Midsumma Carnival Day was once again filled with colour, laughter and community pride. At the heart of the celebrations were Vision Australia Radio who united with JOY Media for a live broadcast.

Broadcasting from Alexandra Gardens, a special guest from each network, Conrad Browne, the Vision Australia Radio Audio Manager and CEO of JOY Media Paul Scott‑Williams, came together for a chat about community radio and spirit and the various connections they had, one being Conrad is the former JOY General Manager.

Conrad reflected on the special meaning behind this collaboration. As a JOY staff member and volunteer before joining Vision Australia Radio, he described the broadcast as his “two worlds colliding,” bringing together queerness, disability, inclusion, and community broadcasting. Last year the team won Excellence in Special Events for their Midsumma Carnival coverage at the CBAA Awards.

Paul Scott‑Williams spoke passionately about the power of community radio, growth in listenership and the importance of JOY’s mission of representation, connection and resilience. He and Conrad agreed that it thrives when it remains human‑centred, responsive to societal change and unafraid to innovate.

Vision Australia Radio’s role is as an access and inclusion partner for Midsumma, supporting blind and low‑vision community members in attending and engaging with events. Together, Vision Australia Radio and JOY Media demonstrated the true spirit of the festival with collaboration, pride, accessibility, and a celebration of every intersection that makes the community vibrant.

Midsumma Festival runs until February 8.

Image left to right – Paul Scott-Williams the CEO of JOY Media, Conrad Browne the manager of Vision Australia Radio and Audio, and Tess Herbert, volunteer presenter Vision Australia Radio. Image supplied.