HomeBiographiesSusan Hamilton

Susan was a very active person who loved being involved in the Deaf community, regularly attending many community events. A keen sportswoman and renowned Deaf golfer, Susan could be found on the green most Saturdays. A New Zealand sporting representative, Susan was well known for her independence (and leisure time!). She certainly lived her life well with many friends and amongst other community leaders. Susan was the President of the New Zealand Deaf Association from 1994 to 1998 and was its Patron from 2008 to 2016. She also loved to play poker with Auckland Deaf Poker.

An all-round sportsperson

The New Zealand Deaf ladies place third at the 2008 World Deaf Golf Championships in Perth, Australia.

Susan and her golf buddies from North Shore Golf Club.

Susan ready to tackle the course at the 2008 World Deaf Golf Championships in Perth.

Susan represented New Zealand in three sports: table tennis at the inaugural Trans-Tasman Games in 1975, air rifle shooting at the 1989 World Deaf Games in Christchurch, but her primary sport was golf. Susan was a skilled golfer; the best New Zealand Deaf representative golfer in New Zealand Deaf history, representing New Zealand numerous times, both as an individual and part of a team. She played at the 2008 World Deaf Golf Championships in Perth and the 2010 World Deaf Golf Championships at St Andrews, Scotland. In those international competitions Susan came 4th with a team ranking of 3rd for the ladies (Perth), and 2nd equal in the St Andrews competition (Scotland).

In 1990, she was the Auckland Deaf Society Sportsperson of the year for golf. Golf was Susan’s number one passion and she could be seen out on the green each weekend representing her club, the North Shore Golf Club, come rain or shine! She had a handicap of just 5. The Club now hosts a yearly competition for the ‘Susan Hamilton Trophy’ in memory.

A unique career

Susan speaking at Kelston Deaf Education Centre, with Peter Murray next to her.

Authored “The Chronicles of Titirangi, Mt Wellington & Kelston Schools for the Deaf” (2010).

Susan took a draughting course at Auckland Institute of Technology and worked as a draughtsperson at the Auckland Regional Council, at a time where drawings were manually drawn by pencil! She worked there for 23 years until she was laid off. She also worked internationally in London and Melbourne. Her career was unique for a Deaf person at that time. There were no interpreters in those days, including for her course which she managed to complete despite having very limited access. Susan’s story is covered in the book ‘The People of the Eye: Stories from the Deaf World’ (Locker McKee, 2001).

Susan was also an avid bookworm with a fantastic memory for Deaf history. As a past student boarder at both the Titirangi and Kelston School for Deaf Children from 1958 to 1963, her vast knowledge, passion and skill for Deaf school history was invaluable. She worked at Kelston as an archivist, and published several books, one of them being: “The Chronicles of Titirangi, Mt Wellington & Kelston Schools for the Deaf” (2010). She successfully organised two School for Deaf reunions – the 60th in 2002 and the 70th in 2012, where she gave a talk on the working archives of the Deaf School Museum. Her expertise in this area meant she was known internationally in this field.

Involved in various threads of the Deaf Community

Susan carrying out her Patron duties, opening the NZSL Week awards at Te Papa.

Susan with friends: Anna Dubbelt, Rachel Noble, Shona McGhie, Megan Mansfield, Lynette Pivac, Susan Hamilton, Tony Walton, Susan Thomas, Kevin Pivac.

Susan signing to audience.

Her advocacy began in the early 1990s by representing Auckland Deaf Society, along with Jeff Went, to advocate for captions on television broadcasting. She successfully advocated to NZ On Air to fund the establishment of subtitled TV programmes beginning in 1991 for the TV1 News at six o’clock.

Susan was the President of the New Zealand Deaf Association from 1994 to 1998 and was its Patron from 2008 to 2016. She received a Long Service Standing Award from Deaf Aotearoa in 2019 in recognition of her incredible contribution to the Deaf community.

Susan was the Auckland Regional Editor of the NZSL Dictionary Team.

She also participated in the New Zealand Games (previously the Deaf Sports Convention) numerous times. Her passion for sports also led to her being the ADS Combined Sports‘ Host Secretary for the NZ Deaf Games 1990.

Note: This page was last updated 2024. Contributions are welcomed.

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1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: August 1989

Auckland Deaf Society
1990s
video – Taonga source: Hilda Tamepo

Deaf kaumatua celebrates 50 years of life at Auckland Deaf Society

The 50th birthday of Ivan Tamepo - a respected Deaf elder – is celebrated at ADS, with a karanga, powhiri, waitaia and celebrations in the back hall and upstairs clubroom.
Hilda Tamepo
1995
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: September 1995

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1991
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: April 1991

Auckland Deaf Society
2006
video – Taonga source: Dan Hanks

Last Friday night at Auckland Deaf Society before the rebuild

Footage and interviews from the final Friday night at Deaf Club at Auckland Deaf Society before its long-awaited re-development in 2006.
Dan Hanks
1993
video – Taonga source: Deaf Aotearoa

Opening of Deaf Association’s new premises in New Lynn, Auckland

The opening of the Deaf Association National Office and the Auckland Branch Office at the Ceramic House in Totara Avenue, New Lynn on 18 June 1993.
Deaf Aotearoa
19990
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: September 1990

Auckland Deaf Society
1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: June 1989

Auckland Deaf Society
1998
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: Autumn 1998

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1986
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Winter 1986 (Vol. 22. No. 4)

1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: March 1989

Auckland Deaf Society
1975
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Athletics, N.Z. Deaf Societies Convention, 1975

Auckland Deaf Society
Featured Story
Community Life and Places

Kelston Deaf Education Centre (Ko Taku Reo)

Kelston Deaf Education Centre (now Ko Taku Reo; previously Kelston School for the Deaf). Kelston was established on a site in Archibald Road in 1958. The school had relocated firstly from Titirangi, then from Mt Wellington. KDEC used to provide education in a range of satellite classes throughout Auckland the upper North Island. Kelston, which also hosts Rūaumoko Marae, merged with van Asch Deaf Education Centre to become Ko Taku Reo in 2020.
1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: December 1989

Auckland Deaf Society
1989
publication – Taonga source: Shona McGhie

VXIth World Games for the Deaf, Christchurch: 7-17 January 1989

Shona McGhie
1970
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Sports Representatives, N.Z. Deaf Sports Convention, 1970

Auckland Deaf Society
biography
Profile

Susan Hamilton

Susan was a very active sportswoman who loved being involved in the Deaf community, regularly attending all community events. A renowned Deaf golfer who could be found out on the green each Saturday, Susan was also the President of the Deaf Association from 1994 to 1998 and its Patron from 2008 to 2016.
1989
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

New Zealand Deaf News: Winter 1989 (Vol. 23. No. 2)

1989
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Spring 1989 (Vol. 23, No. 3)

1973
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1973 (Vol. 10, No. 4)

1989
Images – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

Team Photo: New Zealand Deaf Sports Team: XVI World Games for the Deaf, Christchurch 1989

Margaret Coutts
2009
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: February 2009

Auckland Deaf Society
1991
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: October 1991

Auckland Deaf Society
1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: July 1989

Auckland Deaf Society
2009
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: November 2009

Auckland Deaf Society
1992
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: March 1992

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1972
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1972 (Vol. 9, No. 4)

2002
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Auckland Deaf Society Fishing Club, 2002

Auckland Deaf Society
1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: May 1989

Auckland Deaf Society
2010
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: August 2010

Auckland Deaf Society
1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: April 1989

Auckland Deaf Society
1994
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: October 1994

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1993
video – Taonga source: Hilda Tamepo

John & Laura Hunt’s farewell party

A farewell party is thrown for John and Laura Hunt at the Auckland Deaf Society, prior to their move to Melbourne. The farewell was attended by over 100 members of the Auckland Deaf community.
Hilda Tamepo
1991
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: March 1991 (Vol. 5, No. 1)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1992
video – Taonga source: Point of View Productions

‘See What I Mean’

'See What I Mean' presents two real-life stories: the story of a family who were all born Deaf, and a journalist who loses her hearing. It offers positive advice about hearing loss as well as celebrating the New Zealand Deaf community.
Point of View Productions
1989
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

33rd New Zealand Games for the Deaf: Wellington, 19-23 October 1989

Wellington Deaf Society
2017
video – Taonga source: Meghan Coppage

Memories of Susan Hamilton

Susan Hamilton is interviewed by Meghan Coppage, where she recounts a range of experiences from her life. From growing up at a Deaf school, to her memories of time in the Deaf community in bygone days, to seeing the changes at Kelston Deaf Education Centre including the transition to new school building.
Meghan Coppage
1991
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: February 1991

Auckland Deaf Society
1989
publication – Taonga source: Margaret Coutts

New Zealand Deaf Sports Team: XVIth World Games for the Deaf

Margaret Coutts
1972
Images – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Team Photo: Ladies’ ADS Indoor Basketball Team, 1972

Auckland Deaf Society
1991
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: June 1991 (Vol. 5, No. 2)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1991
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: December 1991

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1990
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: April 1990

Auckland Deaf Society
1971
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1971 (Vol. 8, No. 1)

2002
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones

Auckland Schools for Deaf: 60th Reunion

Weekend celebrations are kickstarted with a Māori Deaf kapa haka group to perform a haka powhiri. Vintage teachers such as Les Bury briefly summarise their experiences of working in Deaf education over the years.
Dorothy Jones
2000
publication – Taonga source: Oticon Foundation

Soundscape: November 2000

Oticon Foundation
1990
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: February 1990

Auckland Deaf Society
1990
video – Taonga source: Richard Hay

Annual Picnic at Long Bay 1990

Auckland Deaf Society’s annual picnic at Long Bay where members compete in the 100m sprint (and fake starts!) and the boys show off their bodybuilding moves.
Richard Hay
1993
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: December 1993

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
1990
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: September 1990 (Vol. 4, No. 3)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing