Radio 1RPH thanks its many supporters and friends for making our Canberra Day Appeal so successful. We met our target of $10,000 with a bit extra, $10,100 by the last day of the appeal, 20 March 2026. These funds will be put to good use to continue our mission to turn print into sound for the general public, and especially for all those who have any kind of print disability.

Staying in Canberra for Canberra Day? Why not join the Radio 1RPH team in the 2026 Canberra Day Appeal Fun Run.

You choose to run or walk the 5km course $30 or 10km course, $45. Your entry fee goes towards Radio 1RPH’s Canberra Day Appeal total. You can make a donation as well, but that is not mandatory, and you can also get other people to sponsor you and that will also go to Radio 1RPH.

The 10km start time is 8am, the 5km start time is 8.15am and both courses start and finish at Lennox Gardens. Registration is being handled by Events ACT on the RaceRoster platform.

Click here to join the Radio 1RPH team.

Radio 1RPH is proud to be part of the 2026 Canberra Day Appeal.  From the 30th of January until the 20th of March, Canberrans are invited to give where they live. Radio 1RPH is raising funds to keep our station on air and to bring our radio reading service to the people of Canberra, Wagga Wagga and Junee especially anyone who has any kind of print disability.

Hands Across Canberra will match every dollar donated up to $2,500, so every dollar you donate becomes $2. Donations are tax deductible, so come on and let’s build a better Canberra.

Click here to Donate.

World Braille Day is this Sunday, 4 January. To celebrate Radio 1RPH has two special programs.

At 12.30pm, Maryanne interviews two of the category winners of the Dickinson Memorial Literary Competition for writers who are blind or have low vision. Claire Clifford wrote Light Up the Night, a powerful and personal poem about her vision journey. It was the winning entry in the Adult Poem, Song Lyric or Limerick Category. Luis Thompson wrote The Discovery Adventure, four friends going on a bike ride with storms and treasure maps. Luis’ story won the Junior Student Category and also the People’s Choice Category.

At 1.00pm, Radio 1RPH ‘s President, Robert Altamore, gives us Braille 101, how he has used Braille through his life and the Braille embosser which is the size of a small fridge!

If you still want more, you can join an international virtual conversation organised by the World Blind Union and the International Council for the Education of People with Visual Impairment. This international event will launch a two-year global campaign championing braille as a foundation for literacy, learning, independence, and empowerment. The event happens online at 9.00pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time. Further information and to register at this link: https://mailchi.mp/wbu/email-content-en-18100322?e=bf2d4562fa

On Christmas Day, keep company with Radio 1RPH. Here’s what’s on:

12am

BBC World Service

9am

President’s Message followed by Insight For Living’s
Chuck Swindoll’s Christmas Message

9.30am

Reverend David Campbell with ‘Why the Virgin Birth Matters’
followed by Mitch with ‘Catch’

10.00am

A Different Perspective followed by Messages of Hope.

10.30am

Zali’s Christmas story then Muriel Bromley Marsh with
Dylan Thomas’ ‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’

11.00am

Pene and Susan’s Christmas readings.

11.30am

Julie with a Christmas English Women’s Weekly

12 noon

Sue with an Australian Women’s Weekly Christmas.

12.30pm

Virginia and Kent with Christmas Around Canberra

1.00pm

Holly Bidwell with Christmas Stories

1.30pm

A Christmas Stocking with Maxine from 2rph

2.00pm

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

5.00pm

Christmas Traditions, Silent Night and The Gold Tablecloth

5.30pm

Pene and Susan with the Australian 12 Days of Christmas
followed by the Christmas Countdown read by Mitch

6.00pm

Episode 6 of the Afternoon Book Reading ‘A Highland Christmas’

6.30pm

Episode 20 of the main Book Reading ‘The Blue Bear’

7pm

Tempo Theatre Christmas Play “When Santa Met Dracula”

8pm

Bush Poetry Christmas poems.

8.30pm

Jazz Odyssey Christmas Special with Andrew Gleason

9.00pm

Cross to the BBC World Service