Christmas Zoom Group 2024

[Music]

(Peter) We'll invite my first guest Rosemary who is a radio DJ at Reading Radio here in Brisbane

(Rosemary) Hello everyone it's lovely to be part of your your Zoom group, a variety of guests on as I think you're aware of from my very first guest was General Peter Cosgrove who was the past governor general of Australia

(Peter) And that's the thing isn't it that that some some of these you know brilliant people when they've been given this what would seeming be like tragic news like you know losing your eyesight or having other conditions I mean that there's a time where I I guess that person may feel like this is oh this isn't great you know what am I going to do but eventually when they you know they overcome that and they sort of get themselves out of that darkness which is a real process they start to do incredible things and they start to inspire people and I'm sure that you can speak to that I know I can within these Zoom groups that you know we are all capable of of doing incredible things even if we have been dealt a you know a difficult hand is that something that ...

(Rosemary) Exactly

(Peter) yeah yeah and

(Rosemary) yeah look that comes across very much Peter I interviewed Karni Liddell who of course is a Paralympian and she is in a wheelchair and it was very inspiring to talk to her but one of the things that does come across and talking to Reggie Bird and talking to Karni Liddell is that Australia has got to do so much more in order to help those people that have got disabilities of any kind

(Peter) Thank you so much for your time Rosemary and we're going to tell a couple of dad jokes just to get the ball rolling

When my wife is upset, I let her colour in my tattoos.

She just needs a shoulder to crayon [laughter]

Yeah that's the response I was looking for

(Kelly) So I can't stand people without feet because I'm lack toes intolerant [laughter[

(Peter) That's a good one.

Alright our next guest her name is Courtney Webeck and she is the 2024 blind Australian of the year Sarah Styles would you like to ask a question?

(Sarah) where do you go to find the right team in order to be able to do these things?

(Courtney) I look back now like I had friends but then I had one best friend I think that is really important if it's probably more quality over quantity in one way I looked at it you know

(Sarah) definitely yes [laughter] that's so true

(Peter) Our next guest is Pete Vance

(Pete) Hey there, hey there Peter

(Pete) Should people that have bipolar also have hope?

(Pete) Oh exactly correct early diagnosis and proper treatment then Community Support I guess just even people being involved in your group discussion is so important Peter and really appreciate that and did a great version of that

(Sarah)[talking on phone] Hey are you at the butcher now?

(speaker phone) yes

(Sarah) He's actually put aside three packets of bacon for me

(Pete) oh wow

(speaker phone) oh okay just give me a minute

(Sarah) okay yes I would like I would like ...

(Peter) sorry but that's the that's the wonderful thing about Zoom you know you get a glimpse of other people's lives whilst you're in the middle of a meeting and can I please have some bacon as well and maybe a rib eye fillet

(Sarah) Sorry I thought I was on mute my Mum called she's at the butcher

(Peter) Oh all good no you're right you're right

(Pete) Yeah I'll have mine medium rare [laughter]

(Pete) You do do the deliveries don't you

(Peter) Yeah of course all the way to Sandgate right?

Alright here we go guys our mystery guests from the US it's Aaron Richmond from Aaron's Opinion podcast

(Aaron) Peter is right I am Aaron Richmond host and creator of Aaron's Opinion basically in one or two sentences Aaron's opinion is the podcast for blind people and really anybody else where we speak about critical issues in the blindness community and all other issues from across the universe and Galaxy.

I've been podcasting since 2020 since the height of the pandemic and going strong so we have guests and listeners from all over the world even Australia

(Alex) Any particular hot button things that keep on coming up and invoke the most controversy and passion and discussion

(Aaron) Well basically anytime I open my mouth I'm a controversy that's the first thing you have to know about me

(Alex) You come up with the statement first off saying from Down Under are you really sure that we are down under?

(Aaron) Well I don't know Australian people always think I'm up over are you really sure I'm up over how do you [laughter] tell up I'm up or over and if I'm over what am I over well

(Alex) Well we've only been told that you know the Earth the North Pole and the South Pole which way are we really?

(Aaron) Well how am I supposed to know? [says indignantly]

(Peter) And we'll wrap it up all together now guys so thank you everyone for joining me

[Music]

(Ethan) We always have so much fun!

(Pete) [singing acapella] from the Vatican I'm to be the next Pope, oh lord it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way I can't wait to look in the mirror it's somewhere over there so they say

(Peter) Listen to that voice listen to that crooning voice

(Pete) it's a worry, loud and clear