From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's your host, Sam Collins.

From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's your host, Sam Collins.

Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And for the next half hour, we talk matters of blindness and low vision.

Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And for the next half hour, we talk matters of blindness and low vision.

You know, if we're sitting here this time next year, I'd love to sort of say that each state and territory has run some form of programming to understand what the need is within those respective states and territories. So we obviously need the programming base to enable that and I think it'll be a big building year for AFL brand.

You know, if we're sitting here this time next year, I'd love to sort of say that each state and territory has run some form of programming to understand what the need is within those respective states and territories. So we obviously need the programming base to enable that and I think it'll be a big building year for AFL brand.

Welcome to the program. That voice you just heard was AFL Disability and Inclusion manager Tim Nield talking about the future plans for AFL Blind and all states and territories. I caught up with Tim recently to have a chat about the AFL's work with the disabled community both on and off the field. And that conversation's coming up shortly later on in the program. This week we commemorate Anzac Day with a series of stories and poems presented by Dorothy Fletcher from Afternoon Life, with excerpts from her recent Anzac Day special. I hope you enjoy this week's episode of Talking Vision. I'm here today with Tim Nield, disability and Inclusion Manager from AFL House, to talk about making the game a more inclusive, welcoming environment for people with disability, including potential spectators, players and volunteers who are blind or have low vision. Tim, thank you very much for your time today. Welcome to Talking Vision.

Welcome to the program. That voice you just heard was AFL Disability and Inclusion manager Tim Nield talking about the future plans for AFL Blind and all states and territories. I caught up with Tim recently to have a chat about the AFL's work with the disabled community both on and off the field. And that conversation's coming up shortly later on in the program. This week we commemorate Anzac Day with a series of stories and poems presented by Dorothy Fletcher from Afternoon Life, with excerpts from her recent Anzac Day special. I hope you enjoy this week's episode of Talking Vision. I'm here today with Tim Nield, disability and Inclusion Manager from AFL House, to talk about making the game a more inclusive, welcoming environment for people with disability, including potential spectators, players and volunteers who are blind or have low vision. Tim, thank you very much for your time today. Welcome to Talking Vision.

Pleasure, Sam. Thank you for having me. And hello, everybody.

Pleasure, Sam. Thank you for having me. And hello, everybody.

Now, firstly, Tim, I'm keen to sort of have a chat with you about the AFL's plans in the disability and inclusion sphere in 2022.

Now, firstly, Tim, I'm keen to sort of have a chat with you about the AFL's plans in the disability and inclusion sphere in 2022.

Yeah. And, and I guess I'll start with with AFL Blind and yeah, that's been a big journey I think we started. That's for AFL. Victoria started that journey. Basketball is probably four or five years ago now where we sort of tested and piloted and I guess the first big achievement milestone this year was the ball that we've put a lot of work into with the players is now actually on on the market. So you can go to Chevron's website and actually buy an AFL blind football which we used to play AFL blind. So that's been a big, big piece of the jigsaw because we obviously need that footy to be able to play the game and we've sort of stopped the rest of the country because Victoria started it and they had a competition going and the rest of the country wanted to get going as well. But we obviously didn't have enough footy or had the confidence that it was good to go out. So we've now cross that bridge in the footy can be bought and were supplied to the rest of the country, the rest of the states and the territories with the better footy to really get them going. And so a goal from my point is to ideally replicate what Victoria have got with a competition and come and come and play activities and really create that pathway from grassroots up to actually football program and we Acxiom success we managed to get a pilot season underway they just finished up last weekend actually and that they've got West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers part of that. So that was a two time competition and Fremantle one won that. So it was great, is, is awesome to provide the Western Australians with that opportunity and I think that'll grow as it gets more, more known. And I know other states are looking to, to run some kind of play opportunities to just see what the demand is within their respective states. So I think, you know, if we're sitting here this time next year, I'd love to sort of say that each state and territory has run some form of programming to understand what the need is within those respective states and territories. And then long term vision, similar to what we've got with wheelchair and inclusion and actually got national events. So there's that pathway to represent your state and then go towards a national national event. So we obviously need the base, the programming base to enable that and I think it will be big building youth AFL blind this year. So that's that's a big focus this year in the wheelchair space. Again, the ball as hard as COVID was for everybody and you've got to find some positives in that. And we had to cancel well and wheelchair championships and Inclusion Council. But what it did allow us to do is to put more funding to the states, to run more programming. And pre-COVID, I think we only had I think Victoria were the only Victoria were the only state that had a wheelchair competition with now got competition in way South Australia Queensland are looking to get going this year and so in Tasmania too as well and we now have got programming all across the country and all the states and territories and this year I'm really bullish that will have a national representation of every state and territory at the national championships, the wheelchair AFL champs. So that's really exciting and I think that's, that's a big goal to make sure that we can achieve that. And obviously there's some funding implications there to make sure that we can do that so that that's a big focus in the participation space. And then again, the inclusion kind of which I think most people sort of know it's probably the most well known event for people with intellectual disability to represent at the highest level and just to get that event up and going itself. So yet, like I said, a big marquee event for us at the AFL in the disability space and hoping that we can get that, get that up and go and Kobe behaves itself this.

Yeah. And, and I guess I'll start with with AFL Blind and yeah, that's been a big journey I think we started. That's for AFL. Victoria started that journey. Basketball is probably four or five years ago now where we sort of tested and piloted and I guess the first big achievement milestone this year was the ball that we've put a lot of work into with the players is now actually on on the market. So you can go to Chevron's website and actually buy an AFL blind football which we used to play AFL blind. So that's been a big, big piece of the jigsaw because we obviously need that footy to be able to play the game and we've sort of stopped the rest of the country because Victoria started it and they had a competition going and the rest of the country wanted to get going as well. But we obviously didn't have enough footy or had the confidence that it was good to go out. So we've now cross that bridge in the footy can be bought and were supplied to the rest of the country, the rest of the states and the territories with the better footy to really get them going. And so a goal from my point is to ideally replicate what Victoria have got with a competition and come and come and play activities and really create that pathway from grassroots up to actually football program and we Acxiom success we managed to get a pilot season underway they just finished up last weekend actually and that they've got West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers part of that. So that was a two time competition and Fremantle one won that. So it was great, is, is awesome to provide the Western Australians with that opportunity and I think that'll grow as it gets more, more known. And I know other states are looking to, to run some kind of play opportunities to just see what the demand is within their respective states. So I think, you know, if we're sitting here this time next year, I'd love to sort of say that each state and territory has run some form of programming to understand what the need is within those respective states and territories. And then long term vision, similar to what we've got with wheelchair and inclusion and actually got national events. So there's that pathway to represent your state and then go towards a national national event. So we obviously need the base, the programming base to enable that and I think it will be big building youth AFL blind this year. So that's that's a big focus this year in the wheelchair space. Again, the ball as hard as COVID was for everybody and you've got to find some positives in that. And we had to cancel well and wheelchair championships and Inclusion Council. But what it did allow us to do is to put more funding to the states, to run more programming. And pre-COVID, I think we only had I think Victoria were the only Victoria were the only state that had a wheelchair competition with now got competition in way South Australia Queensland are looking to get going this year and so in Tasmania too as well and we now have got programming all across the country and all the states and territories and this year I'm really bullish that will have a national representation of every state and territory at the national championships, the wheelchair AFL champs. So that's really exciting and I think that's, that's a big goal to make sure that we can achieve that. And obviously there's some funding implications there to make sure that we can do that so that that's a big focus in the participation space. And then again, the inclusion kind of which I think most people sort of know it's probably the most well known event for people with intellectual disability to represent at the highest level and just to get that event up and going itself. So yet, like I said, a big marquee event for us at the AFL in the disability space and hoping that we can get that, get that up and go and Kobe behaves itself this.

Year.

Year.

Full. But yeah that's that's our bespoke set of aggregations some goals.

Full. But yeah that's that's our bespoke set of aggregations some goals.

We'll switch over to the non-playing side of things. So talking about for instance the spectators, volunteers, umpires, that side of things. So how does AFL looking to make the experience more accessible.

We'll switch over to the non-playing side of things. So talking about for instance the spectators, volunteers, umpires, that side of things. So how does AFL looking to make the experience more accessible.

From a coaching and volunteer perspective? We do have a relationship with Monash University and a program there, or a business called All Play and pretty much that focuses on youth and juniors and how can we provide coaches who potentially have not been exposed to disability before with again the tools and the resources to support that individual? So we're building out a whole coaching course at the moment which will sit on. I fell, which is our coaching platform. And coaches can go through that and they can learn the fundamentals of disability inclusion, how to adapt their, their, their program or their session using the change of model and understanding behaviours as well. So why do people sometimes behave in a certain manner, say something, underline and set some strategies there. And then the coach who has nine different types of disabilities that they can look to deep dive into. So to complete the course, I'll only have to do two. So they might be working with, you know, a child that's got light vision or maybe deaf and hard of hearing. So they won't need to complete all nine, but they can choose their own journey and select to select the disability that they're working with. So I think that's going to be a great tool to support coaches and volunteers, to be have a have a broader understanding of disability and potentially not sort of shy away from it and lean into it. And there's this there's resources there to help them.

From a coaching and volunteer perspective? We do have a relationship with Monash University and a program there, or a business called All Play and pretty much that focuses on youth and juniors and how can we provide coaches who potentially have not been exposed to disability before with again the tools and the resources to support that individual? So we're building out a whole coaching course at the moment which will sit on. I fell, which is our coaching platform. And coaches can go through that and they can learn the fundamentals of disability inclusion, how to adapt their, their, their program or their session using the change of model and understanding behaviours as well. So why do people sometimes behave in a certain manner, say something, underline and set some strategies there. And then the coach who has nine different types of disabilities that they can look to deep dive into. So to complete the course, I'll only have to do two. So they might be working with, you know, a child that's got light vision or maybe deaf and hard of hearing. So they won't need to complete all nine, but they can choose their own journey and select to select the disability that they're working with. So I think that's going to be a great tool to support coaches and volunteers, to be have a have a broader understanding of disability and potentially not sort of shy away from it and lean into it. And there's this there's resources there to help them.

Before we move on, could we maybe dig into a bit on the blindness and low vision component with some the spectator experience as well as the coaching and umpiring?

Before we move on, could we maybe dig into a bit on the blindness and low vision component with some the spectator experience as well as the coaching and umpiring?

Yes, we do have obviously adaptive roles for AFL Blind and I know the Victorian team have done some great work to recruit new, new umpires and if there's anyone out there listening that wants to get involved yet, please just reach out to reach out to us. But yeah, what we're sort of looking to do there is yeah, I think what we're sort of fanned is bringing people who have a base understanding of football and then adapting, then teaching them. The AFL blind version is getting us a lot more success. I think some umpires sometimes and so used to point out on the grain, I will it can be a little bit complex. I'm sort of looking to change their ways and I yeah, there's about three or four umpires at the moment that sort of cycle through the Victorian league. But yeah, I think that's the next, the next step for us. I like coaching. There is an areas in umpiring platform around upskilling around umpiring and they have just released an inclusion and inclusion module on their course and we've provided some understanding to those umpires about the different forms of different forms of football towards people disability to help sort of just build their awareness that it's not just green oval and that that's, that's footy. So but I think what I'd love to sort of see in the future is how can we actually create a course around blind and life vision as that sort of education tool. We sort of almost get our more experienced umpires to shadow new umpires, to to teach them how to umpire the game. And there's always more things that we can do.

Yes, we do have obviously adaptive roles for AFL Blind and I know the Victorian team have done some great work to recruit new, new umpires and if there's anyone out there listening that wants to get involved yet, please just reach out to reach out to us. But yeah, what we're sort of looking to do there is yeah, I think what we're sort of fanned is bringing people who have a base understanding of football and then adapting, then teaching them. The AFL blind version is getting us a lot more success. I think some umpires sometimes and so used to point out on the grain, I will it can be a little bit complex. I'm sort of looking to change their ways and I yeah, there's about three or four umpires at the moment that sort of cycle through the Victorian league. But yeah, I think that's the next, the next step for us. I like coaching. There is an areas in umpiring platform around upskilling around umpiring and they have just released an inclusion and inclusion module on their course and we've provided some understanding to those umpires about the different forms of different forms of football towards people disability to help sort of just build their awareness that it's not just green oval and that that's, that's footy. So but I think what I'd love to sort of see in the future is how can we actually create a course around blind and life vision as that sort of education tool. We sort of almost get our more experienced umpires to shadow new umpires, to to teach them how to umpire the game. And there's always more things that we can do.

Are there plans for some inclusion parameters for people who are blind or have low vision watching the footy?

Are there plans for some inclusion parameters for people who are blind or have low vision watching the footy?

Some people actually can chime in, I think, to the umpires coin so they can sort of hear it that way. Obviously you can't visually engage and so I think there's there's opportunities to dog in there. But I know what has been great to watch is come out. Let's just say you listen to generic radio when you come in to kind of see visually engage, you're almost a bit of three or four or 5 seconds sort of laps from what's actually happening. Life in the game, what's coming through you, how do the radio ASEAN have got live in stadium commentary? So I think it's called ASEAN in grants. So if you just download ASEAN Act and you go the grand, you can, obviously you can access that and there is no lag time whatsoever. So that's awesome initiative that can obviously support yeah the blind in libraries and people to get to engage with the game that way which sort of removes that lag time. So you definitely promote people to to look into that if you go to the game. And that said have been a bit of a challenge for me that that's something you can access.

Some people actually can chime in, I think, to the umpires coin so they can sort of hear it that way. Obviously you can't visually engage and so I think there's there's opportunities to dog in there. But I know what has been great to watch is come out. Let's just say you listen to generic radio when you come in to kind of see visually engage, you're almost a bit of three or four or 5 seconds sort of laps from what's actually happening. Life in the game, what's coming through you, how do the radio ASEAN have got live in stadium commentary? So I think it's called ASEAN in grants. So if you just download ASEAN Act and you go the grand, you can, obviously you can access that and there is no lag time whatsoever. So that's awesome initiative that can obviously support yeah the blind in libraries and people to get to engage with the game that way which sort of removes that lag time. So you definitely promote people to to look into that if you go to the game. And that said have been a bit of a challenge for me that that's something you can access.

Before we go, Tim, I just want to touch back on the competitions that are available for people with disability to participate in one of those competitions kicking off.

Before we go, Tim, I just want to touch back on the competitions that are available for people with disability to participate in one of those competitions kicking off.

Yeah, that they are a bit unique depending on what state and territory you live in. Okay. Yeah. So yeah, the best thing to do would be to get in contact with your respective AFL states. So you've got AFL, Tasmania, AFL, Victoria, AFL, New South Wales, eight city, AFL, Queensland, AFL, Northern Territory, Sanford in South Australia and WA. All Abilities Football Association in right now. If you need any help again Sam happy for people to come through to I can connect them in now a lot of it's not as not every state and territory has all those offerings. Some have got more resources and therefore can offer more opportunities. So yeah, it would be best just to sort of check in with me and I can. So support them. We're best. But from a Victorian perspective, I know that wheelchair competition is looking to start in mid April and I believe Blind is looking to start eating. I think it's middle of May, late night yet and theta is the intellectual disability competition in Victoria and I believe that will look to start in more than 47 states over the next two or four weeks as well. So yeah, there's plenty opportunities. And I guess the other thing is, well for anyone that's got kids at the NAB, AFL, I was kicking is up and running, registrations are open. Like I've mentioned, I've got all these great tools to support the individual and support the coaches. So yeah, get your kids involved that way. You know, that's the national program. So regardless where you live, it's a great opportunity just to get a taste for football. And, you know, it's not all about sort of not playing games and kicking goals. And it's it's gone through a massive overhaul and it's all about sort of fun and just learning the sort of fundamentals of, you know, hand-eye coordination. So, yeah, give that a good go and I'm sure the kids will love it.

Yeah, that they are a bit unique depending on what state and territory you live in. Okay. Yeah. So yeah, the best thing to do would be to get in contact with your respective AFL states. So you've got AFL, Tasmania, AFL, Victoria, AFL, New South Wales, eight city, AFL, Queensland, AFL, Northern Territory, Sanford in South Australia and WA. All Abilities Football Association in right now. If you need any help again Sam happy for people to come through to I can connect them in now a lot of it's not as not every state and territory has all those offerings. Some have got more resources and therefore can offer more opportunities. So yeah, it would be best just to sort of check in with me and I can. So support them. We're best. But from a Victorian perspective, I know that wheelchair competition is looking to start in mid April and I believe Blind is looking to start eating. I think it's middle of May, late night yet and theta is the intellectual disability competition in Victoria and I believe that will look to start in more than 47 states over the next two or four weeks as well. So yeah, there's plenty opportunities. And I guess the other thing is, well for anyone that's got kids at the NAB, AFL, I was kicking is up and running, registrations are open. Like I've mentioned, I've got all these great tools to support the individual and support the coaches. So yeah, get your kids involved that way. You know, that's the national program. So regardless where you live, it's a great opportunity just to get a taste for football. And, you know, it's not all about sort of not playing games and kicking goals. And it's it's gone through a massive overhaul and it's all about sort of fun and just learning the sort of fundamentals of, you know, hand-eye coordination. So, yeah, give that a good go and I'm sure the kids will love it.

And Tim, where can people go to find out more about AFL and the inclusion initiatives that they're running?

And Tim, where can people go to find out more about AFL and the inclusion initiatives that they're running?

Yeah, you're more than welcome to reach out to me directly. So my email is Tim Dot Nield, which is about an eye out day at AFL accommodation. So yeah, it's like an email or you can visit a website which play AFL and you'll see all the options there. There is a diversity inclusion section there which can get you to the disability specific options, but then you can also sort of search for your local Auskick centre there or your local sort of football club. So that would be the best place to have look to, but yet more than happy to have people come to me directly if they need any help.

Yeah, you're more than welcome to reach out to me directly. So my email is Tim Dot Nield, which is about an eye out day at AFL accommodation. So yeah, it's like an email or you can visit a website which play AFL and you'll see all the options there. There is a diversity inclusion section there which can get you to the disability specific options, but then you can also sort of search for your local Auskick centre there or your local sort of football club. So that would be the best place to have look to, but yet more than happy to have people come to me directly if they need any help.

Perfect. And let's play AFL if people out there are looking to find out more. I've been speaking today with Tim Neale, disability and Inclusion Manager from AFL House, all about the AFL's plans for the disability and inclusion sector in 2022. I'm Sam Culley, and you're listening to Talking Vision on Vision Australia Radio, associated Stations of IPH and the Community Radio Network. If you're enjoying the show and you'd love to find out more like where to find local radio frequencies or a good spot to listen to past programs. You can find all this info and more on the Talking Vision web page. Just search talking vision and it should come up as the first option. You can also find the program on the podcast app of your choice or through the Vision Australia Library. And now we change pace a little bit on the show this week as we commemorate Anzac Day with a series of stories and poems presented by Dorothy Fletcher.

Perfect. And let's play AFL if people out there are looking to find out more. I've been speaking today with Tim Neale, disability and Inclusion Manager from AFL House, all about the AFL's plans for the disability and inclusion sector in 2022. I'm Sam Culley, and you're listening to Talking Vision on Vision Australia Radio, associated Stations of IPH and the Community Radio Network. If you're enjoying the show and you'd love to find out more like where to find local radio frequencies or a good spot to listen to past programs. You can find all this info and more on the Talking Vision web page. Just search talking vision and it should come up as the first option. You can also find the program on the podcast app of your choice or through the Vision Australia Library. And now we change pace a little bit on the show this week as we commemorate Anzac Day with a series of stories and poems presented by Dorothy Fletcher.

Hello, I'm Dorothy Fletcher. As we honor those who fought and those who fell to protect our freedom during past wars. Let's pause to consider the origin of the name Anzac Day. Over the years, the acronym Anzac Australia and New Zealand Army Corps has become part of the vernacular. It originated with the formation of the Corps in Egypt prior to the Gallipoli campaign in April 1915, and it is thought that Anzac was considered convenient shorthand and became the telegraphic code word for the Corps. Over the years, this acronym has become symbolic of the character of Australia and New Zealand fighting forces well-trained, loyal, with the initiative to overcome adverse situations and a determination to protect home and loved ones at all costs. Egalitarian, sometimes larrikin, but always with a sense of humour. These qualities have been tested in many fields of battle. Originally, when defending the British Empire in places like Gallipoli and the Western Front during World War One. But the ultimate test came in the Southwest Pacific during the final stages of World War Two, when Australia itself was under threat from Japanese invasion. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbour by the Japanese on 7th December 1941, Prime Minister John Curtin made the following announcement in his New Year message on 26 December. Without any inhibitions of any kind, I make it quite clear that Australia looks to America free of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Curtin, mindful of the growing Japanese threat, recalled his troops to defend Australia to the chagrin of Winston Churchill, who had intended to send them to Burma. Shortly afterwards, Darwin was bombed on 19th February 1942, and although the Australian Government declined to release full details of the casualties at the time, the Japanese threat appeared imminent. It was in the steamy jungles of Papua New Guinea where our troops fought to protect their country, their families and their way of life. That Australia came of age. Early in 1941, the Australian Chiefs of Staff decided to raise militia battalions to defend Port Moresby in order to isolate the Japanese from the Australian mainland. These battalions were initially formed from young men who had volunteered for tropical service. Hastily trained and poorly armed, they were deployed in the most threatened areas. Barely six weeks after their formation. The Japanese had attacked and captured Rabaul Bom Port Moresby and captured Singapore. 15th of February 1942, the Japanese invaded New Guinea and July 21 two at Gona and Buna and advanced towards Kokoda. On 29th June 1942. General Blamey Commander Allied Land Forces South West Pacific area ordered New Guinea force codenamed Maroubra to send a rifle company over the Kokoda Track to occupy the site of a proposed airbase on the northern side of the Owen Stanley Range. The Army Chiefs of Staff did not have the foresight or knowledge or therefore the capacity to offer its troops jungle training prior to the fighting in New Guinea. Intelligence was limited as to the strength of the invading forces or the difficulty of the terrain. Artillery support was lacking as these resources were concentrated around Port Moresby and due to logistical issues it was difficult to move guns forward along the track. These courageous militia men struggled on under horrendous conditions and were forced to retreat on several occasions, having suffered heavy casualties. The military command largely unaware and unappreciative of the impossibility of the task. It has been recorded that fighting along the Kokoda Track left over 600 Australian, as did more than 1600 wounded. Not enough praise has been given to the endeavours of these men who tackled the job with great fortitude under impossible conditions. With the arrival of reinforcements from the seventh Division RAAF, a counterattack was mounted in October November 1942, which drove the Japanese back to their beachheads around Gona and Buna, where heavy fighting followed. It is not disputed that the American battles of Midway and Guadalcanal contributed to the ultimate victory of the Japanese and the consequent protection of Port Moresby. The conditions under which these men fought are described in a poem by Raised Stewart. It's entitled Discomfort. How to describe the bite of pack straps, crotch chafe and the agony of getting into wet clothes each morning. A patrol. How to tell of the monotony of brown rice, tinned meat, biscuits, jam and tea for ten days at a time. How to erase the body ache from sleeping on with ground half awake from mosquitoes. How to bare the sweat beads clinging to my skin and my stinking shirt. They dumbly resist brushing off, only to be crushed into my sweat. Rory Stewart was an infantry officer in the Australian Army and he had tours of duty with the Pacific Islands Regiment in 1961 to 64 and 1971 vantage point. This is another of Ray Stewart's poems snaking through open savanna. The road climbs south of the yellow, murky, overseen by homegrown bluff, where the last signs of Bellamy's headquarters are a number of stone lined paths a fringe, a penny and a mango tree. Then past Woody's room, the pub and the falls gash in jungle, 2 hours corner, where in 1942, Douglas MacArthur stood for an hour to see at a distance the Kokoda Trail and thirst for victory at Buna gona. The New Guinea campaign was one of the hardest fought of World War Two. American Australian forces relied on native New Guineans to achieve victory. The indigenous peoples of New Guinea suffered a great deal under the Japanese occupation. Japanese treatment of the natives was extremely brutal, and as food was always short, it was often taken by force. After murdering the villagers or leaving them to starve. Even so, in the ensuing campaigns, more Japanese soldiers would die of starvation than from any other cause. Many indigenous men were forced into slave labor by the Japanese. New Guinea fell under Australian administration and natives were regarded as sources of supply and labor. As many as 37,000 New Guineans were working as forced labor during the war. Their help was particularly vital in transporting goods overland through jungle terrain. Often wounded men became separated from their units or isolated away from medical care. Capture by the Japanese meant either death or horrific imprisonment. Wounded soldiers were often saved by natives who treated casualties with great colonists, providing them with food and shelter, and carrying the many miles back to the allied lines at great risk and no reward. A recent article by Vincent Ross in the Adelaide Advertiser tells the story of South Australian. It IB Sary who fought in the Middle East and at Kokoda and recently passed away at the age of 102. Here is an extract from his story. I heard movement in the grass in front of but out of sight of my position. So I took a grenade out of my utility pouch and was about to pull the pin. When the bullet came through the top of the mound of earth in front of me and struck the finger of my left hand, which held the grenade. The fact that the bullet had lost velocity by passing through the Earth Mound obviously saved me as the grenade, which at the time was just in front of my navel, did not explode. I've only told that story to a few people as I feel they'd probably consider it a tall story without any proof. The ricocheting bullet took off the top of Ed's finger. He picked up the grenade and managed to pull a pin and throw it. Then he slipped out in the long grass like a goanna and made his way back to the platoon headquarters where he had the wound dressed. Hands up. Hands up! He started guiltily as the call rang clearly in his ears, then stopped as the realization sank in that it was too late. Much too late. Trapped without a counter. Funny, he mused to himself as he waited for his captor to draw near. Funny how easily he had been tricked. He who had a word of them all up to date. He had always been at least one think ahead to come this far and then to fall such an easy victim. Peculiar how one's memory raced back at times like this. Remember that day in Tobruk when the shell screamed its way into the bank, not ten yards away, for where he and Bluey had stood and didn't explode? Poor old Bluey. He wasn't so lucky. Two days later, when one hit the dugout in which he was sleeping. Then there was that time when he was playing poker with Butch, Jim and that lanky bloke from Queensland. The bloke who never talked unless it was about his farm and he was called away to the orderly room. Then the Huns started to send him over and he got back in time to help Butch and Jim cut the Queensland bloke down to the Moe. His leg was amputated that night and the day when he lay fox in death while two sons of heaven came gleefully nearer and got theirs. And now to be caught like this, caught napping, as it were. Well, it wasn't right. He never had a chance. The dice was loaded from the beginning. Hands up, obediently. He raised his hands and allowed his wife to place on them a kind of wool ready to be wound. These stories come from jungle warfare and were contributed by two soldiers identified only by army numbers. I conclude with another phrase Palms High and Harbour Los Negros here. In 1944, Douglas MacArthur stumbled over the still warm cadavers of two enemy and commented. That's the way I like to see them now. Around my motor airstrip, discarded Coca Cola bottles and bullet nicked palms outlive the Japanese soldiers and the American general.

Hello, I'm Dorothy Fletcher. As we honor those who fought and those who fell to protect our freedom during past wars. Let's pause to consider the origin of the name Anzac Day. Over the years, the acronym Anzac Australia and New Zealand Army Corps has become part of the vernacular. It originated with the formation of the Corps in Egypt prior to the Gallipoli campaign in April 1915, and it is thought that Anzac was considered convenient shorthand and became the telegraphic code word for the Corps. Over the years, this acronym has become symbolic of the character of Australia and New Zealand fighting forces well-trained, loyal, with the initiative to overcome adverse situations and a determination to protect home and loved ones at all costs. Egalitarian, sometimes larrikin, but always with a sense of humour. These qualities have been tested in many fields of battle. Originally, when defending the British Empire in places like Gallipoli and the Western Front during World War One. But the ultimate test came in the Southwest Pacific during the final stages of World War Two, when Australia itself was under threat from Japanese invasion. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbour by the Japanese on 7th December 1941, Prime Minister John Curtin made the following announcement in his New Year message on 26 December. Without any inhibitions of any kind, I make it quite clear that Australia looks to America free of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Curtin, mindful of the growing Japanese threat, recalled his troops to defend Australia to the chagrin of Winston Churchill, who had intended to send them to Burma. Shortly afterwards, Darwin was bombed on 19th February 1942, and although the Australian Government declined to release full details of the casualties at the time, the Japanese threat appeared imminent. It was in the steamy jungles of Papua New Guinea where our troops fought to protect their country, their families and their way of life. That Australia came of age. Early in 1941, the Australian Chiefs of Staff decided to raise militia battalions to defend Port Moresby in order to isolate the Japanese from the Australian mainland. These battalions were initially formed from young men who had volunteered for tropical service. Hastily trained and poorly armed, they were deployed in the most threatened areas. Barely six weeks after their formation. The Japanese had attacked and captured Rabaul Bom Port Moresby and captured Singapore. 15th of February 1942, the Japanese invaded New Guinea and July 21 two at Gona and Buna and advanced towards Kokoda. On 29th June 1942. General Blamey Commander Allied Land Forces South West Pacific area ordered New Guinea force codenamed Maroubra to send a rifle company over the Kokoda Track to occupy the site of a proposed airbase on the northern side of the Owen Stanley Range. The Army Chiefs of Staff did not have the foresight or knowledge or therefore the capacity to offer its troops jungle training prior to the fighting in New Guinea. Intelligence was limited as to the strength of the invading forces or the difficulty of the terrain. Artillery support was lacking as these resources were concentrated around Port Moresby and due to logistical issues it was difficult to move guns forward along the track. These courageous militia men struggled on under horrendous conditions and were forced to retreat on several occasions, having suffered heavy casualties. The military command largely unaware and unappreciative of the impossibility of the task. It has been recorded that fighting along the Kokoda Track left over 600 Australian, as did more than 1600 wounded. Not enough praise has been given to the endeavours of these men who tackled the job with great fortitude under impossible conditions. With the arrival of reinforcements from the seventh Division RAAF, a counterattack was mounted in October November 1942, which drove the Japanese back to their beachheads around Gona and Buna, where heavy fighting followed. It is not disputed that the American battles of Midway and Guadalcanal contributed to the ultimate victory of the Japanese and the consequent protection of Port Moresby. The conditions under which these men fought are described in a poem by Raised Stewart. It's entitled Discomfort. How to describe the bite of pack straps, crotch chafe and the agony of getting into wet clothes each morning. A patrol. How to tell of the monotony of brown rice, tinned meat, biscuits, jam and tea for ten days at a time. How to erase the body ache from sleeping on with ground half awake from mosquitoes. How to bare the sweat beads clinging to my skin and my stinking shirt. They dumbly resist brushing off, only to be crushed into my sweat. Rory Stewart was an infantry officer in the Australian Army and he had tours of duty with the Pacific Islands Regiment in 1961 to 64 and 1971 vantage point. This is another of Ray Stewart's poems snaking through open savanna. The road climbs south of the yellow, murky, overseen by homegrown bluff, where the last signs of Bellamy's headquarters are a number of stone lined paths a fringe, a penny and a mango tree. Then past Woody's room, the pub and the falls gash in jungle, 2 hours corner, where in 1942, Douglas MacArthur stood for an hour to see at a distance the Kokoda Trail and thirst for victory at Buna gona. The New Guinea campaign was one of the hardest fought of World War Two. American Australian forces relied on native New Guineans to achieve victory. The indigenous peoples of New Guinea suffered a great deal under the Japanese occupation. Japanese treatment of the natives was extremely brutal, and as food was always short, it was often taken by force. After murdering the villagers or leaving them to starve. Even so, in the ensuing campaigns, more Japanese soldiers would die of starvation than from any other cause. Many indigenous men were forced into slave labor by the Japanese. New Guinea fell under Australian administration and natives were regarded as sources of supply and labor. As many as 37,000 New Guineans were working as forced labor during the war. Their help was particularly vital in transporting goods overland through jungle terrain. Often wounded men became separated from their units or isolated away from medical care. Capture by the Japanese meant either death or horrific imprisonment. Wounded soldiers were often saved by natives who treated casualties with great colonists, providing them with food and shelter, and carrying the many miles back to the allied lines at great risk and no reward. A recent article by Vincent Ross in the Adelaide Advertiser tells the story of South Australian. It IB Sary who fought in the Middle East and at Kokoda and recently passed away at the age of 102. Here is an extract from his story. I heard movement in the grass in front of but out of sight of my position. So I took a grenade out of my utility pouch and was about to pull the pin. When the bullet came through the top of the mound of earth in front of me and struck the finger of my left hand, which held the grenade. The fact that the bullet had lost velocity by passing through the Earth Mound obviously saved me as the grenade, which at the time was just in front of my navel, did not explode. I've only told that story to a few people as I feel they'd probably consider it a tall story without any proof. The ricocheting bullet took off the top of Ed's finger. He picked up the grenade and managed to pull a pin and throw it. Then he slipped out in the long grass like a goanna and made his way back to the platoon headquarters where he had the wound dressed. Hands up. Hands up! He started guiltily as the call rang clearly in his ears, then stopped as the realization sank in that it was too late. Much too late. Trapped without a counter. Funny, he mused to himself as he waited for his captor to draw near. Funny how easily he had been tricked. He who had a word of them all up to date. He had always been at least one think ahead to come this far and then to fall such an easy victim. Peculiar how one's memory raced back at times like this. Remember that day in Tobruk when the shell screamed its way into the bank, not ten yards away, for where he and Bluey had stood and didn't explode? Poor old Bluey. He wasn't so lucky. Two days later, when one hit the dugout in which he was sleeping. Then there was that time when he was playing poker with Butch, Jim and that lanky bloke from Queensland. The bloke who never talked unless it was about his farm and he was called away to the orderly room. Then the Huns started to send him over and he got back in time to help Butch and Jim cut the Queensland bloke down to the Moe. His leg was amputated that night and the day when he lay fox in death while two sons of heaven came gleefully nearer and got theirs. And now to be caught like this, caught napping, as it were. Well, it wasn't right. He never had a chance. The dice was loaded from the beginning. Hands up, obediently. He raised his hands and allowed his wife to place on them a kind of wool ready to be wound. These stories come from jungle warfare and were contributed by two soldiers identified only by army numbers. I conclude with another phrase Palms High and Harbour Los Negros here. In 1944, Douglas MacArthur stumbled over the still warm cadavers of two enemy and commented. That's the way I like to see them now. Around my motor airstrip, discarded Coca Cola bottles and bullet nicked palms outlive the Japanese soldiers and the American general.

And that's all we have time for today. You've been listening to Talking Vision. Talking Vision is a production of Vision Australia Radio. Thanks to all involved with putting the program together. And remember, we'd love your feedback and comments. You can contact us at Talking Vision Visions Shire dot org. That's Talking Vision. Oh one word at vision Australia dot org. But until next week, it's bye for now.

And that's all we have time for today. You've been listening to Talking Vision. Talking Vision is a production of Vision Australia Radio. Thanks to all involved with putting the program together. And remember, we'd love your feedback and comments. You can contact us at Talking Vision Visions Shire dot org. That's Talking Vision. Oh one word at vision Australia dot org. But until next week, it's bye for now.

You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during business hours on one 300 847466. That's one 300 847466 or by visiting Vision Australia dot org that's mission Australia dot or.

You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during business hours on one 300 847466. That's one 300 847466 or by visiting Vision Australia dot org that's mission Australia dot or.