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.

  • Deaf Education
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1967
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1994
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ex-pupils visit the old St Dominic’s school in Feilding

A tour of the old St Dominic’s school grounds in Feilding as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations in April 1994. Ex-pupils explore the old school grounds and reminisce about their time here.
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
1953
article – Taonga source: NZ Tablet

IS THERE NO HOPE AT ALL? Plight of Deaf Children

St. Dominic's is a mile or so on the Palmerston side of Feilding. Set back across the railway line from the highway is a fine old country mansion framed by trees and lawns. At one side are the former barns and stables, now being used as temporary classrooms. On the other side the builders are busy completing new classrooms for use next year; when these are finished they will begin work on the children's new sleeping quarters adjoining.
1981
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: March 1981 (Vol. 4, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1989-90
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

St Dominic’s 45th Jubilee

There are many speeches from past pupils and staff recalling their time at St Dominic’s. The casually filmed footage covers part of the four-day 45th reunion at St Dominic’s School for the Deaf, with many speeches from past pupils and staff recalling their time at St Dominic’s.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1989
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Fielding school for deaf closes

New Government policy on educating disabled children has ended more than three decades of teaching deaf children at St Dominic's in Feilding.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1973
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1973 (Vol. 10, No. 2)

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.
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
1966
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1944
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

FOR DEAF & DUMB, CATHOLIC SCHOOL, TUITON BY DOMINICANS

In spite of wet weather, there was a large attendance of Catholic clergy and public at the blessing and opening of St. Dominic's School for the Deaf and Dumb, at Dover Street, Island Bay, yesterday afternoon. This school, conducted by the Sisters of St. Dominic, is the first Catholic School for the education of deaf-mutes to be established in New Zealand.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2015
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2015 (Vol. 37, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2006
article – Taonga source: NZ Catholic

Deaf community gathers to honour teacher and friend

The deaf community of the lower North Island gathered in Palmerston North on the last weekend of September to honour a teacher and chaplain, mentor and friend who has worked with the deaf since 1972.
1985
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: September 1985 (Vol. 8, No. 2)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1994
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

250 attend school’s jubilee celebrations

Three first-year pupils and three sets of twins numbered among the 250 or so former pupils, teachers, family and friends who attended the St Dominics School for the Deaf 50th jubilee over Anzac Weekend.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2009
article – Taonga source: Palmerston North Diocesan News

We See What You Mean – St Dominic’s past in print

A history of St Dominic's School for the Deaf was launched in March in Feilding and Auckland. 'We See What You Mean' has been the culmination of many years' work by author Dorothy Pilkington and the school's History Society Committee.
1973
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell
1950
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Dominic’s School Impresses Experts On Training Of Deaf

"This is the first time we have ever seen deaf children dance to a gramophone" said Dr. Irene Ewing delightedly when with her husband, Dr. A.Ewing, she visited St Dominic's School for the Deaf at Island Bay, Wellington.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2007
article – Taonga source: Unknown

Deaf chaplain dies before move home

Danny Beech, a long-time leader of New Zealand's deaf community, both Catholic and secular, has died.
1967
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Autumn 1967 (Vol. 4, No. 3)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1994
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Pilgrimage to the original St Dominic’s Wellington school

A group of past pupils visit the original Dover Street location in Island Bay, Wellington, as part of the Golden Jubilee of the founding of St Dominic’s School for the Deaf.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1965-66
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Summer 1965-66 (Vol. 3, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
2014
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2014 (Vol. 36, No. 3)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1964
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Winter 1964 (Vol. 1, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • John Mansell
2013
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2013 (Vol. 35, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
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
2017
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2017 (Vol. 39, No. 3)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
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.
1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: October 1983 (Vol. 20, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Hunt
  • Janet Watt
  • Jeff Went
  • Terry Kane