We Can Be Heroes » Radio Interviews

Daniel Sims on Today, Today
with Chris Taylor and Craig Reucassel

Chris: Well it's decision time this evening for Australian of the Year, they're announcing the shortlist for the finalists, the state finalists. And if you've been watching the documentary which has been following some of the nominees, We Can Be Heroes on ABC this evening at 9 'o clock. We've chatted to two of them already, Ja'mie King and Ricky Wong, and joining us live from Canberra is a very nervous and expectant Daniel Sims from Dunt. How are you?
Daniel: Hi mate, just keepin' it real.
Chris and Craig: That's good.
Craig: That's good Daniel.
Chris: Now you were nominated for donating an eardrum to your deaf twin brother, Nathan. Did you have an sort of reservations or fears going into the operation?
Daniel: Ohh, I didn't wanna do it, but after everyone kept going on about how, "Oh it's gonna be like a miracle." Like, "You're so giving if you do it." I kinda felt like a bit pressure, pressured to do it.
Craig: So you were kinda pressured into it. Whose idea was it in the first place?
Daniel: Oh, there wass this bloke in town, um, Ken Lovill, and he's been going on about it 'cause he knows. His niece is a doctor in the city or some shit so she knew the people that do the miracle surgery and that. So it came through him and he pressured me into it. And I'm glad I did it because like Nathan can hear now, and it's heaps good. Like he can, we're gonna get back into our beatboxing and rapping and shit. So yeah.
Chris: Oh yeah.
Daniel: So it's heaps good that he's got that back
Chris: And has your hearing suffered much at all?
Daniel: Yeah I lost my left ear! But I don't even mind. Like it's weird for balance and shit, like when I'm on my trail bike and that it's hard for balance. But you get used to it.
Craig: Is it like you're drunk or something? Or what does it feel like?
Daniel: Yeah. Yeah you feel pissed
Chris: Can I ask, Daniel, how would you describe your relationship with Nathan, are you close?
Daniel: Nah, he's pretty much a fag but like because we look the same and we got the same like, everything's the same about us, I feel a bit attached to him, sometimes. Like you know that twin thing where you sense other shit that's going on?
Craig: Yeah.
Daniel: Cause like one time Nathan he rooted this chick in town, and it was 6 o clock and at exactly 6 o clock I got a stiffy. So we have this weird connection thing where like stuff's going on at the same time.
Craig: That's amazing.
Daniel: So I wouldn't say I love him, but I like him, pretty much.
Craig: You've done an amazing thing as a brother to give him your ear and of course you're being, possibly recognised tonight as Australian of the Year.
Chris: You're in Canberra as we speak, aren't you?
Daniel: Yeah we drove down this morning.
Chris: What's it like? Are you enjoying being in the nation's capital?
Daniel: Nah it's shit, there's not much to do here. It's pretty boring. We went to the war memorial. Yeah that was about it.
Chris: Did you put some flowers down?
Daniel: Nah we took, I took a photo out, and I sat on a canon, with my legs on either side, and pretended it was my dick. And Nathan took a shot of it.
Chris: Right.
Craig: That's pretty... that's good, and have you kind of met politician and met famous people through doing this Australian of the Year thing?
Daniel: Nah, nah, not at all. Cause we've been just in Dunt the whole time and that. Except like this Women's Weekly like this journalist chick came out, but we're hoping there's like heaps of celebrities and shit there tonight.
Chris: How do you think you'll go with the state finalists, the shortlists this evening?
Daniel: Nah I probably won't get it. I don't win much shit and that like at school and that, I'm never that good around town at winning shit. But I dunno, like I can't actually believe I've come this far. Anything could happen at this stage.
Craig: Since you've been doing this Australian of the Year thing, are you really known around Dunt? Like do people come up and congratulate you?
Daniel: Fuck yeah! Yeah, all these people come up and like, in town and shit, and also 'cause of the like TV show thing, people always like get me to quote shit and say stuff that I said in the show.
Craig: Oh really?
Chris: You're a bit of a celeb around town.
Daniel: Yeah it's heaps good, and chicks love blokes who are on TV and that.
Chris: Are you finding that's improving your love life, Daniel?
Daniel: Yeah yeah, nah we had this party the other day and I pashed three chicks...
Chris: Nice!
Daniel: ...at the same time.
Craig: At the same... that's pretty good. So it's worth losing the ear for the pashes, was it?
Daniel: Yeah. It's been pretty good so far.
Chris: For those who haven't been to Dunt, can you paint a bit of a picture for us? We broardcast to that town. What is it like? What's a standdard day like?
Daniel: Oh it's really shit, there's not many young people around and that so you kind of, you know everyone's name and that which is kind of good. But I think - I don't know what you call it - but there's of people who marry each other who, like marry people who are pretty much related and that. So you end up with heaps of retarded kids and that. There's heaps of like, um, like spastic people. Like not official spastic but, like Nathan is, three percent spastic; just have a little bit in them.
Craig: He's three percent spastic, so he's got some learning difficulties, does he?
Daniel: Yeah he's like really slow and that. And Mum reckons like it's like an oxygen thing 'cause he couldn't come out, he didn't come out of her vagina that easily. Like I came out first and took like half an hour later to get out.
Craig: Oh OK, so maybe...
Daniel: So Mum reckons she kinda strangled him or something on the way out.
Chris: Do you wanna leave Dunt or what are your ambitions? I know you're obviously in Canberra now but where else have you been to in Australia and what's the longer term plan?
Daniel: We went on an excursion to Adelaide once, and that was heaps good. Probably move to like a bigger city and shit like maybe Adelaide, and just see what the hip hop scene's like down there. Probably, I mean I wanna just pursue music and shit.
Chris: I think the Hilltop Hoods come from there.
Craig: Exactly.
Daniel: So a big future ahead of me.
Chris: No that's great. Well congratulations on the nomination and we're very impressed by the great act of generosity and charity that you've extended towards your twin brother, and good luck this evening with the shortlist announcement.
Daniel: Yeah thanks. Fingers crossed.