Murph Emond, an ex-truck driver from the town of Meredith in rural Victoria, was greeted by Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Stephen Conroy and received a certificate of appreciation for his role in a recent media campaign for the National Relay Service.
The Minister presented the certificate at the Cyber-Security Roundtable for People with Disabilities, hosted by ACCAN (Australian Communications Consumer Action Network) as part of National Cyber Security Awareness Week.
‘Making services accessible is essential for people to be able to receive the benefit of communications. The National Relay Service has become a vital communication tool for members of the deaf, hearing and speech impaired communities,' Minister Conroy said.
‘I congratulate and thank Murph Emond. By telling his story, other Australians can learn about this vital service.'
Featuring in an online video and a community service announcement running nationally on TV, the Emonds share their emotional struggle with Murph's hearing loss and relive the day he was able to use the service to call his interstate daughter - for the first time in his life.
Mr Emond said he has been completely overwhelmed by the response generated by his story and had never imagined his hearing loss would one day lead him to meet the Minister at Parliament House.
‘I'm just a bloke from the country, but I really want other people who don't hear well to know about this wonderful service that allows you to do what others take for granted - whether that's calling friends and family, paying the bills, or ordering the fish and chips,' he said. ‘It opens up a whole new world - believe you me, we haven't looked back since we've had this service.'
Manager of NRS Outreach, Deborah Fullwood said Mr Emond and his wife Jen had shown enormous courage in letting the public in on their personal experience of an issue that remains largely hidden.
Ms Fullwood commented that ‘Research shows that whilst older Australian men make up almost half of the hearing impaired community, they are also the least likely to admit they have a problem or get help for it. As a result, many Australian men and their families suffer in silence.'
‘By speaking out about the difficulties of living with hearing loss and the role of the National Relay Service in changing his life for the better, Murph Emond is a beacon of hope for other men, couples and families - and a reminder that losing your hearing, does not have to mean losing touch.'
View Murph's video.
View the community service announcement.
