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Deaf National Archive New Zealand
Deaf National Archive New Zealand
BIOGRAPHY
Daniel (Danny) Beech was born in Pahiatua in 1942 and attended St Dominic’s School for Deaf Children from the age of 5. Moving to Palmerston North as a young adult, Danny embarked on a life crammed with commitment and loyalty to the NZ Deaf community. With involvement and achievements too numerous to detail, Danny led or contributed to many of the critical and significant advancements in the Deaf community from the early 1970s through to his death in September 2007. Of particular note, was Danny's involvement in establishing the New Zealand Association of the Deaf; his work with the Manawatu and Auckland Deaf Societies; establishing NZSL interpreter training in NZ; and his tireless work for the Catholic Deaf Ministry in NZ. It was for this area of service that Pope John Paul II awarded Danny the Benemerenti (“well deserved”) Medal of the Catholic Church in 1987.
1991
1970
1984
1983
1969
1971
1973
1987
1992
1994
1984
1983
1983
1982
1981
1981
1980
1980
1973
1976
1986
1985
1964
1968
1969
1970
1971
1966
1968
1971
1971
1990
1973
1981
1983
1985
1990
The ceremony and speeches to open McHattie House, used as the national office for NZAD.
1979
The Australian and New Zealand Deaf men play basketball at the Trans-Tasman Games, held at Lincoln College, Canterbury in January 1979.
1981
The NZ team returns from the XIV World Games for the Deaf, Köln, Germany 1981.
1979
Opening ceremony of the Trans-Tasman Games, Including a traditional Maori welcome for the Australian team.
1985
The Sign Language Interpreting course graduation ceremony September 1985, after 14 weeks training.
1981
New Zealand team goes to XIV World Games for the Deaf in Köln, Germany in 1981.
1981
New Zealand athletes stopover at Los Angeles on the way to the World Games for the Deaf in Köln, and make the most of the trip with a visit to Disneyland!
1978
A look into the world of Deaf people, in particular a glimpse into Deaf education at the time, and how technology improves the lives of Deaf people, with Daniel Beech demonstrating the use of a TTY.
1993
A farewell party is thrown for John and Laura Hunt at the Auckland Deaf Society, prior to their move to Melbourne. The farewell was attended by over 100 members of the Auckland Deaf community.
2002
Manawatu Deaf Society celebrates its 40th anniversary with a packed weekend-long programme in September 2002.
1981
Footage of the World Deaf Games in Köln, of New Zealanders in action. Two New Zealand athletes won medals at the games.
1984
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.
1955-65
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!
1965
Several clips of teaching and classroom scenes at St Dominic’s School for the Deaf, with one-on-one speech therapy, oral communication methods, a physical education class, the Rotarians Picnic Drive, playing with jet aeroplanes, folk dancing and their annual Christmas party.
1965
A look at St Dominic’s School for the Deaf twenty-one years after its opening at Dover Street, to its relocation to Feilding. ‘Twenty-One Years’ features speech therapy, classroom activities and ballet, swimming and sewing lessons, as well as its infamous Gala Day and a Mass in its Chapel.
2004
Ex-pupils talk about their memories and tell stories about St Dominic’s at the 60th reunion in Feilding, during Waitangi Weekend in 2004.
89-90
Footage of the St Dominic’s four-day 45th reunion depicts the cutting of the cake, friends, classmates and family catching up over a picnic on the lawn of the school grounds.
1994
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.
2008
A 43-minute documentary taking you through the history of Auckland Deaf Society, the second home of the Deaf community of Auckland.
1993
The opening of the Deaf Association National Office and the Auckland Branch Office at the Ceramic House in Totara Avenue, New Lynn on 18 June 1993.