HomeDeaf ClubsWellington Deaf Society

Wellington Deaf Society is the heart of the Wellington Deaf Community. Established on 30 July 1938, has moved a couple of times since its formation, from gatherings at people’s places, leased halls and buildings, meet-ups at different pubs, to a co-owned building at 17 Bannister Ave, Johnsonville, Wellington – where it is now. The original name of the club was Wellington Adult Deaf Society before being changed to Wellington Society for the Deaf. It is now called Wellington Deaf Society. Enjoy exploring WDS’s documents, newsletters, objects and photos.

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1982
article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Building drive by deaf club

A Wellington club for the deaf has started a drive to raise funds to build clubrooms. Club members, many of whom are tradesmen, want to build the clubrooms themselves.
Wellington Deaf Society
1962
Images – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Team Photo: Y.M.C.A. Indoor Basketball, Wellington Deaf Sports Club, 1962

Wellington Deaf Society
1989
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Polishing cloth: Wellington Deaf Indoor Bowls, 1957-1989

Wellington Deaf Society
1964
article – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Deaf Folk Conquer their Handicap

On a recent Saturday, I was lucky enough to meet members of the Auckland Deaf Society at a working bee they were holding to improve the grounds of the city's Deaf Welfare Centre. The centre, incidentially, is a very fine building – it has the biggest sports hall in Auckland with a floor area 110 by 60 feet.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Schischka
1973
article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Telephones For The Deaf Are Opening Up A New World Of Communication

A revolutionary device which opens up a whole new world for those born deaf is now being demonstrated in Wellington. New Zealand is the only second country in the world to adopt the system so far.
1968
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Wellington Deaf Indoor Bowls badge, 1968

Wellington Deaf Society
1980s
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Membership Card: Wellington Deaf Society

Wellington Deaf Society
1954
Images – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Team Photo: Wellington Society for the Deaf Table Tennis Team, Winners New Zealand Deaf Societies Table Tennis Shield, 1954

Wellington Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Kevin Pivac
  • John Mansell
Est. 1971
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Wellington Deaf Society Badminton, Men’s Singles

Wellington Deaf Society
1948
Images – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Team Photo: Wellington Society for the Deaf, Winners Fairbrother Shield, 1948

Wellington Deaf Society
Est. 1980
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Wellington Deaf Society’s Most Popular Member of the Year

Wellington Deaf Society
1950-80s
Object – Taonga source: Pam Witko

Collection of Max Howell’s Wellington Deaf Society Indoor Bowls badges and pins

Pam Witko
2014
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Absolutely Positively Windy Deaf: May 2014

Wellington Deaf Society
1990
video – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Coming Together: A video history of Wellington Deaf Society

A documentary about Wellington Deaf Society created after the 50th anniversary of WDS back in 1988. It includes historic shots of the old WDS at 280 Willis Street, Te Aro, as well as interviews with some of its members.
Wellington Deaf Society
Est. 1975
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Nelson Fairbrother Memorial: Wellington Deaf Society Indoor Bowls, Singles

Wellington Deaf Society
1989
Images – Taonga source: Clive Morgan

Team Photo: Wellington Deaf Society Men’s Basketball Team, New Zealand Deaf Games 1989

Clive Morgan
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
Est. 1992
Object – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Wellington Deaf Golf Club vs Auckland Deaf Golf Club: Interclub

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • John Mansell
  • Doug Croskery
2002
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Jacket: Central Districts Deaf Basketball, 2002

Wellington Deaf Society
1998
video – Taonga source: Dorothy Jones

Memories of Jean Monk

Memories of Jean Monk (nee Robertson) who was a Sumner School for the Deaf student in the 1920s. Students weren’t allowed to sign but could “move their arms around a bit”.
Dorothy Jones
2011
Object – Taonga source: Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union

Signed Rugby Ball: Central Zone Deaf Rugby, 2011

Central Zone Deaf Rugby Union
1974
article – Taonga source: Eastern Suburbs News

Successful integration of the deaf depends on community attitudes

If a New Zealand-born person doesn’t speak good English, people are likely to assume such a person is unintelligent. Such an assumption is wrong when the person is born deaf.
1990s
Object – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Membership Card: Wellington Deaf Society

Wellington Deaf Society
2006
Images – Taonga source: Clive Morgan

Team Photo: Central Men Basketball, 46th New Zealand Deaf Games, Dunedin 2006

Clive Morgan
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
2002
Images – Taonga source: Clive Morgan

Team Photo: Central Districts Deaf Men’s Basketball Team, Cunniffe Memorial Cup Winners 2002

Clive Morgan
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
1981
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: December 1981 (Vol. 19, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • Michelle Kruger
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Hunt
  • Milton Reedy
2015
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Absolutely Positively Windy Deaf: May 2015

Wellington Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Keethan Sundar
  • Tony Walton
2002
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

43rd New Zealand Games for the Deaf: Wellington, 24-28 October 2002

Wellington Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Colleen Norris
1998
Images – Taonga source: Clive Morgan

Team Photo: Central Districts Deaf Men’s Basketball Team, Cunniffe Memorial Cup Winner 1998

Clive Morgan
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
2016
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Windy Hands: June 2016

Wellington Deaf Society
2014
publication – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Absolutely Positively Windy Deaf: September 2014

Wellington Deaf Society