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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1954
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Additions To School For The Deaf: Opened At Fielding By Archbishop McKeefry

A great step forward in what is a unique work of Christian charity and education in New Zealand was taken last Sunday, November 28, with its opening. The additions to the school consist of a splendid new block providing classrooms and dormitories.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1979
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: December 1979 (Vol. 2, No. 4)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1972
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1972 (Vol. 9, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1984
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: Summer 1984 (Vol. 7, No. 4)

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
2002
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones

Memories of Marlene Rush

Marlene Rush was the 20th Deaf student to enrol at St Dominics School for the Deaf in 1946. Marlene looks back on her life and involvement with the Deaf community.
Dorothy Jones
2016
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

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

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1968
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Winter 1968 (Vol. 5, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • John Mansell
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
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.
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
2015
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2015 (Vol. 37, No. 3)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1971
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: 1971 (Vol. 8, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • John Hunt
  • Kevin Pivac
1980
Images – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Team Photo: St. Dominic’s O.B. Basketball Deaf Club, 1980

Manawatu Deaf Society
1954
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

NEW INSTITUTION AT FEILDING OPENED AND BLESSED

Described by a prominent Palmerston North specialist, Dr A.A. MacGibbon, as a school which compares more than favourably with the latest schools of its type overseas, St. Dominic's School in Feilding for deaf children was officially blessed and opened yesterday afternoon.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Patreena Bryan
1965
video – Taonga source: Mary Johnson

St Dominic School for the Deaf, Fielding: First Reunion, 1965

St Dominics School for the Deaf in Fielding celebrates their first school reunion in 1965. The reunion was one year after the school had relocated to Fielding from Wellington.
Mary Johnson
2014
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

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

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2011
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2011 (Vol. 33, No. 4)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1954
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

NEW ST. DOMINIC’S SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF OPENING IN FEILDING: Over 3000 Attended Ceremony Yesterday

Over 3000 people flocked to St. Dominic's School for the Deaf yesterday afternoon to hear the Catholic Prelate, His Grace Archbishop P.T.B. McKeefry, bless the new building and officially open it.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2013
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2013 (Vol. 35, No. 2)

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.
1982
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: March 1982 (Vol. 5, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2011
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2011 (Vol. 33, No. 2)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1979
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: September 1979 (Vol. 2, No. 3)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2012
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2012 (Vol. 34, No. 4)

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

New Zealand Catholic Deaf Newsletter: December 1978 (Vol. 1, No. 3)

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

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

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
1966
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

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

Ephpheta: March 1987 (Vol. 9, No. 4)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre