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.

I'm sure that we can say to the small staff and the 400 volunteers, well done. You're providing a great service to many people. Congratulations. Now, may I officially say I officially open on 1170 9 a.m.? Radio three.

I'm sure that we can say to the small staff and the 400 volunteers, well done. You're providing a great service to many people. Congratulations. Now, may I officially say I officially open on 1170 9 a.m.? Radio three.

Welcome to part two of our 40th anniversary special on Talking Vision, where we celebrate the last 40 years of otherwise known as Vision Australia Radio, including speeches from Australian TV personality Norman Spencer, as well as that man again, Stephen Jolly, who'll be making an appearance later in the show. But before you hear from Norman and Stephen, I catch up with John Simpson, a man who is won many hats over the decades, from the 80s up until the mid 20 tens in the community radio sector and of course, especially through aka Vision Australia Radio. That interview is coming up very shortly, so make sure to stay tuned. I hope you'll enjoy this special 40th anniversary episode of Talking Vision. My next guest is a name no doubt familiar to many people over the decades, whether through his work at Blind Citizens Australia, the Community Broadcasting Foundation, or indeed through and Vision Australia, Radio and Vision Australia. More broadly, his name, of course, is John Simpson, and he joins me now. John, welcome back to Talking Vision. Thank you very much for your time today.

Welcome to part two of our 40th anniversary special on Talking Vision, where we celebrate the last 40 years of otherwise known as Vision Australia Radio, including speeches from Australian TV personality Norman Spencer, as well as that man again, Stephen Jolly, who'll be making an appearance later in the show. But before you hear from Norman and Stephen, I catch up with John Simpson, a man who is won many hats over the decades, from the 80s up until the mid 20 tens in the community radio sector and of course, especially through aka Vision Australia Radio. That interview is coming up very shortly, so make sure to stay tuned. I hope you'll enjoy this special 40th anniversary episode of Talking Vision. My next guest is a name no doubt familiar to many people over the decades, whether through his work at Blind Citizens Australia, the Community Broadcasting Foundation, or indeed through and Vision Australia, Radio and Vision Australia. More broadly, his name, of course, is John Simpson, and he joins me now. John, welcome back to Talking Vision. Thank you very much for your time today.

Oh, it's good to be with you, Sam.

Oh, it's good to be with you, Sam.

Now, firstly, let's go all the way back to 1984. John, I understand you've been hosting and producing some special events programs over that time, all through the 80s to the 90s and even the 2000. So tell us a bit about your involvement there.

Now, firstly, let's go all the way back to 1984. John, I understand you've been hosting and producing some special events programs over that time, all through the 80s to the 90s and even the 2000. So tell us a bit about your involvement there.

So scary to think back that far, Sam. But yes, yes, in the in the early days of Sri, the station was quite innovative in the sorts of things that it tried to provide for people who were visually impaired or otherwise disabled. And one of the things that we tried to do was interact with local blind spots and national blind spots. So probably the first thing that I did was hosting a Saturday night program in the summer season, where we brought results of the Victorian Blind Cricket Association to the listeners with interviews and so on and so forth. In the early days, of course, that was done in the studios over in Talbot Crescent. But then later on, of course, the Cricket Association had its own facilities at the cricket ground there, and we were able to do it there with background noise of people celebrating or commiserating after a tight match. And of course, we also covered cricket finals during the finals matches, which were normally in about mid-March, often over the long weekend, the Labor Day long weekend, we'd do hourly reports and so forth. And in the first instance in about 1984 85, we set up over in the old day centre, which of course is long gone with the with the new buildings and so forth. But it was a verandah type area that overlooked the cricket ground and we set up outside broadcasts there. So they were the earliest things. And of course then we got into international sport and there was a strong interest from the blind and print disabled community in international tennis. So we would host nightly broadcasts of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. We cover the full second week of those, except for the finals, and we didn't do the finals, of course, because the BBC overnight coverage included that. So from the Monday to Friday of the second week of Wimbledon, we'd have a team of commentators in the studios and Stephen Jolly or I would host that and we would call the tennis off the television monitor. The Channel Nine network used to do Wimbledon in those days. And in fact, it's interesting to note, Sam, that that's where the ABC commentary team first experience calling live sport off television. And they give credit many of the earlier ABC hosts Clarke Hansen, Graham, Smokey Dawson and Tim Lane give credit to the service for the innovation of calling sport off a TV screen. And of course, they've picked it up and it's normal practice these days in many sport. So we'd do Wimbledon and we would also do the finals of the US open and the French Championships, which of course all were overnight Australian time and we'd be there at all sorts of times of the day and night calling tennis occasionally we did tennis within Australia, but of course there was more local coverage so there was less need. The policy was always to try and do things that weren't available to the primary audience from other sources, and that's the way we worked on many of those things.

So scary to think back that far, Sam. But yes, yes, in the in the early days of Sri, the station was quite innovative in the sorts of things that it tried to provide for people who were visually impaired or otherwise disabled. And one of the things that we tried to do was interact with local blind spots and national blind spots. So probably the first thing that I did was hosting a Saturday night program in the summer season, where we brought results of the Victorian Blind Cricket Association to the listeners with interviews and so on and so forth. In the early days, of course, that was done in the studios over in Talbot Crescent. But then later on, of course, the Cricket Association had its own facilities at the cricket ground there, and we were able to do it there with background noise of people celebrating or commiserating after a tight match. And of course, we also covered cricket finals during the finals matches, which were normally in about mid-March, often over the long weekend, the Labor Day long weekend, we'd do hourly reports and so forth. And in the first instance in about 1984 85, we set up over in the old day centre, which of course is long gone with the with the new buildings and so forth. But it was a verandah type area that overlooked the cricket ground and we set up outside broadcasts there. So they were the earliest things. And of course then we got into international sport and there was a strong interest from the blind and print disabled community in international tennis. So we would host nightly broadcasts of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. We cover the full second week of those, except for the finals, and we didn't do the finals, of course, because the BBC overnight coverage included that. So from the Monday to Friday of the second week of Wimbledon, we'd have a team of commentators in the studios and Stephen Jolly or I would host that and we would call the tennis off the television monitor. The Channel Nine network used to do Wimbledon in those days. And in fact, it's interesting to note, Sam, that that's where the ABC commentary team first experience calling live sport off television. And they give credit many of the earlier ABC hosts Clarke Hansen, Graham, Smokey Dawson and Tim Lane give credit to the service for the innovation of calling sport off a TV screen. And of course, they've picked it up and it's normal practice these days in many sport. So we'd do Wimbledon and we would also do the finals of the US open and the French Championships, which of course all were overnight Australian time and we'd be there at all sorts of times of the day and night calling tennis occasionally we did tennis within Australia, but of course there was more local coverage so there was less need. The policy was always to try and do things that weren't available to the primary audience from other sources, and that's the way we worked on many of those things.

Also, I understand you're quite involved in the carols broadcast, so tell us a bit about that.

Also, I understand you're quite involved in the carols broadcast, so tell us a bit about that.

Well, it's actually one of my most cherished memories, Sam, because in fact, going back long before the days of radio for the print handicap and through I, in fact, was the program director for the Carols by Candlelight festival in Melbourne when the Royal Victorian Institute for the blind ran it during the 1970s and early 80s. So when I became involved with with the radio service, it was one of our special events was to as happens now. But we started the practice of providing audio description for the television coverage of Melbourne's Carols by Candlelight, and I produced that for quite a few years during the period of the early 2000, right up to about 2013 14. I produced those events every Christmas Eve.

Well, it's actually one of my most cherished memories, Sam, because in fact, going back long before the days of radio for the print handicap and through I, in fact, was the program director for the Carols by Candlelight festival in Melbourne when the Royal Victorian Institute for the blind ran it during the 1970s and early 80s. So when I became involved with with the radio service, it was one of our special events was to as happens now. But we started the practice of providing audio description for the television coverage of Melbourne's Carols by Candlelight, and I produced that for quite a few years during the period of the early 2000, right up to about 2013 14. I produced those events every Christmas Eve.

Okay. Now, John, I want to take us back to about five years after the initial involvement you had with the cricket and the. Tennis there. We're talking about a couple of years in the late 80s. Early 90s, where you had a major involvement in leading consumer input to the licensing of all the services. So give us a bit more info about that. What did that sort of involve? What was the process when.

Okay. Now, John, I want to take us back to about five years after the initial involvement you had with the cricket and the. Tennis there. We're talking about a couple of years in the late 80s. Early 90s, where you had a major involvement in leading consumer input to the licensing of all the services. So give us a bit more info about that. What did that sort of involve? What was the process when.

All of the RPI stations, the major capital city stations, of course, at that stage, including three in Melbourne, but also the Sydney, Hobart, Canberra and Brisbane stations, Adelaide and Perth, came on a bit later when those stations all started. They were licensed basically as experimental stations, and the frequency allocated to them was outside of the normal Am broadcast band. So instead of being 1179, it was three years now, it was 1629 and it was a very low power. The broadcasting authorities then in the late 1980s, with the prompting of the of the government of the day, offered what they call primary band broadcasting licenses to those stations, and also Adelaide and Perth, and the conditions that had to be satisfied to get those licensed included a very heavy emphasis on community participation and community influence over the management of the services. I was executive officer with Blind Citizens Australia at the time and it fell to Blind Citizens Australia and and to me in particular as the, as the employee to do a lot of the work to negotiate suitable arrangements with the potential licence holders about the establishment of consumer input or listener input groups and so on and so forth, and to support the licence applications of all of those stations. And that went on over a couple of years. And of course, it it included the provision by the then government of the primary broadcast frequencies. And what they did was they moved commercial radio stations, and the one concerned in Melbourne was three kHz. They moved them to the FM broadcast band and made available that slot in the radio spectrum for three in Melbourne. And they did similar things in Sydney and the other states. So that was a very heavy involvement that I had as executive officer of Blind Citizens Australia, but probably spent 20 to 30% of my working time over about a 1215 month period, working directly on related matters.

All of the RPI stations, the major capital city stations, of course, at that stage, including three in Melbourne, but also the Sydney, Hobart, Canberra and Brisbane stations, Adelaide and Perth, came on a bit later when those stations all started. They were licensed basically as experimental stations, and the frequency allocated to them was outside of the normal Am broadcast band. So instead of being 1179, it was three years now, it was 1629 and it was a very low power. The broadcasting authorities then in the late 1980s, with the prompting of the of the government of the day, offered what they call primary band broadcasting licenses to those stations, and also Adelaide and Perth, and the conditions that had to be satisfied to get those licensed included a very heavy emphasis on community participation and community influence over the management of the services. I was executive officer with Blind Citizens Australia at the time and it fell to Blind Citizens Australia and and to me in particular as the, as the employee to do a lot of the work to negotiate suitable arrangements with the potential licence holders about the establishment of consumer input or listener input groups and so on and so forth, and to support the licence applications of all of those stations. And that went on over a couple of years. And of course, it it included the provision by the then government of the primary broadcast frequencies. And what they did was they moved commercial radio stations, and the one concerned in Melbourne was three kHz. They moved them to the FM broadcast band and made available that slot in the radio spectrum for three in Melbourne. And they did similar things in Sydney and the other states. So that was a very heavy involvement that I had as executive officer of Blind Citizens Australia, but probably spent 20 to 30% of my working time over about a 1215 month period, working directly on related matters.

And then later on you broadened your focus quite a fair bit, actually, John, with your work on the Community Broadcasting Foundation. So what sort of things did you get involved with there across the whole sector?

And then later on you broadened your focus quite a fair bit, actually, John, with your work on the Community Broadcasting Foundation. So what sort of things did you get involved with there across the whole sector?

It's a very exciting time, Sam, because it was light, 1990s, early 2000, and computer based broadcasting systems were really just coming into their own and the opportunity to use the internet for exchanging programs and all of those sorts of things. Now, the Community Broadcasting Foundation is the arm's length body from government that has a responsibility to actually allocate parts of the government's grant monies to different organisations within the community broadcasting sector. So as a member of the as the chair of the Grants Advisory Committee, I was responsible for making sure that the various providers had their applications in and that they could add their grants and so forth adequately for the government moneys that they were receiving. And more broadly, as a member of the board, we were involved not only in monitoring those grant monies, but also in a whole heap of innovative projects that saw diverse allotment of, firstly, the use of the satellite services to relay programming between various community stations, internet based program sharing, internet management of community broadcasting facilities and all those sorts of things. So it was, if you like, a role as the trustee or one of the trustees for the allocation of those community funds and ensuring that they were being put to the most appropriate use.

It's a very exciting time, Sam, because it was light, 1990s, early 2000, and computer based broadcasting systems were really just coming into their own and the opportunity to use the internet for exchanging programs and all of those sorts of things. Now, the Community Broadcasting Foundation is the arm's length body from government that has a responsibility to actually allocate parts of the government's grant monies to different organisations within the community broadcasting sector. So as a member of the as the chair of the Grants Advisory Committee, I was responsible for making sure that the various providers had their applications in and that they could add their grants and so forth adequately for the government moneys that they were receiving. And more broadly, as a member of the board, we were involved not only in monitoring those grant monies, but also in a whole heap of innovative projects that saw diverse allotment of, firstly, the use of the satellite services to relay programming between various community stations, internet based program sharing, internet management of community broadcasting facilities and all those sorts of things. So it was, if you like, a role as the trustee or one of the trustees for the allocation of those community funds and ensuring that they were being put to the most appropriate use.

And moving on a little bit later in the 2000. So this is going back 15 odd years ago now. You joined the relatively recently? Well, yeah, relatively. Absolutely. You join the management team for Vision Australia's Accessible info division and that included radio at that time. So tell us a bit about that.

And moving on a little bit later in the 2000. So this is going back 15 odd years ago now. You joined the relatively recently? Well, yeah, relatively. Absolutely. You join the management team for Vision Australia's Accessible info division and that included radio at that time. So tell us a bit about that.

So one of my passions is always been to work to have audio description services properly available. On Australian television, and I'd worked on that from the mid 1990s in parallel with other things that I'd done. And in 2007, that resulted in me being invited to join the management team within the Accessible Information Services Division to actually take over national management of audio description services. And that's where I came into the organisation, and we did an amount of work in that area to increase the availability of audio description on in live theatre and in other live venues, as well as advocating for it on television as a result of being part of that management team, when there were some changes in the management structure of Vision Australia Radio as it was by then, and Stephen Jolly moved on to other activities within the organisation. I served as manager of Vision Australia radio network across about eight months, I think, and that was a very exciting time in 2008, 2009, because it was when Vision Australia Radio first started to use digital technology, computer management tools and so forth to manage the network. Of course, network by that stage included Melbourne and the various regional services across Victoria. Perth wasn't included in the network, nor was Adelaide at that stage, but nonetheless there was a need to provide better program management tools across Melbourne and the regional services. And there was a major reconstruction project of of the technical facilities that Dale Simpson oversaw, and I was the station manager during that time. So I managed the service up to the time that Peter Butler was appointed. And then I continued to work in the information access area, and the director of that unit moved on, and I became the operations manager for the whole of information access, which of course included the radio services at that stage. And I managed in that capacity right through until I retired from Vision Australia in mid 2012.

So one of my passions is always been to work to have audio description services properly available. On Australian television, and I'd worked on that from the mid 1990s in parallel with other things that I'd done. And in 2007, that resulted in me being invited to join the management team within the Accessible Information Services Division to actually take over national management of audio description services. And that's where I came into the organisation, and we did an amount of work in that area to increase the availability of audio description on in live theatre and in other live venues, as well as advocating for it on television as a result of being part of that management team, when there were some changes in the management structure of Vision Australia Radio as it was by then, and Stephen Jolly moved on to other activities within the organisation. I served as manager of Vision Australia radio network across about eight months, I think, and that was a very exciting time in 2008, 2009, because it was when Vision Australia Radio first started to use digital technology, computer management tools and so forth to manage the network. Of course, network by that stage included Melbourne and the various regional services across Victoria. Perth wasn't included in the network, nor was Adelaide at that stage, but nonetheless there was a need to provide better program management tools across Melbourne and the regional services. And there was a major reconstruction project of of the technical facilities that Dale Simpson oversaw, and I was the station manager during that time. So I managed the service up to the time that Peter Butler was appointed. And then I continued to work in the information access area, and the director of that unit moved on, and I became the operations manager for the whole of information access, which of course included the radio services at that stage. And I managed in that capacity right through until I retired from Vision Australia in mid 2012.

And as we've talked about that three odd decades that you were involved with Vision Australia and the network, what were some real highlights for you? What do you look most fondly on? I mean, we've talked about your involvement with Carol, so we can certainly start with that. But what else has really touched you personally as a moment you'll never forget?

And as we've talked about that three odd decades that you were involved with Vision Australia and the network, what were some real highlights for you? What do you look most fondly on? I mean, we've talked about your involvement with Carol, so we can certainly start with that. But what else has really touched you personally as a moment you'll never forget?

Oh, I think in the early stages, it was the station's ability and commitment to finding ways to meet the information needs of people with print disability, whether they be blind or otherwise print disabled. There was a lot of innovative programming in the very early days. For example, there was a regular program which simply provided information about the printed catalogues that the major supermarket chains and other retailers put out. And once a week someone would go through and read highlights from, you know, whether it was big W or one of the clothing stores or whatever, because of course, this is before all that information was available to people online. So the ability of the station to address the particular needs of people with a print disability was really the focus then, not to say that the station isn't doing that now or the network isn't doing it now, but of course times have changed. So those needs have changed. And that's, of course, what's always been the key to success of the radio for the print handicapped services is the ability to meet the actual needs of people at the time they exist.

Oh, I think in the early stages, it was the station's ability and commitment to finding ways to meet the information needs of people with print disability, whether they be blind or otherwise print disabled. There was a lot of innovative programming in the very early days. For example, there was a regular program which simply provided information about the printed catalogues that the major supermarket chains and other retailers put out. And once a week someone would go through and read highlights from, you know, whether it was big W or one of the clothing stores or whatever, because of course, this is before all that information was available to people online. So the ability of the station to address the particular needs of people with a print disability was really the focus then, not to say that the station isn't doing that now or the network isn't doing it now, but of course times have changed. So those needs have changed. And that's, of course, what's always been the key to success of the radio for the print handicapped services is the ability to meet the actual needs of people at the time they exist.

That's right. And it's been around, of course, for 40 years now. It's very exciting to be able to celebrate the anniversary with you, John, as somebody who's been so heavily involved in the service for so long and contributed so much, it's an absolute pleasure to catch up with you today and chat all about and reminisce about the last 40 years of AKA Vision Australia Radio. So thank you very much for your time today.

That's right. And it's been around, of course, for 40 years now. It's very exciting to be able to celebrate the anniversary with you, John, as somebody who's been so heavily involved in the service for so long and contributed so much, it's an absolute pleasure to catch up with you today and chat all about and reminisce about the last 40 years of AKA Vision Australia Radio. So thank you very much for your time today.

And thanks for the opportunity, Sam. I've really enjoyed it.

And thanks for the opportunity, Sam. I've really enjoyed it.

I'm Sam Corley and you're listening to Talking Vision on Vision Style Radio associated stations of and the Community Radio Network. I hope you're enjoying this special 40th anniversary episode of Talking Vision, in part two, of which we just heard from John Simpson there. And if you'd love to hear from John again, or you missed any part of that interview, the full program can be found on the Virgin Australia Radio website, as well as your favorite podcast platform and the Vision Australia library. And now let's take a special trip back to the 19th of August 1990, where Vision Australia Radio, known as three at that time, moved from 1629 on the Am band all the way down to our current location at 1179. So please enjoy hearing from Norman Spencer and Stephen Jolly introduced by then president of the Association for the blind, Diana Jones.

I'm Sam Corley and you're listening to Talking Vision on Vision Style Radio associated stations of and the Community Radio Network. I hope you're enjoying this special 40th anniversary episode of Talking Vision, in part two, of which we just heard from John Simpson there. And if you'd love to hear from John again, or you missed any part of that interview, the full program can be found on the Virgin Australia Radio website, as well as your favorite podcast platform and the Vision Australia library. And now let's take a special trip back to the 19th of August 1990, where Vision Australia Radio, known as three at that time, moved from 1629 on the Am band all the way down to our current location at 1179. So please enjoy hearing from Norman Spencer and Stephen Jolly introduced by then president of the Association for the blind, Diana Jones.

Norm Spencer has been a household name for many years. I think most people will remember Norm for his involvement as executive producer and director of Channel Nine's In Melbourne Tonight with Graham Kennedy. He later moved to channel seven before leaving the industry to manage several suburban shopping centres in Melbourne. However, the lure of the industry was hard to resist. In 1976, with the group, which included Graham Kennedy and Mike Walsh, he won a licence to establish radio three MP and gained a healthy share of the Melbourne audience. Norm then retired, but not for long. In 1984 he took up the position of his Executive Director of the Advanced Australia Foundation, which aims to advance Australia and encourage Australians to take pride in their work. I have great pleasure in welcoming Norman Spencer and also his wife and two children who are here today and Norm, I now invite you to officially launch 1179 three Iph. Ladies and gentlemen, Norman Spencer.

Norm Spencer has been a household name for many years. I think most people will remember Norm for his involvement as executive producer and director of Channel Nine's In Melbourne Tonight with Graham Kennedy. He later moved to channel seven before leaving the industry to manage several suburban shopping centres in Melbourne. However, the lure of the industry was hard to resist. In 1976, with the group, which included Graham Kennedy and Mike Walsh, he won a licence to establish radio three MP and gained a healthy share of the Melbourne audience. Norm then retired, but not for long. In 1984 he took up the position of his Executive Director of the Advanced Australia Foundation, which aims to advance Australia and encourage Australians to take pride in their work. I have great pleasure in welcoming Norman Spencer and also his wife and two children who are here today and Norm, I now invite you to officially launch 1179 three Iph. Ladies and gentlemen, Norman Spencer.

Thank you Don. I firstly say I congratulate everybody on this concept. I've just had a quick look around and I've seen these beautiful studios here, and there's a lot of people I know in Melbourne and Australia with the radio station would be very jealous indeed. They're are credit to the people that have put this concept together. Firstly, thank you for your invitation to open three on 1170 9 a.m.. Like a lot of people have been through the media and I say bad jingle and Judy and Stuart and Bill Armstrong and a few of those, none of us, I think, ever lost our love for radio. One of the reasons being that radio is one of those mediums that leaves still a lot to the imagination. Television doesn't do it, print doesn't do it, but radio does. And also, of course, it helps because you can't see me, which is also a bit of a help. Mind you, I believe that radio got that imagination and you can enjoy it in your own way. And I think that was very, very important. Of course, it's important in this case because it's radio for the print handicapped, and it's an information source which will give great pleasure and great satisfaction to a whole lot of worthy Australians, you know. 1170 9 a.m. there's a lot of fond memories for me. I won't tell you how long ago it is, but I started on 1170 9 a.m. when it was three kids at at the Trade Hall. And if I tell you, I started with a man that was print handicapped from the finish and was a member of the committee of the Association for the blind and a great radio man, Norman Banks. It really was a great man. He was Eddie Bauer. And people say, you can guess it was before the war. I was a young boy. And that's got me started in radio. Unfortunately, I had the misfortune to break 50 records, and I couldn't understand why they didn't want me to work there anymore. I went from there to three DB and then a few other places, but I was very, very happy. And there was some great men in those days and in radio, as I'm sure there will be now. I'm sure that men like Norm banks, Eddie Balmer, the general manager of K Z. Now Les Ha would join me in saying to the staff here and to the 400 volunteers, congratulations, you've done a wonderful job and you've got a wonderful job in front of you. I feel very envious. And I'm sure a lot of people do, people that are achieving something in in life, and this is what it's all about. I think you've got a great opportunity here, going right through Melbourne for the first time, and I think you're going to have a lot of fun, a lot of a lot of radio people and a lot of volunteers. I'm sure that we can say to the small staff and the 400 volunteers, well done. You're providing a great service to many people. Congratulations. Now, may I officially say I officially open on 1170 9 a.m. radio three.

Thank you Don. I firstly say I congratulate everybody on this concept. I've just had a quick look around and I've seen these beautiful studios here, and there's a lot of people I know in Melbourne and Australia with the radio station would be very jealous indeed. They're are credit to the people that have put this concept together. Firstly, thank you for your invitation to open three on 1170 9 a.m.. Like a lot of people have been through the media and I say bad jingle and Judy and Stuart and Bill Armstrong and a few of those, none of us, I think, ever lost our love for radio. One of the reasons being that radio is one of those mediums that leaves still a lot to the imagination. Television doesn't do it, print doesn't do it, but radio does. And also, of course, it helps because you can't see me, which is also a bit of a help. Mind you, I believe that radio got that imagination and you can enjoy it in your own way. And I think that was very, very important. Of course, it's important in this case because it's radio for the print handicapped, and it's an information source which will give great pleasure and great satisfaction to a whole lot of worthy Australians, you know. 1170 9 a.m. there's a lot of fond memories for me. I won't tell you how long ago it is, but I started on 1170 9 a.m. when it was three kids at at the Trade Hall. And if I tell you, I started with a man that was print handicapped from the finish and was a member of the committee of the Association for the blind and a great radio man, Norman Banks. It really was a great man. He was Eddie Bauer. And people say, you can guess it was before the war. I was a young boy. And that's got me started in radio. Unfortunately, I had the misfortune to break 50 records, and I couldn't understand why they didn't want me to work there anymore. I went from there to three DB and then a few other places, but I was very, very happy. And there was some great men in those days and in radio, as I'm sure there will be now. I'm sure that men like Norm banks, Eddie Balmer, the general manager of K Z. Now Les Ha would join me in saying to the staff here and to the 400 volunteers, congratulations, you've done a wonderful job and you've got a wonderful job in front of you. I feel very envious. And I'm sure a lot of people do, people that are achieving something in in life, and this is what it's all about. I think you've got a great opportunity here, going right through Melbourne for the first time, and I think you're going to have a lot of fun, a lot of a lot of radio people and a lot of volunteers. I'm sure that we can say to the small staff and the 400 volunteers, well done. You're providing a great service to many people. Congratulations. Now, may I officially say I officially open on 1170 9 a.m. radio three.

We've made it at last. Thanks, Norm. To respond to Norm, we have someone well known to most of you. And that is Stephen Jolly. Stephen has been involved with three Iph since its inception, is a volunteer presenter and reader, a listener and a supporter. He's president of the Victorian Supporters for radio, for the Print Handicapped and is on the board of. Would you please welcome Stephen Jolly?

We've made it at last. Thanks, Norm. To respond to Norm, we have someone well known to most of you. And that is Stephen Jolly. Stephen has been involved with three Iph since its inception, is a volunteer presenter and reader, a listener and a supporter. He's president of the Victorian Supporters for radio, for the Print Handicapped and is on the board of. Would you please welcome Stephen Jolly?

Mrs. Jones, Mr. Spencer, friends of. A lady called me the other night, and she said, I hope things go really well on Sunday. Stephen. I'm quite excited about it now that it's really happening. They're not profound words, but they do capture the mood of so many who have been waiting for what seems a long time for what is a really historic event in Australian broadcasting, and I feel honoured to have the opportunity to speak to you all on this occasion. I'm delighted to see that we have so many special guests with us today and Norm, your kind words of support and encouragement were very much appreciated. Actually, I've been quite impressed over the years with the way has been embraced by the various sectors of mainstream broadcasting and I first met Norman on the initiative of Neil McRae, when Lindsey Macmillan and myself visited him at three MP. I also at that time when, as chairman of the Australian Council for radio for the Print Handicapped, had the privilege of meeting the late Brian White and Des Foster from Fab. The support for RPA has come from other sectors of broadcasting as well. I know that Clyde Simpson has been a great supporter. Again. I guess that the encouragement from time to time from Neil McRae. But Clyde's support and assistance has been highly valued. On the broadcasting front, the transfer of expertise has been in two directions. Actually, regular and long term listeners to the ABC would perhaps remember the voices of Laurie Neville and also Genetica Grant, who both first broadcast on three of the input from established broadcasters, has been outstanding. And just some of those names that come to mind are Paul Savage, Barbara Horne, Michael McCarthy, Maurice Lockey and Clark Hansen. Also, I'd like to take this opportunity of tabling the print handicapped community's appreciation to the print media for the outstanding, very willing and wide ranging support that they've always provided to the service. And with this move on to the broadcast ban no longer is a little bungalow at the end of a tiny street, but it's taking up residence on a quarter acre block of that main stream that is the Am broadcast band, and coming with the privileges of that new location is also the commitment to play the part of a responsible neighbour. I'm delighted today to know that we have with us some of our champion Australian footballers. And I also note that one of those people, Peter Schwab, is not only very good at putting boot to ball, but pen to paper. And I remember hearing on three on grand final day last year, an article of Peters in The Melbourne Age, which provided quite a revealing and enlightening insight into that one day in September from the perspective of a player. I'm very pleased to see so many friends and colleagues who prepared the ground for the service that we have today, and those people have already been mentioned, and I really do applaud the Association for the blind, because in those days it recognised the potential that was being clearly demonstrated and they responded. The association assembled the community resources over which it has stewardship, and gathered the team of staff and vast army of volunteers to build the service, which is Lindsay McMillan has already said is unmatched in this country and I suspect, unparalleled in any other part of the world. And the factors that keep on track include the commitment and the competence of the personnel, as well as the strong determination of management and staff to work with and therefore provide a service reflecting the will of the community of interest, the print handicapped people and two or my print handicapped friends listening. Remember that a community service is for and thus belongs to the community it serves. And that clearly is the philosophy of three. But the station can only best serve your needs if you make them known. I do urge you to use the available available avenues such as the three comment line or. The membership of Victorian supporters of radio for the print handicapped. Now, finally, I would like to thank you all for joining us today, joining in this celebration a celebration of years of planning, lobbying, negotiation, but mainly sheer hard work from many hundreds of committed Victorians. And we're celebrating the fact that now three. Melbourne's radio for the Print Handicapped is in place.

Mrs. Jones, Mr. Spencer, friends of. A lady called me the other night, and she said, I hope things go really well on Sunday. Stephen. I'm quite excited about it now that it's really happening. They're not profound words, but they do capture the mood of so many who have been waiting for what seems a long time for what is a really historic event in Australian broadcasting, and I feel honoured to have the opportunity to speak to you all on this occasion. I'm delighted to see that we have so many special guests with us today and Norm, your kind words of support and encouragement were very much appreciated. Actually, I've been quite impressed over the years with the way has been embraced by the various sectors of mainstream broadcasting and I first met Norman on the initiative of Neil McRae, when Lindsey Macmillan and myself visited him at three MP. I also at that time when, as chairman of the Australian Council for radio for the Print Handicapped, had the privilege of meeting the late Brian White and Des Foster from Fab. The support for RPA has come from other sectors of broadcasting as well. I know that Clyde Simpson has been a great supporter. Again. I guess that the encouragement from time to time from Neil McRae. But Clyde's support and assistance has been highly valued. On the broadcasting front, the transfer of expertise has been in two directions. Actually, regular and long term listeners to the ABC would perhaps remember the voices of Laurie Neville and also Genetica Grant, who both first broadcast on three of the input from established broadcasters, has been outstanding. And just some of those names that come to mind are Paul Savage, Barbara Horne, Michael McCarthy, Maurice Lockey and Clark Hansen. Also, I'd like to take this opportunity of tabling the print handicapped community's appreciation to the print media for the outstanding, very willing and wide ranging support that they've always provided to the service. And with this move on to the broadcast ban no longer is a little bungalow at the end of a tiny street, but it's taking up residence on a quarter acre block of that main stream that is the Am broadcast band, and coming with the privileges of that new location is also the commitment to play the part of a responsible neighbour. I'm delighted today to know that we have with us some of our champion Australian footballers. And I also note that one of those people, Peter Schwab, is not only very good at putting boot to ball, but pen to paper. And I remember hearing on three on grand final day last year, an article of Peters in The Melbourne Age, which provided quite a revealing and enlightening insight into that one day in September from the perspective of a player. I'm very pleased to see so many friends and colleagues who prepared the ground for the service that we have today, and those people have already been mentioned, and I really do applaud the Association for the blind, because in those days it recognised the potential that was being clearly demonstrated and they responded. The association assembled the community resources over which it has stewardship, and gathered the team of staff and vast army of volunteers to build the service, which is Lindsay McMillan has already said is unmatched in this country and I suspect, unparalleled in any other part of the world. And the factors that keep on track include the commitment and the competence of the personnel, as well as the strong determination of management and staff to work with and therefore provide a service reflecting the will of the community of interest, the print handicapped people and two or my print handicapped friends listening. Remember that a community service is for and thus belongs to the community it serves. And that clearly is the philosophy of three. But the station can only best serve your needs if you make them known. I do urge you to use the available available avenues such as the three comment line or. The membership of Victorian supporters of radio for the print handicapped. Now, finally, I would like to thank you all for joining us today, joining in this celebration a celebration of years of planning, lobbying, negotiation, but mainly sheer hard work from many hundreds of committed Victorians. And we're celebrating the fact that now three. Melbourne's radio for the Print Handicapped is in place.

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 show together. And remember we love your feedback and comments. So please do get in touch on Talking Vision at Vision australia.org. That's talking vision all. One word at Vision australia.org. But until next week it's Sam Colley saying 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 show together. And remember we love your feedback and comments. So please do get in touch on Talking Vision at Vision australia.org. That's talking vision all. One word at Vision australia.org. But until next week it's Sam Colley saying bye for now.

You can contact Virgin Australia by phoning us anytime during business hours on one 308 4746. That's one 308 4746 or by visiting Vision australia.org. That's Vision australia.org.

You can contact Virgin Australia by phoning us anytime during business hours on one 308 4746. That's one 308 4746 or by visiting Vision australia.org. That's Vision australia.org.