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

Deaf Southern Star: 2012 (Vol. 34, No. 2)

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

NZ Deaf News: 1968 (Vol. 6, No. 1)

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

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

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
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
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
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
1990
article – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Trying to keep St Dominics

An attempt is being made to keep the St Dominics complex - the house, hostel wind and teaching facilities - as a Feilding-owned business or trust.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2012
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2012 (Vol. 34, 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. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1984
video – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

St Dominic’s School for the Deaf 40th Anniversary Reunion

Footage from the 40th Anniversary of St Dominic’s school for the Deaf in Feilding held in June of 1984. This video shows a tour of the school grounds, welcoming speeches to attendees and the celebrations that follow over the weekend.
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
1988
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: Easter 1988 (Vol. 10, No. 4)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2015
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2015 (Vol. 37, No. 4)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2014
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2014 (Vol. 36, No. 4)

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

Ephpheta: March 1982 (Vol. 5, 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
1965
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Spring 1965 (Vol. 3, No. 1)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1973
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

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

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

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1965
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Winter 1965 (Vol. 2, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
1967
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

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

Deaf Southern Star: 2013 (Vol. 35, No. 4)

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

Archbishop Opens Feilding School for Deaf Children

Erected at a cost of £68,000 and standing in 23 acres of farmland and gardens, St. Dominic's school for the Deaf, at Feilding, was blessed and officially opened this afternoon by Archbishop T.B. McKeefry, Metropolitan of New Zealand.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
2017
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

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

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

School For The Deaf Is £68,000 Addition To Catholic Charities

The new St. Dominic's School for deaf children, which is set in spacious 23-acre grounds and can accommodate between 40 and 50 children, is the only institution for deaf children in New Zealand not operated by the State.
St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1992
article – Taonga source: Unknown

New ideas from London course on teaching

Rebecca was recently chosen, aong with seven other deaf New Zealanders, to attend a two-week training course in London to learn the basic concepts of teaching sign language.
2010
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Deaf Southern Star: 2010 (Vol. 32, No. 3)

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

Ephpheta: March 1979 (Vol. 2, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
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