HomeCollectionSt Dominic’s School for Deaf Children

We are all aware of the immense value St Dominic’s has contributed to the New Zealand Deaf education sector. St Dominic’s School for the Deaf opened in 1944 to provide a Catholic based education to deaf children, and ran for 45 years before closing in May 1989. SignDNA is thrilled that the St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre in Palmerston North has donated their full collection of St Dominic’s video footage to SignDNA, along with hundreds of documents and photos. Thanks to the Catholic Deaf leadership and David Loving-Molloy for their support.

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1983
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: September 1983 (Vol. 6, No. 3)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1950
video – Taonga source: Archives New Zealand

National Film Unit visits St Dominics School for the Deaf

The Government’s National Film Unit follows the City District Health Nurse as she visits students at St Dominic’s School for the Deaf.
Archives New Zealand
1985
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: Easter 1985 (Vol. 8, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1950
article – Taonga source: Zealandia

World Authorities Impressed by Catholic School for Deaf

A visit to the Catholic School for the Deaf, conducted by the Dominican Sisters in Wellington, was paid recently by Dr. Irene Ewing and her husband, Dr. A.W.G Ewing, renowed authorities on the education of the deaf.
2016
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2016 (Vol. 38, No. 4)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1989
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: October 1989 (Vol. 11, No. 4)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2000
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones

Manawatu Deaf community farewells Terry O’Brien

The Manawatu Deaf community thanks Terry O’Brien for his service as a Teacher of the Deaf. Terry taught for over 30 years at Freyberg High School in Palmerston North which had a Deaf Unit that St Dominic’s pupils often went on to attend.
Dorothy Jones
1946
article – Taonga source: NZ Tablet

Making the Deaf Hear and the Dumb Speak: The Splendid Work of St. Dominic’s School, Wellington.

Two years ago, the New Zealand Dominicians opened a Catholic school for deaf children at 15 Dover Street, Island Bay, Wellington. The article records the impressions of a Wellington journalist who visited the school recently.
1991
article – Taonga source: The Chronicle

Coping with deafness in a hearing world

Cushla and Brian talk about their lives – being Deaf, their experiences at school, employment, and communication.
2017
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2017 (Vol. 39, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1966
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Winter 1966 (Vol. 3, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1989
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Last Reunion on St Dominic’s Feilding Grounds

The four-day festivities at St Dominic’s School for the Deaf during New Year’s 1989/1990 were a weekend full of activities! It was the last such event on the St Dominic’s Feilding grounds with a deaf unit set-up at St Joseph’s School in Feilding in May 1989.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1946
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Teaching The Deaf To Speak

Margaret is one of some 21 kiddies, aged from five to seven years, who for the most part born deaf, are receiving special instruction at St. Dominic's School for the Deaf at Island Bay, Wellington, the first Catholic institution of its kind to be established in the Dominion.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1987
video – Taonga source: Television New Zealand Archive

Parents speak of their fears for the future of St Dominic’s School for Deaf Children

Following the potential closure of St Dominic's, parents express their concerns at a community meeting for their deaf children’s future if they were to be mainstreamed into a local school.
Television New Zealand Archive
1980
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: September 1980 (Vol. 3, No. 3)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1979
Images – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Team Photo: St. Dominic’s O.B. Basketball Deaf Club, 1979

Manawatu Deaf Society
2016
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2016 (Vol. 38, No. 2)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1955-65
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

A montage of St Dominic’s Christmas Picnics between 1955 and 1965

Footage from 1955 – 1965 during the annual Christmas Picnics held by St Dominic’s School for the Deaf in Island Bay. In New Zealand fashion, Santa arrives on horseback, bringing presents to the pupils who all take turns riding the horse!
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1967
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1967 (Vol. 4, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1979
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: June 1979 (Vol. 2, No. 2)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1987
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: December 1986 (Vol. 9, No. 3)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Ruth Jessep
2012
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2012 (Vol. 34, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1978
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

New Zealand Catholic Deaf Newsletter: August 1978 (Vol. 1, No. 2)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1986
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: Easter 1986 (Vol. 9, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
1954
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF NEW INSTITUTION: PROVISION FOR 54 CHILDREN

Deaf children from all parts of New Zealand are gradually overcoming their affliction at St. Dominic's School for the Deaf, situated at Aorangi, near Feilding.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1963-64
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Summer 1963-64 (Vol. 1, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • Milton Reedy
  • John Hunt
1968
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Summer 1968 (Vol. 5, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Hunt
1987
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: June 1987 (Vol. 10, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1987
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: December 1987 (Vol. 10, No. 3)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1976
video – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Understand the Silence: A Silent Documentary about the Silent World of Deafness

This documentary was filmed and edited by Joan Bailey and released in 1976. It covers the preparation and running of the St Dominics Gala Day, as well as Manawatu Deaf Club picnics, and the Manawatu Womens Group.
Manawatu Deaf Society
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