2008 Souvenir Program

2008 souvenir program telecast partner Today_Show_Wake_balloons_No1_FP_CC_297x210.indd 1 20/11/2008 11:36:58 AM 3 Vision Australia’s message Christmas Eve would have to be the most magical night on the Australian calendar. Friends reunite, Danijela’s story 4 families gather together and children all over the 7 Message from nation bubble with excitement in anticipation of a David Campbell visit from Santa. Merry Christmas from Myer At the centre of all this activity is Vision Australia’s 8 Carols by Candlelight® – an iconic celebration 9 Enjoy the Show! The that grew from very humble beginnings in 1938. Nine Network’s message Back then, 10,000 people gathered at midnight in Alexandra Gardens to sing with a 30-strong choir, The Stars of Carols 11 two soloists and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Band. Song list 23 Thousands of candlelights dotting the summer night Carol lyrics and a community joining as one in song instantly 24 struck a chord with Melburnians, and a Christmas 40 Venue map tradition was born. 41 Thanks to our sponsors The candles have burned on Christmas Eve through war and peace, prosperity and hardship. While times change, the spirit of the event remains untouched. In 2008, the appeal of sharing a night of stars and song with family, friends and some of the nation’s finest performers is as strong as ever. Vision Australia has used its best endeavours to ensure Today every Australian has the chance to join in this that material contained in this unique celebration of community. Vision Australia’s program was correct at the Carols by Candlelight is now one of the most time of publication and takes watched TV programs of the Christmas season and no responsibility for any error or will be enjoyed by millions of people through the live omission herein. television and radio telecasts. If Christmas Eve is a day of total No matter how you experience the event this fire ban, the Metropolitan Fire Christmas Eve – be it live at the Sidney Myer Music Brigade will determine whether Bowl, in your own home or on the way to join loved audience members will be able ones in another part of the country – have a to light candles. fabulous night. Front cover: Danijela Zebic, the 2008 face of Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight®. Call 1300 55 84 58 or visit www.visionaustralia.org to donate Tonight’s Christmashristmas funf n isis proudlypro dl ssupportedpported byb Melbourne’sMelbo rne’s favouritefa o rite nnewspaper.e spaper A Christmas message from It is with great pride that we once again present Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight®, an event that is now synonymous with Christmas Eve. At Vision Australia all our actions are driven by one figure – 600,000, the number of Australians expected to be blind or have low vision by 2020. By taking part in this event you’re helping us to enable young people who are blind or have low vision to increase their choices in life. With our support, parents are better equipped to teach their child how to master daily living Gerard Menses Dr Kevin Murfitt tasks such as eating and dressing. Chief Executive Chair Officer There are some 4,700 children under 14 in Australia who are blind or have low vision, 71% of whom have additional disabilities. Vision Australia is now expressing its commitment to these children by expanding its preschool services, including literacy skills training and therapeutic services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy as well as orientation and mobility support. Our work does not stop here. When a child reaches school, we work with teachers to ensure they have the skills and equipment needed to learn alongside their sighted peers. We also provide peer group and independent living support that assists young people to live the lives they choose. As we near the end of a challenging year, Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight embodies the hope we all hold for a Donate now brighter future. We are expecting another spectacular night, Call thanks to the efforts of our presenting partner Myer. They join the Nine Network, who has done a magnificent job of 1300 55 84 58 producing the show for three decades, as well as our friends at 3AW, Magic 693 and The Herald Sun. On behalf of Vision Australia, we’d like to wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year. 3 Call 1300 55 84 58 or visit www.visionaustralia.org to donate Danijela feels the song to sing along… The early years of a child’s life are crucial to their development, providing the foundations for later life. For a child who is blind and cannot learn by observation, attaining everyday skills such as learning to walk or feed themselves can be difficult. Vision Australia works closely with families across Australia to enable children who are blind or have low vision to reach their full potential. With our support and training, parents are better able to teach their child how to conquer these daily challenges. We introduce preschoolers to the magic of books and braille, smooth their path through school, facilitate integration and socialisation, and prepare teens to make the step into adulthood. Seven-year-old Danijela is like most girls her age. She loves singing along to Rihanna and Hannah Montana CDs, playing with her friends and reading. The only difference is that because Danijela can’t see, she uses other senses to experience these everyday things. Thanks to Vision Australia’s children’s services Danijela is growing in confidence daily, but she is quick to remind others that she sometimes needs extra information about her surrounds in order to form pictures in her mind. “I ask lots of questions because I like to know what’s going on around me. Sometimes people forget I can’t see.” A gift of: $ $134 will100 pay for an hour-long funds an hour-long braille lesson teaching a child lesson for one person. who is blind or has low vision vital daily living skills. Call 1300 55 84 58 or visit www.visionaustralia.org to donate Vision Australia’s services, which focus on learning, playing and daily living, are designed to support children and their families through the life stages. Initially, Vision Australia therapists assess the degree to which blindness or low vision is affecting each child’s development. Recommendations are then provided to tailor programs to individual needs. Vision Australia staff offer parents advice on helping their child to learn to move about safely and independently and developing early literacy and daily living skills such as dressing themselves and eating with cutlery. We also offer broader services including counselling, recreation and Danijela can access a holiday programs. world of information through Because everyone’s journey is different, Vision Australia tailors her digital playback device. services to suit the individual – be it someone who loses their sight late in life or a child like Danijela who was born blind. It’s one of many ways that Vision Australia is enabling people who are blind or have low vision to live the lives they choose! With your help, Vision Australia can continue to provide this vital support free of charge to thousands of people in Australia who are blind or have low vision. $ $ will310 cover the costs supports306 a three-hour of producing a single session training someone handmade tactile kit for with blindness or low their Feelix Library for vision to safely move preschoolers. around their local area. Call 1300 55 84 58 or visit www.visionaustralia.org to donate braille: the world at my fingertips Visioon Australius a a honouro ouurs LouisB Braille,aai , whw o providedp v ed thee kek yto literacyliti ra y foforr peoplpeo e whhooareblind. Louis Braille provided the key to literacy for millions of people who are blind. Celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille with Vision Australia and Australia Post and pick up a commemorative pre-paid envelope from selected Australia Post outlets or via mail order on 1800 33 17 94. A message from our ambassador David Campbell Being a huge fan of Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight®, I was blown away to be asked to be the event’s ambassador for the second time. There are shows (I’ve done hundreds!) and then there are those special events not be missed like Christmas Eve in the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Believe me, there’s nothing quite like looking out over a park blanketed with twinkling lights and hearing thousands of people sing their hearts out in unison. The whole experience reminds you that we’re all connected, all part of the same big family, which is really what Christmas is all about. It’s fabulous to be in the thick of it at the Bowl, but even if you’re at home watching the show on Channel Nine or listening to a radio broadcast, you can still experience the magic. As a kid I spent many Christmas Eves singing along in front of the TV – it was always loads of fun. Being the Ambassador for Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight is a fantastic way to cap off an eventful year for me. For me – and millions of other Australians, I’m sure – Christmas Eve is a time to celebrate all the good things in life, reflect on what’s passed and look to the future. And of course, the future lies with the little ones who get such a buzz out of Christmas. It gives me great satisfaction to be associated with Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight, knowing that the event raises awareness and funds for children who are blind or have low vision.

Load more