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Tasmanians with Disabilities Inc.
Newsletter
TASLINK
NOVEMBER
2011
Merry
Christmas
To you all..
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President’s Message
It seems that this year has gone by very quickly and here I am again welcoming you to the Christmas edition of Taslink.
One of the feature articles in this edition is about Print Radio Tasmania, which, as some of you may know I have been involved with since its inception, at first as a volunteer, and for some years as Station Manager. I still give time to the station doing shifts on air as a volunteer and am a member of Print Radio Tasmania’s Committee of Management.
2012 will be Print Radio Tasmania’s thirtieth year on air, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate this significant milestone than to start broadcasting in to the Devonport area. When the station first went on air in 1982 broadcasting to the North and Northwest of Tasmania was completely out of reach for the station financially and technically.
My thanks to you all for your support this year.
I wish you all the best for Christmas and the New Year.
Jan Miller.
DISCLAIMER:
Tasmanians with Disabilities Inc. Does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained in its newsletter. Neither are the views and comments expressed by contributors necessarily endorsed by Tasmanians with Disabilities Inc.
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Photo of RPH in Hobart
RPH : Print Radio Tasmania
Broadcasting 24 hours every day
on 864kHz on AM in the Hobart Area
and 106.9 FM in the Launceston Area
Studios located at 136 Davey St, Hobart
Telephone (03) 62241864
or 6311 1816 in the Launceston area for the cost of a local call.
7RPH Print Radio Tasmania has just been granted a licence to operate a translator service in the Devonport area.
If everything goes to plan the service should start in two to three months, on 96.1 fm.
As you may know the station already has a translator service in the Launceston area on 106.9 fm.
For further information about the Devonport translator service please contact Print Radio Tasmania at:
7rph@tassie.net.au
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A Potted History of "PRINT RADIO TASMANIA"
The Radio for the Print Handicapped movement was established in Australia in the mid 1970's, and was many years in the planning stages before it went to air. Developed by print handicapped people, it was seen by its founders as vital in providing print handicapped people with the same access to information as any other group in the community.
In July 1978 the then Minister in charge of communications, Tony Staley, granted Licences around Australia for the provision of RPH Services.
With assistance from State and Federal Governments, the Station 7RPH was established. The State Government also provided a Transmitter Site on Mount Nelson. On Saturday 26th June 1982 7RPH commenced daily programming from 73 Montague Street, New Town, and was the first RPH Radio Station anywhere in Australia to do so.
In Southern Tasmania 7RPH was heard on the AM Frequency of 1620.
In 1991, with Government assistance and a new licence, 7RPH moved their Frequency to 864AM and to their present building at 136 Davey Street. It has now been fitted out with four studios and provides an area for volunteers as well as an administrative office.
A new Transmitter was built at Rushy Lagoon, Sandford and 7RPH was able to provide an improved service to a wider audience.
The service areas covered are the municipalities of Brighton, Bruny, Clarence, Glenorchy, Green Ponds,
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Hobart, Huon, Kingborough, Port Cygnet, Richmond, Glamorgan/Spring Bay and Tasman.
In December 2003, the Station commenced transmissions via a Translator Service to Launceston, the Tamar Valley and surrounding townships on a frequency of 106.9FM.
The Association established to operate 7RPH was called Broadcast Services for the Handicapped Incorporated.
This was changed at the Annual General Meeting of 2004 to RPH PRINT RADIO TASMANIA INCORPORATED, reflecting the Station's wider broadcast area in the State.
Print Radio Tasmania (PRT) is "on air" continuously, commencing local programming at 8:30am and concluding at 10pm each day Monday to Saturday. RPH Melbourne provide Book Readings at 10pm and 10.30pm delivered by our satellite link. Then, also via satellite, the BBC World Service overnight. On Sundays, PRT material is broadcast from 9:00am - 9.00pm, with BBC overnight.
Listeners are provided with Tasmanian Newspaper readings 7 days a week, with the Examiner Newspaper 9 -10am Mon - Fri., the Mercury Newspaper 10 - 11am Mon - Fri., Editorials & Letters to the Editor from both papers 11am - noon. Saturday & Sunday the Mercury is heard from 10 - 11am.
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The Examiner is heard from 11am - noon with Editorials and Letters from noon - 12.30pm.
PRT is a reading and information service, Turning Print into Sound for those persons unable to access print easily. A program exchange between RPH stations has been in place for some years enabling PRT to maintain an extensive magazine reading service.
With satellite accessibility, we now share programs with RPH and Community Broadcasting Stations throughout Australia.
Print Radio Tasmania Inc., has an eight person elected Committee of Management.
Permanent staff consists of Station Manager, Philip French, with Assistant Manager Melvin Lee.
PRT has approximately 90 volunteer Readers and Presenters and has become an integral part of the daily lives of the print handicapped community. Our aim is to give listeners equal access to printed information, which keeps them in touch with community events and information, enabling them to be more actively involved with their areas of interest.
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Advertisement for Christmas Party at 20 Creek Road, LENAH VALLEY.
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Coordinator’s message….
Just a few words from me this time lol. I would just like to thank everyone who has assisted this Organisation over the past year and those unselfish people everywhere who have found the time to volunteer their services….. You are a dying breed….and I wish you a safe and happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year (as prosperous as it can be these days, I guess lol). I am sure 2012 will be just as rewarding as 2011 has been and it is our hope that TWD will be able to continue to assist wherever needed, remember, we are just a phone call away.
Cheers
Susan Baldock
Royal Guide Dogs Association Advertisement
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Poster advertising International Day of Disability Family Bike Ride and BBQ put on by Clarence City Council and Tascare.
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Poster for All Terrain Wheelchairs advertising that they are also now available for children.
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Surf Life Saving Tasmania wants you to join in this summer!!!
“Beaches are for everyone”, this is the catch cry of Tony van den Enden, the General Manager of Surf Life Saving Tasmania.
Tony is keen to see people with a disability enjoy the sun and sand, after all as Tony points out, “it is part of the Australian identity, to enjoy our beaches”.
Surf Life Saving Tasmania has over 3000 members State wide! There are 22 clubs/services across the State regularly patrolling beaches/waterways. People can check with www.beachsafe.org.au to find out safety ratings, local hazards, when beaches are being patrolled and SLST can advise on the safest beaches for those who are less experienced or may need a bit of extra assistance.
At Surf Life Saving Tasmania there is strong commitment to ensuring that Tasmanian beaches are for everyone. Training is happening around their Inclusion Policy which means that someone needing assistance to enter the beach or the water can expect support. Of course it would be a good idea to phone ahead just to help the organisational side of things!
Together with this, there are 12 beach wheelchairs available free of charge (supplied by Tasmanian’s with Disabilities – available through SLST and chairs are also available at Cerebral Palsy Tasmania). They can be used to enter the water or just to go for a walk on the beach. Tasmanian’s with Disabilities have recently received four children’s beach wheel chairs which will also be available through Surf Life Saving Tasmania.
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Another initiative is the free Beach and Water Safety Training being offered by Surf Life Saving Tasmania. The training assists families, carers, support workers and organisations supporting someone with a disability to understand and be safe at the beach and other water environments. The training could assist you to locate appropriate beaches and to assess any risk for planned activities or trips. Once trained, SLST has a pool of equipment that can be leased at a very minimal cost for groups wishing to go to the beach and other water environments. Getting staff to take this training may be an effective risk management strategy for organisations. Everyone could expect to gain an increased understanding of the beach, water and how to keep people safe, ‘having greater confidence increases the enjoyment factor’.
Another way people may wish to become involved is to come along to one of the regular ocean swims conducted by SLST or various clubs or to volunteer in one of the many club support roles, from putting out the flags to being a life guard!
As summer is approaching Tony is keen to ensure that more people can enjoy the beach, he would be very happy to hear from you, give him a call on
6222 6555.
Jane Targett
Project Officer – Disability Sport
Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts
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PUZZLE
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Membership Form
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Hobart International Airport has developed a draft Disability Access Facilitation Plan.
The purpose of this plan is to be a public document that assists airport users with a disability with key Information outlining the approach that Hobart International Airport takes to ensuring access for airport users with disabilities. The document also details how airport users with a disability can assist the airport and/or its partners (such as airlines) to provide appropriate service for airport users with a disability.
At the time of this article going to print this Organisation hopefully will have received some important feedback from members that will enable them to discuss when meeting with Airport representatives.
It is hoped that this feedback will be favourably considered in development of the final document and therefore instrumental in the provision of a much more streamlined and "hassle-free" travelling experience for all concerned.
The outcome of this meeting will be published in our next Taslink and also be available for viewing on our website.
Still half a page – needs something inserted here.
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Woman in wheelchair takes Jetstar to court for discrimination
By Angela Saurine From:news.com.au November 02, 20113:26PM
A DISABLED woman is taking Jetstar to the Federal Court seeking a declaration that the airline's "two wheelchair policy'' is discriminatory.
Sheila King, 75 was banned from a Jetstar flight from Adelaide to Brisbane in August 2008 because the flight already had two passengers requiring wheelchair assistance.
She was told Jetstar had a policy of only allowing a maximum of two wheelchair-reliant passengers on any flight.
Ms King, who has post-polio syndrome and crushed vertebrae as a result of a motor accident, has alleged that Jetstar's policy contravenes the Disability Discrimination Act.
Redfern Legal Centre CEO Joanna Shulman said Australia was the only country where airlines seek to
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limit the number of passengers with disabilities and by doing so, seriously limits the ability of people with a disability to participate fully in society.
"Ms King is not seeking financial compensation; rather her hope is to change the Jetstar policy so that this incident does not happen to others in the future,'' she said.
Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes AM raised concerns about the low cost carrier's policy at a Senate Estimates Hearing earlier this month and has called for stronger regulation.
"People with disabilities are entitled to enjoy equality of access to air travel, in order to ensure they are able to participate fully in society,'' Ms Shulman said.
Ms King said she deserved to be treated the same as any other Australian, not made to be felt like a second class citizen. This fight is for all Australians living with a disability,'' she said.
The case began in the Federal Court yesterday and is expected to run all week.
While Jetstar was unable to comment on the case before the courts, a fact sheet said the two passenger wheelchair limit was reached on less than 10 per cent of flights.
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"This approach is designed to balance our duty of care to passengers requiring assistance with the everyday operational needs of a low fares airline,'' it said.
"Shifting this balance even slightly would have a significant impact on Jetstar.
"It would increase critical aircraft turnaround times, alter staffing levels, raise costs and ultimately reduce our ability to offer low fares to the travelling public.
"Jetstar's practices are similar to other low cost carriers in Australia.''
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Crossword
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Best wishes from us all at
Tasmanians with Disabilities Inc.
(Tasmania)
we look forward to assisting you all in 2012,
Remember,
We represent and speak for
YOU!
Our members....
End of the TEXT Only Version of TASLINK November 2011