Audio
John Simpson AM
New Horizons by
Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)1 season
Episode 851 - April 2024
14 mins
Interview with award-winning former BCA President John Simpson AM about his life and work.
![Close-up of former Blind Citizens Australia President John Simpson AM, smiling, grey-haired and bespectacled.](https://powered-media-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/transformed/_bannerMedium/John-Simpson-AM.jpg)
This is the regular program of Blind Citizens Australia, produced at Vision Australia studios.
This episode is a repeat of BCA's earlier Episode 640 from January 2020. It features an extract from an extended conversation with former BCA President John Simpson AM, about his life and background.
Speaker 1 00:00
Owing to circumstances beyond our control, we will bring you this week a repeat from 2020. This episode is somewhat out of date, so please ignore any information about events upcoming. Hello and thanks for joining me this week on New Horizons, I'm Vaughan Benison.
Today we honour somebody who has been an executive officer, board member, vice president and president of Blind Citizens Australia and many other things besides. John Simpson was awarded an AM for services to the blind and vision impaired community. We're going to play an extract from a conversation with John. John Simpson, congratulations from all of us at Blind Citizens Australia on your recent award. Thank you. Tell us about you and particularly your early childhood and growing up.
Speaker 2 01:17
To start. I went to primary school born at a specialized school unit that was run by the Education Department in Victoria, which had the quaint name even at the time of the site -saving grade. The philosophy being that those children with limited vision should be protected about overusing their vision because they'd wear it out. And of course, we all know that exactly the opposite is the case. But the site -saving grade, as it was called, was located within a local primary school. And it was equivalent to a small country school in that all of the children from 5 to 1415 were all educated in the one classroom setting.
So the teacher, well, it was only a small group of perhaps 20 or so, the teacher had the task of trying to set lessons and bring the children on at their various age levels and so forth, all within the one setting. I went from that to my local high school, Oak Park High School, in the northwest suburbs of Melbourne, where I was one of the early children with a disability to be integrated into a state government secondary school. That was a fascinating experience, and one that taught me a lot about self -advocacy, I guess, because, of course, I didn't have the benefit of a visiting teacher. All of the innovations, all of the special needs I had to negotiate or my parents negotiated for me.
So we introduced things like I used a typewriter in the classroom and, of course, a great consternation to the other children who saw it as a suitable distraction and complained about the noise it made when it suited their purpose. I had a colleague who actually wrote notes for me in a duplicate carbon book and tore out the loose leaf pages and gave me those, and he kept the carbon copy. That system worked very well, in year nine, until the day that I was trying to do some study out in the school yard, and all the loose leaf pages decided to take off in the wind across the school yard, with about 30 or 40 of the school students chasing them down across the school yard.
I used tape recorders and my parents were a fantastic resource to me in pre -reading upper secondary school textbooks, history, and those sorts of things, but also school teachers who read for me and my students and so forth. This was in the days before cassette recorders, so I learned a Phillips reel -to -reel machine back and forward to school along with my Olivetti portable typewriter. Not every day, I'd left them there some days, but it was a regular trip for me to be counting that stuff backwards and forwards to school.
Speaker 1 04:35
Your first employment for the first few years wasn't really anything to do with blind or silver vision impairment, was it?
Speaker 2 04:42
I actually worked in the area of overseas freight handling and what's called customs clearance. In other words, dealing with imports coming into the country and arranging the documentation for their clearance through the customs and tax systems. I worked for answered airlines in that capacity and then with a company called Yellow Express who were one of the major customs agency companies working in the Melbourne area, particularly on the waterfront and so forth.
I developed some skills there in terms of clerical work in functioning in an office where there were expectations of other people that had to be met in terms of my job was in relation to dispatching and preparing consignment notes for the shipment of goods after they had been cleared through customs. So there were other people dependent on me which again I think was a very good learning experience.
Speaker 1 05:49
But once again, we're talking prior to any form of anti discrimination law or any workplace modifications or anything like that.
Speaker 2 05:57
We're talking about the early 1970s here.
Speaker 1 06:01
You did move on a little bit later to work for the RVIB, which of course is now Vision Australia.
Speaker 2 06:08
Yes, I was fortunate to be involved in one of the major service club organisations called Australian JC's, originally known as Junior Chamber of Commerce. I was a member of the Essendon branch of that organisation from about 1967. That put me in contact with people at the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind and we did a couple of community education projects and things like that with the RBIB people. I was invited to join the staff of RBIB in 1972 in the public relations and fundraising area, particularly as special events organised.
In fact, I spent a little over seven fantastic years there as the event organiser for Melbourne's Carols by Candlelight, which of course has known to many people now through Channel 9. In those days, all of the on -stage production and the supporting activities, the fundraising and so forth, was all managed through the RBIB.
Speaker 1 07:13
That would have been a really interesting thing to be involved in at that time.
Speaker 2 07:17
Ah, it was a great opportunity and it taught me to take advantage of the opportunities that you presented with. My first year in 1972, I worked as the understudy to a fellow by the name of Jim Duncan, who would be known to many of our long-standing listeners. And Jim took ill. He had a heart attack on the 13th of December. And as the understudy, I was suddenly strung into the role of organising Carol's Bike Handalight for that year. Now, I'd been involved as a volunteer for about two or three years before that, but really had no understanding of what lay between very early in the morning of the 13th of December and very late in the evening of the 24th of December.
And I think probably that was one of the major things that taught me about not only organisation, but advocacy in terms of making sure that I got the best out of the staff team around me in terms of what I needed to get that job done.
Speaker 1 08:28
And of course, most people would know you from your role probably as the executive officer, or I guess you could call it now CEO of Blind Citizens Australia, which I think you joined in what, 1986?
Speaker 2 08:41
Yes, after a stint of doing a consultancy project for the Victorian Equal Opportunity Board where I managed the promotion of the new disability aspects of their discrimination legislation, I joined the National Federation of Blind Citizens of Australia as it was called in those days as executive officer in what was it? April, 1996.
Speaker 1 09:09
Hmm. How was that organisation then compared with what it is now and particularly with regard to your role?
Speaker 2 09:18
Well, the role was almost a sole employee role. There were two clerical assistants who put in some part -time hours, particularly around the semi -commercial fundraising activities that the organisation operated at the time. But all of the advocacy and peer support, all of that work, was either done by members on a voluntary basis or by me as the executive officer.
Speaker 1 09:51
And of course, Blind Citizens Australia, or NFBCA at that time, hadn't been around all that long in 1986, about 11 years. About 11 years. I guess it would have been a much smaller organisation, particularly in terms of its profile within the community.
Speaker 2 10:05
very much so. I think the membership born at the time that I joined was somewhere between 5 and 600 and there was a constant argument and pushback from both the Blindness Service Organisations and from Government Departments and large corporations that we were seeing as one of several consumer based organisations. Now it is true that there were a couple of others operating but none of them were operating at a really national level and none of them had the even the limited infrastructure that we had at that stage. There was a convenient excuse to say I yes but you're only one voice in the sector and that was a very central part of the the advocacy that we had to push through at that time.
Speaker 1 11:01
And I guess even the service provider industry at that time was significantly different from what it is now, given that even in Victoria there were three or four separate organisations that looked after the needs of people who were blind or vision impaired.
Speaker 2 11:15
That's exactly right, 3 or 4 in Victoria, the Royal Blind Society and a couple of others in New South Wales and of course in Queensland, when we started to recruit members and establish an initial branch in Brisbane, I think there was something like 15 different service provision organisations in Queensland.
Speaker 1 11:37
What were some of the main work that you needed to do as part of NFBCA in terms of the community and in terms of advocacy for people who are blind or vision impaired?
Speaker 2 11:49
Well, there were two strings and we might come back to this one, but there was a lot of work to do in terms of stabilising a funding basis and so forth. But putting that aside for a moment, there were substantial issues around the continuity of the blind pension, what we now call the disability support pension blind and the age pension blind. There was strong resistance to the continuation of the specific provisions that related to those pensions, particularly among the bureaucracy and, of course, also among other peak organisations of people with disabilities.
And a lot of our work was in terms of, if you like, shoring up the need for and the importance of that pension. And the evidence was there because even in those days, the ability for a blind person to have employment and have the security of their pension as well meant that many more blind people, as a proportion of the population, many more blind people were in employment than people with other forms of disability. It had influence in terms of the levels of remuneration that were available to people working in sheltered workshops. The blind people were much better off than other people.
But of course, with those successes came the inevitable pushback and the argument by many for the lowest common denominator that everyone should be on an equal basis. And that equal basis was never going to be the level of support that was available through the blind pension. It was going to be the disability support pension as it was means tested for other people with disabilities.
Speaker 1 13:48
John Simpson, AM, president of Blind Citizens Australia. Blind Citizens Australia, as always, can be contacted on 1-800-03 -060... 1-800-033-060. If you'd like to email, bca@bca.org.au, that's BCA at BCA - org - AU. In the meantime, I'm Vaughan Benison. I'll talk to you again next week.
Continue listening
Blind Citizens Australia program, this edition featuring a tribute to blind advocate Dr. Kevin Murfitt AM.
Vale Dr Kevin Murfitt AM
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 842, January 2024
•17 mins
Audio
Blind Citizens Australia discusses NDIS developments with Jonathan Craig of Vision 2020.
NDIS and aged care reform
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 843, January 2024
•14 mins
Audio
An update on the news and works of Blind Citizens Australia from Vice-President Helen Ferris.
BCA update
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 844, February 2024
•14 mins
Audio
The forthcoming Job Ready Workshop series is outlined by project officer Madi Braim.
Job Ready Workshops
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 845, February 2024
•14 mins
Audio
Blind Citizens Australia program this week updates developments in its National Women's Branch.
National Women's Branch changes
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 846, February 2024
•14 mins
Audio
The Queensland Branch of Blind Citizens Australia - its work and how to make contact.
Queensland Branch
New Horizons by Vision Australia
Episode 847, March 2024
•14 mins
Audio
Special guest tells Blind Citizens Australia about her app to better access public transport.
See me! Cassie Hames
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 848, March 2024
•12 mins
Audio
Blind Citizens Australia Vice-President discusses the organisation's 50 years of operation.
50 years of BCA - Lynne Davis
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 849, March 2024
•14 mins
Audio
The role and importance of Business Support in Blind Citizens Australia.
Business Support Officer - Natasha Brake
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 850 - March 2024
•14 mins
Audio
Interview with award-winning former BCA President John Simpson AM about his life and work.
John Simpson AM
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 851 - April 2024
•14 mins
Audio
Blind Citizens Australia interview on information access for people with print disabilities.
Ballyland apps for teaching voiceover
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 852 - April 2024
•14 mins
Audio
A tribute to the life and work of founding Blind Citizens Australia member Alan Bates.
Remembering Alan Bates
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 853, April 2004
•14 mins
Audio
Looks back at Tasmanian elections 2022 - has anything changed for low vision voters' access since then?
Revisiting elections in Tasmania
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 854, April 2024
•14 mins
Audio
CEO of the Macular Disease Foundation Australia discusses their work and developments in treatment.
Macular Month - Dr Kathy Chapman
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 855, May 2024
•14 mins
Audio
Disability advocate Graeme Innes discusses the role of the University Accord in providing fair access.
University Accord - Graeme Innes
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 856, May 2024
•14 mins
Audio
Radio 2RPH's manager speaks about the Sydney station serving listeners with print disabilities.
2RPH Listener Survey - Barry Melville
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 857, May 2024
•14 mins
Audio
Blind Citizens Australia recognises unpaid workers as we celebrate National Volunteer Week.
National Volunteer Week - Bettina Twyman
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 858, May 2024
•14 mins
Audio
From a recent roundtable in Perth - disaster management and preparation for blind/low vision people.
Managing during a disaster - Corey Crawford
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 859, May 2024
•14 mins
Audio
Greens Senator speaks at a Perth forum on disability access and a recent Royal Commission.
The Disability Royal Commission and Information Access: Senator Jordan Steele-John
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 860, June 2024
•14 mins
Audio
Leading officers of Blind Citizens Australia give an update on latest developments in the organisation.
BCA update
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 861, June 2024
•14 mins
Audio
Monash Uni academic discusses doctorate opportunity in Assistive Technology.
Monash Ph.D in Assistive Technology
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 862, June 2024
•14 mins
Audio
Perspectives on art and disability access from a Ph.D student in inclusive technologies.
Access to art - Sophie Coppenhall
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 863, June 2024
•14 mins
Audio
Recent roundtable presentation on fair access to communications and technology.
Accessible ICT procurement: David Swayne and Jonathan Craig
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 864, July 2024
•14 mins
Audio
Presentation on access to AI for low-vision people with print disability in Pacific Island nations.
AI in developing countries - Ben Clare
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 865, July 2024
•14 mins
Audio
Part 1 of a presentation on Artificial Intelligence and its use by people with print disabilities.
Is AI a blessing or a curse? Dr Scott Hollier (part 1)
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 866, July 2024
•14 mins
Audio
Part 2 of a recent roundtable address on AI and its significance for people with print disabilities.
Is AI a blessing or a curse? Dr Scott Hollier (part 2)
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 867, July 2024
•14 mins
Audio
First of a two-part presentation on access to workplaces by people with print disabilities.
Accessible workplaces - Damo McMorrow and Rebecca Clark (part 1)
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 868, July 2024
•14 mins
Audio
Part 2 of a Round Table presentation on disabled people's access to workplaces.
Accessible workplaces - Rebecca Clark and Damo McMorrow (part 2)
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 869, August 2024
•14 mins
Audio
Part 1 of a Roundtable presentation on accessible health communications for people with disabilities.
Accessible communications in health - Prof Katie Ellis (part 1)
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 870, August 2024
•15 mins
Audio
Conclusion of a presentation on accessible health communications for people with a disability.
Accessible communications in health - Prof Katie Ellis (part 2)
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 871, August 2024
•12 mins
Audio
Concerns about changes at Vision Australia prompt an Open Letter to its Directors.
Open Letter to Vision Australia Directors
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 872, August 2024
•14 mins
Audio
Vision 2020 comment on the government response to the Disability Royal Commission recommendations.
The Federal Government's response to the Disability Royal Commission
New Horizons by Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
Episode 873, September 2024
•14 mins
Audio