. If you'd like to go along, get in touch with Kerry Skipworth via the office. One 800 Zero. Double three. 6601 800 zero three. 660. That's. Sunday, February 22nd at 22 Jetty Road, Glenelg. The green tea house. Let's find out what's Lucy and Sam have got in store tonight.

Good evening and welcome to Focal Point here on Vision Australia Radio. You have the 90 7 a.m. in Adelaide online at radio Bay, Radio Digital in Adelaide and Darwin through the TuneIn radio app for the Vision Australia Radio Adelaide Peter Greco saying great to be here on behalf of Phillip Napier and the big hello to Wendy McDougall listening in this program, coming to you from Garden Land. Come to you very shortly. We'll catch up with the doctor, Abby Jayasuriya, who's done a very interesting PhD, I'm sure, a topic that is rather unique, but certainly very interesting. Then catch up with Mia Gardner back with us from Crime Stoppers. Victoria. Mia's topic. Home safety. So important. We'll then catch up with bon vivant a Tony Doyle who's got his big show happening March First part of the Adelaide Fringe. Vistas and visions of a Blind Man. Your personal invitation to attend is minutes away, and then we'll catch up with Damien LaLanne, who's the editor for a publication called Paper Chained. Also behind the Inside Voice program that's now on Australia Radio, very much featuring and aimed at people who have either been incarcerated or are in jail at the time. I'm sure you'll enjoy that interview, too. If you're listening through 1190 7 a.m. in Adelaide at 8:00 for your listening pleasure. Lizzie and Sam are here with Studio One just before we hear what they've got on their menu. Just letting you know that the SA branch of Blind South Australia. Their next catch up is coming up on Saturday the 22nd of February at 22 Jetty Road, Glenelg. The green Tea House. If you'd like to go along, get in touch with Kerry Skipworth via the office. One 800 Zero. Double three. 6601 800 zero three. 660. That's. Sunday, February 22nd at 22 Jetty Road, Glenelg. The green tea house. Let's find out what's Lucy and Sam have got in store tonight.

We take a look overseas.

We take a look overseas.

Lars Bosselman, the executive director of the European Blind Union, is our guest.

Lars Bosselman, the executive director of the European Blind Union, is our guest.

We also have a couple of things to say about a certain white House press conference held last week.

We also have a couple of things to say about a certain white House press conference held last week.

Join us at 8:00 for Studio One.

Join us at 8:00 for Studio One.

Welcome to the program, doctor Abby Jayasuriya, about a tenuous link with the Australian men's cricket team playing Sri Lanka at the moment in Sri Lanka and some things that Abby has done. I'd be glad to catch up and thanks for your time.

Welcome to the program, doctor Abby Jayasuriya, about a tenuous link with the Australian men's cricket team playing Sri Lanka at the moment in Sri Lanka and some things that Abby has done. I'd be glad to catch up and thanks for your time.

Thanks for having me.

Thanks for having me.

That's about this PhD. How did that come about? Why did you choose the topic?

That's about this PhD. How did that come about? Why did you choose the topic?

Yeah, it's an interesting one. So, um, I had finished my honours, um, at uni in 2015 and I had always wanted to do a research project. I guess that was always kind of my end game with uni, and I hadn't actually thought of doing a research project based on a Sri Lankan musician, which is what I ended up doing. Um, initially I was looking at, you know, classical composers and, and psychology because I had originally studied Western classical composition. That was kind of my, my comfort zone. But one of the lecturers there was like, hmm, that might be a little bit hard to prove what you're trying to kind of talk about, because I was trying to talk about grief and how that is expressed in composition, and he kind of countered me and said, you know, well, some of the composers that have been through great trauma have, um, composed, you know, really joyful pieces of music within those periods in their lives. And I thought, oh, yeah, he has a point. So, um, they asked me, well, what do you know about Sri Lankan music? And I thought, well, I know a lot about the poppy, poppy kind of genres. But then I went home and I thought about it and I ended up choosing a singer that we call Pandith W.D. Amaradeva. And he was one of our first nationalist composers. And it's funny because, um, for those musicians out there, I always thought that he used chromaticism in his music because the melodies always seem to go where I least expected them. That basically means that he used notes outside our major and minor musical scales. So that's what I kind of thought. I was like, oh, I don't know what's what's going on with this guy. I could never really kind of follow the music, so to speak, but my parents listened to it a lot. Specifically my dad. So I kind of grew up listening to his music, but not really understanding it. So I thought, well, since he's such a big kind of deal in the Sri Lankan community and in our society, and there didn't appear to be much research done on his music or on Sri Lankan music at all, really. I think I only found about four other dissertations or so. I decided to study him, and it was a really big learning curve for me.

Yeah, it's an interesting one. So, um, I had finished my honours, um, at uni in 2015 and I had always wanted to do a research project. I guess that was always kind of my end game with uni, and I hadn't actually thought of doing a research project based on a Sri Lankan musician, which is what I ended up doing. Um, initially I was looking at, you know, classical composers and, and psychology because I had originally studied Western classical composition. That was kind of my, my comfort zone. But one of the lecturers there was like, hmm, that might be a little bit hard to prove what you're trying to kind of talk about, because I was trying to talk about grief and how that is expressed in composition, and he kind of countered me and said, you know, well, some of the composers that have been through great trauma have, um, composed, you know, really joyful pieces of music within those periods in their lives. And I thought, oh, yeah, he has a point. So, um, they asked me, well, what do you know about Sri Lankan music? And I thought, well, I know a lot about the poppy, poppy kind of genres. But then I went home and I thought about it and I ended up choosing a singer that we call Pandith W.D. Amaradeva. And he was one of our first nationalist composers. And it's funny because, um, for those musicians out there, I always thought that he used chromaticism in his music because the melodies always seem to go where I least expected them. That basically means that he used notes outside our major and minor musical scales. So that's what I kind of thought. I was like, oh, I don't know what's what's going on with this guy. I could never really kind of follow the music, so to speak, but my parents listened to it a lot. Specifically my dad. So I kind of grew up listening to his music, but not really understanding it. So I thought, well, since he's such a big kind of deal in the Sri Lankan community and in our society, and there didn't appear to be much research done on his music or on Sri Lankan music at all, really. I think I only found about four other dissertations or so. I decided to study him, and it was a really big learning curve for me.

What about the research then? Because, uh, for people who might be aware, you are blind. So what about in terms of, uh, doing the research and and sort of finding the information that you were after? How did you go about doing that?

What about the research then? Because, uh, for people who might be aware, you are blind. So what about in terms of, uh, doing the research and and sort of finding the information that you were after? How did you go about doing that?

Yeah, it was tricky. Um, I guess fortunately at that time I had more functional vision than I have now. Um, so I was able to look at my computer. Um, I just had really bad, you know, visual fatigue. So I was a mac user at that time, and I would use a lot of text to speech. So I would highlight the text and get the Mac with the option escape shortcut to read it out, which was really handy. There were kind of some tricky things with this research. Uh, because because it was kind of the songs were in another language. I did have to enlist sighted help, because the Sinhalese language has kind of amassed words from other languages like Sanskrit as well. So for some of the letters, I think, yeah, like the letter R, I think I can't remember. And the letter F, there are two different characters in the alphabet for an R and another two for the letter S, and they sound exactly the same when you when you hear them. But I think some of those words, because they derived from Sanskrit, um, there was like one where you put a tiny dot under, if you're writing it in English to represent that, it's that particular character. So for things like that, I did need to get started help, and especially because I didn't actually really speak the language fluently at the time, that was something also that I had to learn and get better at. But I mainly, um, because there wasn't as much research online. I did have to borrow a lot of books from, you know, Canberra Library and other libraries for the National Archives. I had to get newspapers in. So I did have to digitize a lot of those resources so that my computer could read them back to me. Um, and for as an example, there was one book that was a letter from one of the nationalist members of Sri Lanka at that time, and he had written a book of a thousand Pages. Um, so it wasn't really a book that he'd written. It was more letters that people had, you know, amassed and put into a book. And I had to scan that entire thing. So I scanned a thousand pages, and in the end, I only ended up using two of those pages. That's the way it is now.

Yeah, it was tricky. Um, I guess fortunately at that time I had more functional vision than I have now. Um, so I was able to look at my computer. Um, I just had really bad, you know, visual fatigue. So I was a mac user at that time, and I would use a lot of text to speech. So I would highlight the text and get the Mac with the option escape shortcut to read it out, which was really handy. There were kind of some tricky things with this research. Uh, because because it was kind of the songs were in another language. I did have to enlist sighted help, because the Sinhalese language has kind of amassed words from other languages like Sanskrit as well. So for some of the letters, I think, yeah, like the letter R, I think I can't remember. And the letter F, there are two different characters in the alphabet for an R and another two for the letter S, and they sound exactly the same when you when you hear them. But I think some of those words, because they derived from Sanskrit, um, there was like one where you put a tiny dot under, if you're writing it in English to represent that, it's that particular character. So for things like that, I did need to get started help, and especially because I didn't actually really speak the language fluently at the time, that was something also that I had to learn and get better at. But I mainly, um, because there wasn't as much research online. I did have to borrow a lot of books from, you know, Canberra Library and other libraries for the National Archives. I had to get newspapers in. So I did have to digitize a lot of those resources so that my computer could read them back to me. Um, and for as an example, there was one book that was a letter from one of the nationalist members of Sri Lanka at that time, and he had written a book of a thousand Pages. Um, so it wasn't really a book that he'd written. It was more letters that people had, you know, amassed and put into a book. And I had to scan that entire thing. So I scanned a thousand pages, and in the end, I only ended up using two of those pages. That's the way it is now.

You kind of drew a number of threads together too, didn't you, regarding kind of politics and religion as well?

You kind of drew a number of threads together too, didn't you, regarding kind of politics and religion as well?

That's right. Yeah. So I had to look at, um, I guess the first question my supervisor asked me, um, because this singer kind of his music was an amalgamation of, um, Sri Lankan folk music, um, as well as North Indian classical music. So my supervisor asked me, why was it North Indian music? Why not South Indian?

That's right. Yeah. So I had to look at, um, I guess the first question my supervisor asked me, um, because this singer kind of his music was an amalgamation of, um, Sri Lankan folk music, um, as well as North Indian classical music. So my supervisor asked me, why was it North Indian music? Why not South Indian?

Yeah, I was going to ask that same question.

Yeah, I was going to ask that same question.

That's right. Yeah. Very good question. Because, um, for those that don't know, in Sri Lanka, the two major ethnic groups are the Sinhalese. Um, and this particular music musician was Sinhalese and they're the majority ethnic group. And then the next biggest ethnic group are the Tamils. Um, and they kind of their ancestry is South Indian. So why not South Indian music? So when I looked into, um, Sri Lankan kind of traditional music, like pre-colonial music, there was a lot of, um, South Indian music that was played by the aristocracy, um, which is interesting, but with the kind of nationalist revival that came, you know, late 1800s people started looking at, you know, our roots in Sri Lanka, particularly the Sinhalese, because they were the ones that were, you know, dominating the culture and the politics of the country being the the majority. So it turns out that there is this, um, origin myth. So scientists have proven that, um, the indigenous population in Sri Lanka were kind of related to the indigenous population in Australia. They were the same group of people that migrated, you know, all the way. I'm not sure where they came from, but they ended up in India. They went to Sri Lanka and then I think down to Malaysia, Indonesia and then finally to Australia. Yeah. So they were the indigenous inhabitants of the country. Um, and then according to this origin myth, there was this kind of troubled prince in India that was kind of a really terrible person that had a really kind of terrible gang of cronies. And his, um, it's a funny story, but his parents, I think, banished him, and they ended up, you know, they were being sent to some island, but they there was a storm. And because the myth is really tied up in Buddhism. So it was kind of, um, I guess predicted, uh, by the Buddha that this kind of group of people would spawn a new race in Sri Lanka, and that would kind of, in the future, lead to the spread of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Yeah, yeah. So this storm kind of intercepted the boat and they ended up in Sri Lanka. Um, they did kind of I guess the the myth is kind of alluding to the fact that there was migration from, from, you know, north and South India. But in the myth, the, the prince was actually North Indian. Right? So I guess with the British where they kind of divided and conquered. There was this kind of ethnic conflict between the Sinhalese and the Tamils. Even I guess back then it was sort of brewing. So I guess the Sinhalese developed, not developed, but they held on to this origin myth, where kind of it was about us being, you know, of North Indian heritage and the Sinhalese language kind of being linked to Sanskrit, which was predominantly used in North India as well. And that was kind of what was reflected in the music of the time, which was kind of regulated by the radio in a sense. And that's why they decided to use North Indian music rather than South Indian music for this particular nationalist genre.

That's right. Yeah. Very good question. Because, um, for those that don't know, in Sri Lanka, the two major ethnic groups are the Sinhalese. Um, and this particular music musician was Sinhalese and they're the majority ethnic group. And then the next biggest ethnic group are the Tamils. Um, and they kind of their ancestry is South Indian. So why not South Indian music? So when I looked into, um, Sri Lankan kind of traditional music, like pre-colonial music, there was a lot of, um, South Indian music that was played by the aristocracy, um, which is interesting, but with the kind of nationalist revival that came, you know, late 1800s people started looking at, you know, our roots in Sri Lanka, particularly the Sinhalese, because they were the ones that were, you know, dominating the culture and the politics of the country being the the majority. So it turns out that there is this, um, origin myth. So scientists have proven that, um, the indigenous population in Sri Lanka were kind of related to the indigenous population in Australia. They were the same group of people that migrated, you know, all the way. I'm not sure where they came from, but they ended up in India. They went to Sri Lanka and then I think down to Malaysia, Indonesia and then finally to Australia. Yeah. So they were the indigenous inhabitants of the country. Um, and then according to this origin myth, there was this kind of troubled prince in India that was kind of a really terrible person that had a really kind of terrible gang of cronies. And his, um, it's a funny story, but his parents, I think, banished him, and they ended up, you know, they were being sent to some island, but they there was a storm. And because the myth is really tied up in Buddhism. So it was kind of, um, I guess predicted, uh, by the Buddha that this kind of group of people would spawn a new race in Sri Lanka, and that would kind of, in the future, lead to the spread of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Yeah, yeah. So this storm kind of intercepted the boat and they ended up in Sri Lanka. Um, they did kind of I guess the the myth is kind of alluding to the fact that there was migration from, from, you know, north and South India. But in the myth, the, the prince was actually North Indian. Right? So I guess with the British where they kind of divided and conquered. There was this kind of ethnic conflict between the Sinhalese and the Tamils. Even I guess back then it was sort of brewing. So I guess the Sinhalese developed, not developed, but they held on to this origin myth, where kind of it was about us being, you know, of North Indian heritage and the Sinhalese language kind of being linked to Sanskrit, which was predominantly used in North India as well. And that was kind of what was reflected in the music of the time, which was kind of regulated by the radio in a sense. And that's why they decided to use North Indian music rather than South Indian music for this particular nationalist genre.

How much does the fact that you studied music at a high level help with your PhD?

How much does the fact that you studied music at a high level help with your PhD?

It did help quite a lot.

It did help quite a lot.

But um, as I kind of alluded to before, where I thought that composer was, you know, using chromaticism or notes outside of the scale, I actually had no idea about Sri Lankan folk music. So pre-colonial music. I only knew about the pop music genres which were based on, you know, like Latin American, uh, rhythms and Western scales and chord patterns. And this particular musician, because he combined, you know, North Indian music, he was actually using Hindustani classical ragas, which are the scales used, you know, in North India. And that's why his melodies were going, you know, in directions that I had not been able to predict. So I did use a lot of my, you know, annotation skills, like noting down, um, the notes as, you know, as Western classical notation. And that really helped me. Um, I used to do drumming as well. So I was pretty good at, um, notating all the fancy rhythms that they had. So it did help a lot. But I did also have to learn a lot too. And, um, yeah, learn all these, you know, new musical terms both from India and from Sri Lanka.

But um, as I kind of alluded to before, where I thought that composer was, you know, using chromaticism or notes outside of the scale, I actually had no idea about Sri Lankan folk music. So pre-colonial music. I only knew about the pop music genres which were based on, you know, like Latin American, uh, rhythms and Western scales and chord patterns. And this particular musician, because he combined, you know, North Indian music, he was actually using Hindustani classical ragas, which are the scales used, you know, in North India. And that's why his melodies were going, you know, in directions that I had not been able to predict. So I did use a lot of my, you know, annotation skills, like noting down, um, the notes as, you know, as Western classical notation. And that really helped me. Um, I used to do drumming as well. So I was pretty good at, um, notating all the fancy rhythms that they had. So it did help a lot. But I did also have to learn a lot too. And, um, yeah, learn all these, you know, new musical terms both from India and from Sri Lanka.

I've spoken to a few people who've done PhDs and often, well, sorry. They occasionally talk about the fact that it was really hard and to get support, you know, from supervisors, Supervise, etc.. How did you find that experience?

I've spoken to a few people who've done PhDs and often, well, sorry. They occasionally talk about the fact that it was really hard and to get support, you know, from supervisors, Supervise, etc.. How did you find that experience?

Yeah, it was an interesting one.

Yeah, it was an interesting one.

My supervisor was absolutely amazing. His name is, um. He's an associate professor at Mora, and he started he studied Filipino tribal music, I believe, and he was really fantastic. However, he was also very busy. He was the course convenor. He ran a few of the ensembles as well. And also, um, he did his research and he had, you know, his, his students that he supervised for their, um, postgrad studies. So he was a little bit hard to get hold of sometimes. But then I was also the person that would go and stew on things. So I would like I would often go down rabbit holes, you know, read far more than I had to. And then I would kind of go back to him after three months with a with an almost completed chapter. So I guess for me it did work quite well. Um, he did a lot of editing for me. Um, but in the end, he did realize that, you know, there needed to be a lot more editing work that I couldn't detect, particularly for punctuation, because I wasn't using a screen reader at that time. And now I know that with the old Microsoft Word, the voiceover screen reader was actually quite terrible. So I didn't think I could have used a screen reader even if I had the skills back then. So he got me a scholarship. Um, and I used that money to, um, to pay for an editor, which was really good.

My supervisor was absolutely amazing. His name is, um. He's an associate professor at Mora, and he started he studied Filipino tribal music, I believe, and he was really fantastic. However, he was also very busy. He was the course convenor. He ran a few of the ensembles as well. And also, um, he did his research and he had, you know, his, his students that he supervised for their, um, postgrad studies. So he was a little bit hard to get hold of sometimes. But then I was also the person that would go and stew on things. So I would like I would often go down rabbit holes, you know, read far more than I had to. And then I would kind of go back to him after three months with a with an almost completed chapter. So I guess for me it did work quite well. Um, he did a lot of editing for me. Um, but in the end, he did realize that, you know, there needed to be a lot more editing work that I couldn't detect, particularly for punctuation, because I wasn't using a screen reader at that time. And now I know that with the old Microsoft Word, the voiceover screen reader was actually quite terrible. So I didn't think I could have used a screen reader even if I had the skills back then. So he got me a scholarship. Um, and I used that money to, um, to pay for an editor, which was really good.

I speak about a scholarship. You got one? Late last year coincided with International Day for people with disabilities.

I speak about a scholarship. You got one? Late last year coincided with International Day for people with disabilities.

That's right. Yes. So it wasn't exactly a scholarship. I got a, um, a little package. Um, it was a competition run by Ryde Council, and I sang Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen. Um, yeah. Please. So I got a recording studio voucher so I can record a few songs this year.

That's right. Yes. So it wasn't exactly a scholarship. I got a, um, a little package. Um, it was a competition run by Ryde Council, and I sang Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen. Um, yeah. Please. So I got a recording studio voucher so I can record a few songs this year.

That's something you kind of aspire to because I know. Well, at the moment you're not performing, are you?

That's something you kind of aspire to because I know. Well, at the moment you're not performing, are you?

Not really. I would love to, but, um, not at the moment. So, yes, I would like to to get some music out there and find some more recording opportunities. Um, sorry. Performing opportunities. And I believe with that package that I won. There was also a contract with Divergent Talent. He did reach out to me last year, but I'm still waiting to hear from him. And then they can devise some kind of plan. So maybe I can find some more performance opportunities in the future.

Not really. I would love to, but, um, not at the moment. So, yes, I would like to to get some music out there and find some more recording opportunities. Um, sorry. Performing opportunities. And I believe with that package that I won. There was also a contract with Divergent Talent. He did reach out to me last year, but I'm still waiting to hear from him. And then they can devise some kind of plan. So maybe I can find some more performance opportunities in the future.

Sounds fantastic. So obviously music is a very important, important part of your life.

Sounds fantastic. So obviously music is a very important, important part of your life.

Yeah, definitely. Yeah.

Yeah, definitely. Yeah.

And, um, so you obviously are from Sri Lankan background. I mean, anyone that follows cricket knows that you are a very well known name, both at the moment and also in the past. And I believe that your dad has some connection with the story of some time ago.

And, um, so you obviously are from Sri Lankan background. I mean, anyone that follows cricket knows that you are a very well known name, both at the moment and also in the past. And I believe that your dad has some connection with the story of some time ago.

Well, not um, yeah. Not, um, we don't really have a blood connection, but they came from the same village which was Matara in the south coast. It's a beautiful coastal village.

Well, not um, yeah. Not, um, we don't really have a blood connection, but they came from the same village which was Matara in the south coast. It's a beautiful coastal village.

Okay. And that's the sort of thing that, uh, I guess you could dine out on if you wanted to. It's just a very common name, because I know the first time I saw it, I think I said to you, do you follow cricket? Because it's probably a an obvious question for a cricket fan. Is it a fairly common name.

Okay. And that's the sort of thing that, uh, I guess you could dine out on if you wanted to. It's just a very common name, because I know the first time I saw it, I think I said to you, do you follow cricket? Because it's probably a an obvious question for a cricket fan. Is it a fairly common name.

Yeah. It's, um, I wouldn't say it's it's wholly, uh, like, greatly common, but there are quite a few jayasuriya's out there. It's not as common as, you know, da Silva or, uh, Fernando in Sri Lanka. There's quite a lot of those. Um, but, yeah, there's a few of us.

Yeah. It's, um, I wouldn't say it's it's wholly, uh, like, greatly common, but there are quite a few jayasuriya's out there. It's not as common as, you know, da Silva or, uh, Fernando in Sri Lanka. There's quite a lot of those. Um, but, yeah, there's a few of us.

Yeah. I think my favourite cricketer. Well, two of my favourite cricketers, uh, names from Sri Lanka, are Angelo Mathews and Russel Arnold.

Yeah. I think my favourite cricketer. Well, two of my favourite cricketers, uh, names from Sri Lanka, are Angelo Mathews and Russel Arnold.

Oh, yes. I do love Russel Arnold's commentary. It's funny how optimistic he is, even though it's kind of obvious that the team's going downhill in certain games, but he he never loses his optimism, so he always gives me a nice chuckle. But I love his clear tone.

Oh, yes. I do love Russel Arnold's commentary. It's funny how optimistic he is, even though it's kind of obvious that the team's going downhill in certain games, but he he never loses his optimism, so he always gives me a nice chuckle. But I love his clear tone.

And you see those names and you don't think, uh, we don't associate them with Sri Lanka necessarily? Yeah, I didn't that's true.

And you see those names and you don't think, uh, we don't associate them with Sri Lanka necessarily? Yeah, I didn't that's true.

Yeah. So I guess that's um. Yeah, we call them. That was something else I learned in my research. So those names come from what we call the burgher population, which are, um, the people that were kind of a combination, a mix of the Portuguese, Dutch, British and Sinhalese and Tamil.

Yeah. So I guess that's um. Yeah, we call them. That was something else I learned in my research. So those names come from what we call the burgher population, which are, um, the people that were kind of a combination, a mix of the Portuguese, Dutch, British and Sinhalese and Tamil.

Okay. And like Fernando would have that, uh, sort of, uh, Portuguese background, wouldn't it?

Okay. And like Fernando would have that, uh, sort of, uh, Portuguese background, wouldn't it?

That's right. But it's interesting because some people actually adopted those names, uh, because during the, the British period, if you were, you know, a non-English speaker, you couldn't really get anywhere in society. And this is where this nationalist movement came from, because when the British were ruling, they banned, um, children from learning English and Sinhalese in schools. They heard people speaking the native languages. You'd either get the cane or I know my grandfather. They used in his class. They'd have like a little a coin jar. So if you accidentally spoke your native tongue, you'd have to, you know, forfeit one of your your coins, your pocket money to this jar. So that's why, um. Yeah. And some people, just to get ahead, um, at the times, actually adopted Portuguese and Dutch names, even the singer that I was studying. So he's, um, original last name was Pereira, which is, um, I believe a Portuguese name, but he adopted A stage name, which he actually kind of. He later formally changed his name as well.

That's right. But it's interesting because some people actually adopted those names, uh, because during the, the British period, if you were, you know, a non-English speaker, you couldn't really get anywhere in society. And this is where this nationalist movement came from, because when the British were ruling, they banned, um, children from learning English and Sinhalese in schools. They heard people speaking the native languages. You'd either get the cane or I know my grandfather. They used in his class. They'd have like a little a coin jar. So if you accidentally spoke your native tongue, you'd have to, you know, forfeit one of your your coins, your pocket money to this jar. So that's why, um. Yeah. And some people, just to get ahead, um, at the times, actually adopted Portuguese and Dutch names, even the singer that I was studying. So he's, um, original last name was Pereira, which is, um, I believe a Portuguese name, but he adopted A stage name, which he actually kind of. He later formally changed his name as well.

I bet it's been great chatting to you. Congratulations on your PhD. And thank you for, um, really fascinating, uh, chatting to sort of music and history and culture. It's been, uh, wonderful. Thank you for your time.

I bet it's been great chatting to you. Congratulations on your PhD. And thank you for, um, really fascinating, uh, chatting to sort of music and history and culture. It's been, uh, wonderful. Thank you for your time.

You're welcome.

You're welcome.

It's, uh, doctor Abby Jayasuriya talks about her PhD, uh, I completed a little while ago, but certainly a wonderful snapshot of the amount of work that went into it. What a wonderful addition. Last year, Mia Gardner from Crimestoppers Victoria was on the program. Good news. Mia is back for another year. A little late, Mia, but happy to hear and great to have you back with us.

It's, uh, doctor Abby Jayasuriya talks about her PhD, uh, I completed a little while ago, but certainly a wonderful snapshot of the amount of work that went into it. What a wonderful addition. Last year, Mia Gardner from Crimestoppers Victoria was on the program. Good news. Mia is back for another year. A little late, Mia, but happy to hear and great to have you back with us.

Thank you so much, Peter, and happy New Year to you as well.

Thank you so much, Peter, and happy New Year to you as well.

Now, a very important topic. Uh, home safety. We've talked about, uh, cyber safety in the past, but, uh, our very own home, uh, our own castle. We need to think about protecting it.

Now, a very important topic. Uh, home safety. We've talked about, uh, cyber safety in the past, but, uh, our very own home, uh, our own castle. We need to think about protecting it.

Absolutely. So the thing about home security is, it's probably the Probably the most important time to talk about it. You know, more than ever. Last year, we saw record highs of aggravated burglaries. And so the difference between a burglary and an aggravated one, if you're not entirely sure, is that aggravated burglaries are when someone is in the house, when, you know, robbers and burglars appear. So there's so many things that you can do. But yeah, there's quite a few different tips. I would say that smart locks, you know, they're quite a unique thing that not everyone has. But you don't think about all the ways in which people can get into your house. So smart locks what they do is they enhance security because they allow remote access, and it eliminates the risk of, you know, lost keys because that's always a fear. Duplicated keys. And it enables features like auto locking. And you can have user specific codes. And sometimes they do integrate with a home security system. And they can notify homeowners of any suspicious activity. So someone trying to, you know, jingle the the your door handle or Handle or anything like that, you'll be alerted to that fact. But, you know, there's obviously hacking risks or power or Wi-Fi outage risks and even user error. You forget to lock your door as you do with a regular key. But home security, obviously, we're so, so lucky to live in Australia, but it's still really important that we think about these things.

Absolutely. So the thing about home security is, it's probably the Probably the most important time to talk about it. You know, more than ever. Last year, we saw record highs of aggravated burglaries. And so the difference between a burglary and an aggravated one, if you're not entirely sure, is that aggravated burglaries are when someone is in the house, when, you know, robbers and burglars appear. So there's so many things that you can do. But yeah, there's quite a few different tips. I would say that smart locks, you know, they're quite a unique thing that not everyone has. But you don't think about all the ways in which people can get into your house. So smart locks what they do is they enhance security because they allow remote access, and it eliminates the risk of, you know, lost keys because that's always a fear. Duplicated keys. And it enables features like auto locking. And you can have user specific codes. And sometimes they do integrate with a home security system. And they can notify homeowners of any suspicious activity. So someone trying to, you know, jingle the the your door handle or Handle or anything like that, you'll be alerted to that fact. But, you know, there's obviously hacking risks or power or Wi-Fi outage risks and even user error. You forget to lock your door as you do with a regular key. But home security, obviously, we're so, so lucky to live in Australia, but it's still really important that we think about these things.

So this is this is different to your conventional lock on your conventional door, as you say. It's got the sort of added benefits of not having to be there when you're locking or unlocking.

So this is this is different to your conventional lock on your conventional door, as you say. It's got the sort of added benefits of not having to be there when you're locking or unlocking.

Absolutely. And it's, I suppose, a lazy person's dream. You can be upstairs and you can click lock and the tour downstairs will lock. But you can also think about a lot of the time people can access to power boxes, obviously, because the council need to be able to get to your power box and it's often on the outside of the house. Getting a smart lock on that is a great sort of tip as well, because the council often have access or special keys because there's a special smart lock for a power box, and this can stop people from turning power off in your house, which, you know, obviously burglars, they thrive in darkness. And as well as disabling any sort of security cameras you have or security alarms. So having a smart lock on your power box is also a great tip. And yeah, locking your door, your internal door between your garage and your house, that can often be overlooked. A lot of the time when people have some some people have an automatic garage, they open it, they close it, and they walk through their connecting door and they forget to lock that. But it's very easy to open a garage door without a remote. So it's basically like leaving your house unlocked. So you've got to be really careful that you're considering all entry points. And if you have the means getting a smart lock, if not making sure they're locked and making sure that you're, you know, double checking these things.

Absolutely. And it's, I suppose, a lazy person's dream. You can be upstairs and you can click lock and the tour downstairs will lock. But you can also think about a lot of the time people can access to power boxes, obviously, because the council need to be able to get to your power box and it's often on the outside of the house. Getting a smart lock on that is a great sort of tip as well, because the council often have access or special keys because there's a special smart lock for a power box, and this can stop people from turning power off in your house, which, you know, obviously burglars, they thrive in darkness. And as well as disabling any sort of security cameras you have or security alarms. So having a smart lock on your power box is also a great tip. And yeah, locking your door, your internal door between your garage and your house, that can often be overlooked. A lot of the time when people have some some people have an automatic garage, they open it, they close it, and they walk through their connecting door and they forget to lock that. But it's very easy to open a garage door without a remote. So it's basically like leaving your house unlocked. So you've got to be really careful that you're considering all entry points. And if you have the means getting a smart lock, if not making sure they're locked and making sure that you're, you know, double checking these things.

Me made a great point regarding the darkness, and I guess the ability of those undesirables to hang out in it. But that goes to another point that you made regarding some equipment they can get that gets the light to come on, which can obviously, uh, startle a would be burglar.

Me made a great point regarding the darkness, and I guess the ability of those undesirables to hang out in it. But that goes to another point that you made regarding some equipment they can get that gets the light to come on, which can obviously, uh, startle a would be burglar.

Absolutely. So I have them. They're so great. And motion activated light in my sort of driveway pointing at my front door. So this really deters intruders. They're illuminated. Maybe they didn't think they'd be detected. They noticed that you can see them. It alerts maybe neighbors to the presence of an undesirable sort of walking into your house. And it increases visibility. Like I said, people driving past can see that there's someone there and they're not feeling like they're shrouded in the sort of safety blanket that is night time. And it's, you know, also energy efficient in that it only uses power when movement is detected. So if you think, oh, that's expensive to have a light on all the time, it's not going to be it's going to be there at night when someone's moving. Yes. Every now and then my lights are triggered by things like cats in my driveway in the middle of the night or a bird flying past, But really they are pretty accurate and they do just give you that sort of safety net of illumination that no one could be creeping around in the darkness and hiding because, yeah, they're exposed instantly by a motion activated light.

Absolutely. So I have them. They're so great. And motion activated light in my sort of driveway pointing at my front door. So this really deters intruders. They're illuminated. Maybe they didn't think they'd be detected. They noticed that you can see them. It alerts maybe neighbors to the presence of an undesirable sort of walking into your house. And it increases visibility. Like I said, people driving past can see that there's someone there and they're not feeling like they're shrouded in the sort of safety blanket that is night time. And it's, you know, also energy efficient in that it only uses power when movement is detected. So if you think, oh, that's expensive to have a light on all the time, it's not going to be it's going to be there at night when someone's moving. Yes. Every now and then my lights are triggered by things like cats in my driveway in the middle of the night or a bird flying past, But really they are pretty accurate and they do just give you that sort of safety net of illumination that no one could be creeping around in the darkness and hiding because, yeah, they're exposed instantly by a motion activated light.

But what about sort of closed circuit televisions that can record stuff that's going on? What do you think of those?

But what about sort of closed circuit televisions that can record stuff that's going on? What do you think of those?

Well, I have a ring camera, which is just one brand and there are many, and it's a really great sort of tool because you do get a notification straight to your phone and there's a video that you can save, you can download these sorts of things, for example, are submitted to Crime Stoppers constantly because they really do assist in police investigations. CCTV security footage. And they're often motion triggered as well. And they are connected with that, um, with those motion activated lights. So the camera will start recording as soon as the lights get activated. So it's really, really good. And it adds that adds that extra layer of security. But sometimes even just, you know, someone seeing a camera can be enough to deter them picking your house. So the camera can be the deterrent that you need rather than, you know, the thing you use to catch the the burglar. It's the same as like a dog sign. Even the dog might not be there, but you've got a sign saying beware of the dog. Um, and that can be enough to deter someone. Well as well.

Well, I have a ring camera, which is just one brand and there are many, and it's a really great sort of tool because you do get a notification straight to your phone and there's a video that you can save, you can download these sorts of things, for example, are submitted to Crime Stoppers constantly because they really do assist in police investigations. CCTV security footage. And they're often motion triggered as well. And they are connected with that, um, with those motion activated lights. So the camera will start recording as soon as the lights get activated. So it's really, really good. And it adds that adds that extra layer of security. But sometimes even just, you know, someone seeing a camera can be enough to deter them picking your house. So the camera can be the deterrent that you need rather than, you know, the thing you use to catch the the burglar. It's the same as like a dog sign. Even the dog might not be there, but you've got a sign saying beware of the dog. Um, and that can be enough to deter someone. Well as well.

Someone's got to take that chance and think that might be a sign that's not real. Or take a chance and be real. And maybe the dog bite their leg off. So, uh.

Someone's got to take that chance and think that might be a sign that's not real. Or take a chance and be real. And maybe the dog bite their leg off. So, uh.

Exactly.

Exactly.

You take your chances as to what you think the, uh, the setup might be. We're talking about inside your home against some really great tips. I found this one really interesting regarding safes.

You take your chances as to what you think the, uh, the setup might be. We're talking about inside your home against some really great tips. I found this one really interesting regarding safes.

Yes. So if you rely on a basic safe, which is often what most people would buy, you know you're not. If you're investing in a safe, you might just think that one will do. It's a safe. but sometimes they're lightweight and they can just be picked up and carried away. And if someone can just pick it up and carry it away, and then when they're at their own house or wherever, they can then cut it open with power tools and it's really not done its job. It's just been, you know, a little bit heavier for them to get out of your house. But instead, what you should do is you should anchor your safe to the floor. So this is you could screw it in. You got it drilled into the ground or in the wall or wherever it is that it? It is located. Get it built into your wardrobe or whatever the case may be. You also want to consider if it's things like family heirlooms, really important things to you. You might want to make it fireproof and waterproof as well. We live in a very, you know, tumultuous sort of weather country. We've got floods, we've got bushfires which are, you know, unfortunately happening all the time. And you just want to make sure that that's safe might be that last thing standing if the worst comes to worse.

Yes. So if you rely on a basic safe, which is often what most people would buy, you know you're not. If you're investing in a safe, you might just think that one will do. It's a safe. but sometimes they're lightweight and they can just be picked up and carried away. And if someone can just pick it up and carry it away, and then when they're at their own house or wherever, they can then cut it open with power tools and it's really not done its job. It's just been, you know, a little bit heavier for them to get out of your house. But instead, what you should do is you should anchor your safe to the floor. So this is you could screw it in. You got it drilled into the ground or in the wall or wherever it is that it? It is located. Get it built into your wardrobe or whatever the case may be. You also want to consider if it's things like family heirlooms, really important things to you. You might want to make it fireproof and waterproof as well. We live in a very, you know, tumultuous sort of weather country. We've got floods, we've got bushfires which are, you know, unfortunately happening all the time. And you just want to make sure that that's safe might be that last thing standing if the worst comes to worse.

Yeah. As you point out, the fires and bushfires by bushfires and floods both at the same time in the one country, which is kind of disturbing, but that's the country we live in. And if people do get inside your home, I guess, you know, not making things too obvious as far as where you might be assessing things away.

Yeah. As you point out, the fires and bushfires by bushfires and floods both at the same time in the one country, which is kind of disturbing, but that's the country we live in. And if people do get inside your home, I guess, you know, not making things too obvious as far as where you might be assessing things away.

Absolutely. So there are the classic places that we hide things, and it's sort of the same as online safety in that using very obvious or simple passwords puts your digital assets and your digital accounts at risk. So does hiding valuables in really obvious places, because this will be the first places that burglars look. So, you know, jewelry in a sock drawer, cash, you know, under the mattress. These are the places that burglars will check first. So you can use decoy safes like hollowed out books. Um, people can't tell it's a safe. It just looks like a book on the shelf. Obviously, this is a little bit spy like, but if you've got these things that are really valuable to you, then it wouldn't hurt putting them somewhere that you think they won't be found.

Absolutely. So there are the classic places that we hide things, and it's sort of the same as online safety in that using very obvious or simple passwords puts your digital assets and your digital accounts at risk. So does hiding valuables in really obvious places, because this will be the first places that burglars look. So, you know, jewelry in a sock drawer, cash, you know, under the mattress. These are the places that burglars will check first. So you can use decoy safes like hollowed out books. Um, people can't tell it's a safe. It just looks like a book on the shelf. Obviously, this is a little bit spy like, but if you've got these things that are really valuable to you, then it wouldn't hurt putting them somewhere that you think they won't be found.

What about taking photos of things?

What about taking photos of things?

I would say that you can take photos of things so that you remember where they were. I would say that your digital assets are so, so important. And having safe, a safe online presence is, you know, an absolute must. And for example, things like when you're on holiday and you're on vacation and you've left the house unattended and you're posting photos on Instagram saying that you're away, that could put your house sort of in the firing line because they know someone might see it's unattended and you don't know how private your accounts are. So if you are on holiday sharing photos on Instagram, I would just wait until you're home to do that.

I would say that you can take photos of things so that you remember where they were. I would say that your digital assets are so, so important. And having safe, a safe online presence is, you know, an absolute must. And for example, things like when you're on holiday and you're on vacation and you've left the house unattended and you're posting photos on Instagram saying that you're away, that could put your house sort of in the firing line because they know someone might see it's unattended and you don't know how private your accounts are. So if you are on holiday sharing photos on Instagram, I would just wait until you're home to do that.

Yeah. And also, I know you talk about not putting sort of important documents on just the hard drive, but maybe using the cloud to, uh, to sort of save them too.

Yeah. And also, I know you talk about not putting sort of important documents on just the hard drive, but maybe using the cloud to, uh, to sort of save them too.

Well, yes. If you're keeping it, your important documents on a hard drive, say it's in your home, in the study, on a desk somewhere. It's important to have them backed up somewhere else, because if someone sees it and just decides to grab it, whether they use what's on there or not, it might be important to you and not them, but people will not return it. If they find that it's not valuable to them, they will just get rid of it. So it's really important that, yeah, anything that's valuable to you, whether you think it's valuable to someone else, is stored in a secure location.

Well, yes. If you're keeping it, your important documents on a hard drive, say it's in your home, in the study, on a desk somewhere. It's important to have them backed up somewhere else, because if someone sees it and just decides to grab it, whether they use what's on there or not, it might be important to you and not them, but people will not return it. If they find that it's not valuable to them, they will just get rid of it. So it's really important that, yeah, anything that's valuable to you, whether you think it's valuable to someone else, is stored in a secure location.

What about as far as things that we can do as a kind of a night time routine.

What about as far as things that we can do as a kind of a night time routine.

As a night time.

As a night time.

Routine? There is some sort of things that I think you should be doing every night. Check all doors and windows that are locked, that they're secure. Um, activate any sort of alarms and security cameras you have. Some of them have at home functions. So basically, by putting them on, you're saying that the amount of people that are in the house right now, that's how it's going to stay. And then it will alert you if someone else enters. It's a really great thing to have if you are living somewhere by yourself as well, or you know, it's just two of you with a roommate and you feel like that would be a great way to wake you up and keep you safe. Store any valuables out of sight. Um. And double check. Outdoor lights are working. Potentially. Don't have to do that one every night, but it's a great thing to do every now and then. Make sure that your garage, the connecting door is closed and your garage is secure. Um, as well as vehicles, you don't want to put the keys to your car in the bowl at the front door, because that's where the first place that anyone's going to look. If they do get.

Routine? There is some sort of things that I think you should be doing every night. Check all doors and windows that are locked, that they're secure. Um, activate any sort of alarms and security cameras you have. Some of them have at home functions. So basically, by putting them on, you're saying that the amount of people that are in the house right now, that's how it's going to stay. And then it will alert you if someone else enters. It's a really great thing to have if you are living somewhere by yourself as well, or you know, it's just two of you with a roommate and you feel like that would be a great way to wake you up and keep you safe. Store any valuables out of sight. Um. And double check. Outdoor lights are working. Potentially. Don't have to do that one every night, but it's a great thing to do every now and then. Make sure that your garage, the connecting door is closed and your garage is secure. Um, as well as vehicles, you don't want to put the keys to your car in the bowl at the front door, because that's where the first place that anyone's going to look. If they do get.

In.

In.

They will hear about so many people were being broken into or their home being broken into, their garage being broken into. They pinch the car and off they go.

They will hear about so many people were being broken into or their home being broken into, their garage being broken into. They pinch the car and off they go.

Absolutely. That's one of the main reasons why these aggravated burglaries are occurring. And a lot of aggravated burglaries lead to motor theft or auto vehicle theft. So I think that you're seeing a connection and that's often what they're looking for. But if you are as well a young woman at home by herself, sometimes, you know, the intentions are even more sinister. So keeping your your sort of fortress secure is so important and you should feel safe at home. Everyone deserves to feel safe. So by doing these, it might give you that little bit more peace of mind. Um, and you might be able to sleep that little bit easier.

Absolutely. That's one of the main reasons why these aggravated burglaries are occurring. And a lot of aggravated burglaries lead to motor theft or auto vehicle theft. So I think that you're seeing a connection and that's often what they're looking for. But if you are as well a young woman at home by herself, sometimes, you know, the intentions are even more sinister. So keeping your your sort of fortress secure is so important and you should feel safe at home. Everyone deserves to feel safe. So by doing these, it might give you that little bit more peace of mind. Um, and you might be able to sleep that little bit easier.

I knew I noticed even things like, for example, you know, close the curtains and don't leave a laptop, you know, visible from outside. I mean, kind of think, well, of course, but I guess, you know, that that moment that you don't think about doing that or I'm a bit tired, I'm going to go to bed or I'll, you know, I'll move that in the morning or whatever. That could be the, the one time that you should have, uh, you know, taken out of public view.

I knew I noticed even things like, for example, you know, close the curtains and don't leave a laptop, you know, visible from outside. I mean, kind of think, well, of course, but I guess, you know, that that moment that you don't think about doing that or I'm a bit tired, I'm going to go to bed or I'll, you know, I'll move that in the morning or whatever. That could be the, the one time that you should have, uh, you know, taken out of public view.

Yes. And I do think that if anything like that happens, it's such a traumatic experience. And you'd rather prevent it than just, you know, be able to handle that situation in the moment. I would say that locking your doors, making sure that you are making yourself very hardened to burglary and aggravated burglary is your best defense. Really, you want to make sure make sure that there's everything set up in place to make your house the most, you know, unappealing sort of house to rob of them all. Make them. Um, and you can do this with the help of neighbors. So if you are away, you want to get your neighbors to help you out. You want to make sure that, you know, they could be taking your bins out, getting your mail and things like this just so you've always got a lived in look, but you also have that sort of secure fortress look as well.

Yes. And I do think that if anything like that happens, it's such a traumatic experience. And you'd rather prevent it than just, you know, be able to handle that situation in the moment. I would say that locking your doors, making sure that you are making yourself very hardened to burglary and aggravated burglary is your best defense. Really, you want to make sure make sure that there's everything set up in place to make your house the most, you know, unappealing sort of house to rob of them all. Make them. Um, and you can do this with the help of neighbors. So if you are away, you want to get your neighbors to help you out. You want to make sure that, you know, they could be taking your bins out, getting your mail and things like this just so you've always got a lived in look, but you also have that sort of secure fortress look as well.

Well, the things that are kind of, uh, you know, obvious in many respects, but things that we can kind of, uh, you know, let it slip from our mind or from our attention from time to time. So it's really good for us to be reminded. And you certainly do a great job of that. Now, people want to find out more. You've got lots of other information on your website, and people can also contact you by phone.

Well, the things that are kind of, uh, you know, obvious in many respects, but things that we can kind of, uh, you know, let it slip from our mind or from our attention from time to time. So it's really good for us to be reminded. And you certainly do a great job of that. Now, people want to find out more. You've got lots of other information on your website, and people can also contact you by phone.

Absolutely. So if you do want to have a look at, we've got a whole home security checklist, which is actually really helpful if you want to just even if you do it once and then forget about it, but just go through it and just see sort of how how much security you've got in place. You can find that on our website, along with a lot of lot of other resources at Crimestopperswa.com.au. And if you do happen, for example, to know anyone that's out there burgling homes and, and and up to any sort of suspicious or illegal activity, you can make a report to Crimestoppers anonymously. And that's you can call us on one 803 000. Or you can also use the website where we've got a brand new reporting platform.

Absolutely. So if you do want to have a look at, we've got a whole home security checklist, which is actually really helpful if you want to just even if you do it once and then forget about it, but just go through it and just see sort of how how much security you've got in place. You can find that on our website, along with a lot of lot of other resources at Crimestopperswa.com.au. And if you do happen, for example, to know anyone that's out there burgling homes and, and and up to any sort of suspicious or illegal activity, you can make a report to Crimestoppers anonymously. And that's you can call us on one 803 000. Or you can also use the website where we've got a brand new reporting platform.

Where we might talk about that in coming months. May I welcome back. Great to have you with us. We'll catch up again every month throughout the year. But, uh, a fabulous session to, uh, kick it off and, you know, may may save someone a bit of heartache and a bit of stress and a bit of tension with some of the tips you've given us. So thank you.

Where we might talk about that in coming months. May I welcome back. Great to have you with us. We'll catch up again every month throughout the year. But, uh, a fabulous session to, uh, kick it off and, you know, may may save someone a bit of heartache and a bit of stress and a bit of tension with some of the tips you've given us. So thank you.

Thank you so much, Peter. I hope it does.

Thank you so much, Peter. I hope it does.

Yeah. Gardner there from Crime Stoppers. Victoria, all the information up with our show notes. You're listening to.

Yeah. Gardner there from Crime Stoppers. Victoria, all the information up with our show notes. You're listening to.

Focal Point on beating Australia radio and television, Am radio, digital and online at VA radio.

Focal Point on beating Australia radio and television, Am radio, digital and online at VA radio.

Well, the show that everyone is waiting for at the Adelaide Fringe this year, vistas and Vistas of a Blind Man, starring Tony Doyle, is happening March 1st. Tony's on the line. Tony. Hello.

Well, the show that everyone is waiting for at the Adelaide Fringe this year, vistas and Vistas of a Blind Man, starring Tony Doyle, is happening March 1st. Tony's on the line. Tony. Hello.

Hi, Peter. Hi, folks.

Hi, Peter. Hi, folks.

How are you going? How's the preparation coming along?

How are you going? How's the preparation coming along?

Well, there's a lot of preparation. Putting on a fringe show these days is more involved than it used to be. It's a multi-arts show, so, you know, there are different elements to get together, but, you know, there's a group of us working on it. My wife Jane and myself have been working on it. It's all coming together. And I think by March the 1st, it's going to be a clean and crisp and beautiful, if not beautiful, hopefully engaging and funny.

Well, there's a lot of preparation. Putting on a fringe show these days is more involved than it used to be. It's a multi-arts show, so, you know, there are different elements to get together, but, you know, there's a group of us working on it. My wife Jane and myself have been working on it. It's all coming together. And I think by March the 1st, it's going to be a clean and crisp and beautiful, if not beautiful, hopefully engaging and funny.

I'm sure it will be. Now, with the greatest of respect, you're an old pro. You've been around for a long time. Does that hold you in good stead or there's still a few pre-show nerves?

I'm sure it will be. Now, with the greatest of respect, you're an old pro. You've been around for a long time. Does that hold you in good stead or there's still a few pre-show nerves?

Look, I'm not sure about pre-show nerves. I won't know until, Uh, like, you know, a little bit. A bit before the show starts, but, um, I'll be so busy trying to remember all the bits and pieces because I've got to remember, you know, various pieces of music. Uh, what keys they're in all that stuff. I've got to remember my, uh, my comedy routine, and, um, I've got to, you know, remember the sequences of the show and all the rest of it. So there's a fair bit there. I think I'm going to be too busy to be nervous.

Look, I'm not sure about pre-show nerves. I won't know until, Uh, like, you know, a little bit. A bit before the show starts, but, um, I'll be so busy trying to remember all the bits and pieces because I've got to remember, you know, various pieces of music. Uh, what keys they're in all that stuff. I've got to remember my, uh, my comedy routine, and, um, I've got to, you know, remember the sequences of the show and all the rest of it. So there's a fair bit there. I think I'm going to be too busy to be nervous.

That's what I think. I was going to ask you, there is so much in the show and, you know, you're kind of front and center, which is understandable. What about kind of memorizing it all that it's all from memory because you're not unable to refer to, say, notes?

That's what I think. I was going to ask you, there is so much in the show and, you know, you're kind of front and center, which is understandable. What about kind of memorizing it all that it's all from memory because you're not unable to refer to, say, notes?

No. Look, I've tried things in the past, you know, I've done a little bit of stand up comedy where I tried to use, uh, you know, electronic gizmo in my ear and do trigger notes, but always something goes wrong as I realized I'm better off. you know, relying on my memory and ad libbing, you know? Um, so when you're trying, you know, and I've done conference things, talks where I've tried to use recordings in my ear and it's it's a bit stultifying, you know, it's worked to some extent, but no, I'm, I'm trying to use my memory kind of old and gnarled as it is, um, to remember it all. So, you know.

No. Look, I've tried things in the past, you know, I've done a little bit of stand up comedy where I tried to use, uh, you know, electronic gizmo in my ear and do trigger notes, but always something goes wrong as I realized I'm better off. you know, relying on my memory and ad libbing, you know? Um, so when you're trying, you know, and I've done conference things, talks where I've tried to use recordings in my ear and it's it's a bit stultifying, you know, it's worked to some extent, but no, I'm, I'm trying to use my memory kind of old and gnarled as it is, um, to remember it all. So, you know.

Well, maybe it's the sort of thing that the more you use it, the better you get at it to. Maybe it's kind of preventing anything from going bad as far as the memory issues go.

Well, maybe it's the sort of thing that the more you use it, the better you get at it to. Maybe it's kind of preventing anything from going bad as far as the memory issues go.

Well, I'm hoping all this, you know, it's all creativity. Uh, and, you know, I'm 76 years old, and, um, it's not a time to to to kind of give up or slow down or anything. It's it's being creative. I think that keeps you kind of alive and connected. Yeah. It's a different world now to organize things in. It's a it's an online world. In the in the past, I've always done things through dialogue with people and agreements and contracts and things. Now everything's online. It's a different world. So I've had to, you know, with the help of my wife Jane, I've had to kind of overcome the hurdles of, uh, you know, everything being done on computer rather than through dialogue or conversation with people.

Well, I'm hoping all this, you know, it's all creativity. Uh, and, you know, I'm 76 years old, and, um, it's not a time to to to kind of give up or slow down or anything. It's it's being creative. I think that keeps you kind of alive and connected. Yeah. It's a different world now to organize things in. It's a it's an online world. In the in the past, I've always done things through dialogue with people and agreements and contracts and things. Now everything's online. It's a different world. So I've had to, you know, with the help of my wife Jane, I've had to kind of overcome the hurdles of, uh, you know, everything being done on computer rather than through dialogue or conversation with people.

Maybe the world isn't quite as good as it used to be in that respect. I tell you, you chose an interesting one if you've chosen it, but it's an interesting venue. Tell us about that.

Maybe the world isn't quite as good as it used to be in that respect. I tell you, you chose an interesting one if you've chosen it, but it's an interesting venue. Tell us about that.

Well, look, you know, we had the launch, uh, which was mainly targeting blind and partially sighted people at the wassail wine bar, and we had quite a few people there and a lovely atmosphere, and, um, that went well. But for the fringe show, I wanted somewhere in the central hub. I didn't want to be stuck out somewhere, you know, in the burbs. I don't mean that too negatively, but I wanted to be in that central hub where the fringe stuff is happening. And I thought, you know, Ayres house is a, you know, a pretty highly respected venue. And I thought, well, you know, I think I should be there. So, you know, so that's where I'm going. And, um, I'm excited about that as a venue because it's an older Adelaide iconic building.

Well, look, you know, we had the launch, uh, which was mainly targeting blind and partially sighted people at the wassail wine bar, and we had quite a few people there and a lovely atmosphere, and, um, that went well. But for the fringe show, I wanted somewhere in the central hub. I didn't want to be stuck out somewhere, you know, in the burbs. I don't mean that too negatively, but I wanted to be in that central hub where the fringe stuff is happening. And I thought, you know, Ayres house is a, you know, a pretty highly respected venue. And I thought, well, you know, I think I should be there. So, you know, so that's where I'm going. And, um, I'm excited about that as a venue because it's an older Adelaide iconic building.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And of course, there's a fully licensed bar there. Yeah. So, you know, people that like to have a glass of wine before a show can go there a little bit earlier and, um, you know, have a glass or two and limber up for the show. And, um, we're in the ballroom. And I just thought, well, you know, and he was the music of the, uh, six piece music ensemble called orchid. It's like a fusion between folk and classical influences. And and we've got our own sound, you know, and it's, you know, I think it's a pretty kind of, um, an appropriate venue for our musicality and our sound and, you know, and with the poetry, there'll be some serious stuff. I say this, there'll be some that pin you to the wall, and there'll be some that make you laugh like an idiot. I like the mixture of both, you know, but, uh, so I think that we're in a bit of a serious world at the moment. You know, there are a few tipping points lurking there. Um, I don't think it's the the happy happiest of worlds at the moment. And so some of my poetry is, you know, confronting things like that. But mind you, I've written poems about absolutely everything conceivable. But then I do try and offset the serious with some, uh, humorous and Humorous. An absurdist kind of poems, uh, which, you know, it's good. Always good to get a laugh from people. And then, you know, halfway through the show, I'm doing my, uh, stand up blonde comedy routine just to give people a bit of, uh, you know, light relief and all that. And, um, I'm kind of looking forward to that because I've only had a little bit of experience in, in this area. But, um, I did, um, on a comedy cruise, I11 the, uh, the passengers, uh, comedy effort, uh, on one occasion, but the next, the next time I went on, I got gonged off. So, you know, who knows? But I'm kind of looking forward to that, because I think making people laugh has to be one of the gifts of life, like music. And, um, I suppose like being creative in general. But yeah, so it's a multi arts show. There's, there are poems read by a synthesized version of my voice. So it's not me. It's not even exactly how I would read it, read them. But, um, at the same token, at the launch, people thought it was me reading my poems or reciting, you know, memorizing my poems until they realized my mouth wasn't moving. And, uh.

And of course, there's a fully licensed bar there. Yeah. So, you know, people that like to have a glass of wine before a show can go there a little bit earlier and, um, you know, have a glass or two and limber up for the show. And, um, we're in the ballroom. And I just thought, well, you know, and he was the music of the, uh, six piece music ensemble called orchid. It's like a fusion between folk and classical influences. And and we've got our own sound, you know, and it's, you know, I think it's a pretty kind of, um, an appropriate venue for our musicality and our sound and, you know, and with the poetry, there'll be some serious stuff. I say this, there'll be some that pin you to the wall, and there'll be some that make you laugh like an idiot. I like the mixture of both, you know, but, uh, so I think that we're in a bit of a serious world at the moment. You know, there are a few tipping points lurking there. Um, I don't think it's the the happy happiest of worlds at the moment. And so some of my poetry is, you know, confronting things like that. But mind you, I've written poems about absolutely everything conceivable. But then I do try and offset the serious with some, uh, humorous and Humorous. An absurdist kind of poems, uh, which, you know, it's good. Always good to get a laugh from people. And then, you know, halfway through the show, I'm doing my, uh, stand up blonde comedy routine just to give people a bit of, uh, you know, light relief and all that. And, um, I'm kind of looking forward to that because I've only had a little bit of experience in, in this area. But, um, I did, um, on a comedy cruise, I11 the, uh, the passengers, uh, comedy effort, uh, on one occasion, but the next, the next time I went on, I got gonged off. So, you know, who knows? But I'm kind of looking forward to that, because I think making people laugh has to be one of the gifts of life, like music. And, um, I suppose like being creative in general. But yeah, so it's a multi arts show. There's, there are poems read by a synthesized version of my voice. So it's not me. It's not even exactly how I would read it, read them. But, um, at the same token, at the launch, people thought it was me reading my poems or reciting, you know, memorizing my poems until they realized my mouth wasn't moving. And, uh.

Well, the people wouldn't have seen your mouth not moving. So that got in.

Well, the people wouldn't have seen your mouth not moving. So that got in.

And then they didn't know a bloody.

And then they didn't know a bloody.

Thing. I can't even have a bit of a bump in because, you know, sometimes, like being, um, acclimatized to your surroundings. Is that important to you or are you just going to rock up on the day and away you go?