Janet Watt

The Christchurch Deaf Club members have a picnic at Diamond Harbour, with traditional sports and activities.

Deaf Society of Canterbury on Armagh Street celebrates the end of 1990 with a wrap-up Christmas party, and a few speeches!

The Australian and New Zealand Deaf men play basketball at the Trans-Tasman Games, held at Lincoln College, Canterbury in January 1979.

The infamous Deaf Marching Girls reunite 45 years later, with a Friday spent practicing before showing their routine to supporters at van Asch on the Sunday.

Watch Carolyn Hamlin and Janet Watt’s final match in the ladies doubles; they win the game for the gold! In second place is Pam Croskery and Penny Went, both also from New Zealand.

The 32nd New Zealand Games for the Deaf wrapped up with a presentation dinner-and-dance evening at Addington Raceway’s ‘Twiggers’ on Sunday 25th October 1987. A jam-packed evening with plenty of talking, sitting down, a buffet meal, dancing to live music, and group photos, with the venue closing 1.30am!

A fancy dress party is held at the Canterbury Deaf Society’s clubrooms.

The Christchurch Deaf Basketball Club, established in 1951, celebrates their 25th Jubilee on Saturday 31 July, 1976 – with a game between old previous members versus young current members, before a social dance evening at the Armagh Street clubroom.

The popular athletics interclub and open championship ran to a tight program, from 8:00am to 12:00 noon. The Oxspring Shield for interclub athletics went to Auckland with 32 points. The 32nd Annual NZ Games for the Deaf in Christchurch provided valuable experience for hosting the World Deaf Games to be held in Christchurch in January 1989. At Cowles Stadium, Shona McGhie and Tony Walton are also interviewed by News Review.

The New Zealand Deaf team marched on Dominion Road, accompanied by police, with farewell speeches at Auckland Deaf Society before departing for the 15th World Games for the Deaf in Los Angeles.

New Zealand sends 30 athletes to the 15th World Games for the Deaf in Los Angeles, with footage of the opening ceremony. The flagbearer for New Zealand was John Ooteman, with Susie Ovens carrying the kiwi mascot. The Gallaudet Dance Company also put on a performance. Footage shows a fly by with a sign saying ‘WELCOME WORLD GAMES FOR THE DEAF’.

Watch the New Zealanders on court at the World Games for the Deaf in Los Angeles! Doug Croskery, Jonathan Anton and Janet Watts each give a post-game commentary on the outcome of badminton matches played by Carolyn Hamlin, Lindsay Bamford and Penny Went. 

The Deaf community gather in Christchurch for the NZ Deaf Sports Convention in Labour Weekend, 1975.

The Christchurch team travel to Palmerston North for the NZ Deaf Sports Convention on Labour Weekend, 1976.

The Christchurch Golf Club hosts a fundraiser at the Armagh Street Clubrooms, organising a social evening - with participants encouraged to come in Chinese Fancy Dress. Origami folding and calligraphy were some of the games on the night. Watch to see who won the compulsory fancy-dress parade!