Original radio play an everlasting milestone

Roar Disability Youth Radio has announced Ever-Lasting: The Tess Valley Diaries, its first original radio play, premiering on July 7 on Coast FM 963.

Created by Central Coast-based writer Vanessa Mbeve, this fortnightly drama tells the story of Tess Valley, a disabled model, as she reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped her life.

The show breaks away from clichés, exploring themes of ambition, love, and friendship, while providing an authentic representation of a person with a disability.

The milestone project is brought to life by the incredible talent of Sarah Warry, Brandon Macmillan, narrator James O’Brien, and the entire Coast FM 963 team.

Pop culture shapes how we see ourselves and others, yet in books, movies, and TV shows, characters with disabilities are often sidelined, misunderstood, or missing altogether.

In NSW, where approximately 18% of the population lives with a disability, the lack of authentic representation in mainstream media is considered alarming, especially considering the wealth of culturally rich, untold stories waiting to be shared.

This gap in storytelling inspired Mbeve – a Central Coast-based writer with Cerebral Palsy who is passionate about exploring social dynamics and sharing her unique perspectives through her fictional and non-fictional writing.

She developed a show that moves beyond the overused narrative of simply “overcoming obstacles.”

Instead, this groundbreaking audio drama explores the rich, complex life of a person with a disability, on their own terms, covering themes of career ambitions, love, and friendship.

“Ever-Lasting: The Tess Valley Diaries is here to change the way we tell these stories,” Mbeve said.

“We are invited into the world of Tess Valley through a walk down memory lane, framed as a sit-down interview.

“From the very start, the audience is made aware that she is a divisive and complex figure.”

During the fortnightly segments, the show offers more than entertainment it’s about empowerment and acknowledgment that the stories and experiences of people with disabilities matter.

“I hope that when someone listens to the show, they can relate to the characters in some way,” Mbeve said.

“It’s not just a source of entertainment, it’s about representation, empowerment, and making sure that voices that have long been ignored are finally heard.

“The show would not have been possible without the support of Coast FM 963, Sarah Warry, Brandon Macmillan, and the star of the show, narrator James O’Brien.”

O’Brien said he hoped the radio play inspired and encouraged everyone living with a disability, not just in NSW but throughout Australia, to create and share their stories with the world, whether through film, radio, or any other form of media.