Susie (Suzanne) Ovens

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!

The NZ team returns from the XIV World Games for the Deaf, Köln, Germany 1981.

A Tu Kokiri student interviews Susie Ovens on her involvement with the infamous Deaf Sign Singers group.

This project explores the experiences of Deaf New Zealanders in accessing healthcare and health information. 40 Deaf people from around New Zealand share their stories about barriers in this setting as well as strategies they have used in advocating for their right to access information, communication, and make informed decisions.

The popular Sign Singers are the first act to perform at the 1981 Telethon Live at the Auckland Town Hall.

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 Auckland Deaf Society Netball team celebrates their 25th Jubilee in April, 2000.

The Sign Singers perform 'Harmony' broadcast on Stars on Sunday in February 1983. They are introduced in sign language, in one of the first examples of a non-Deaf person signing on prime time television.

Susie Ovens, a 12-year-old Deaf girl, participates in ‘Star Zone’ showcasing her miming and theatre skills. Susie wins the New Zealand grand prize and a trip to Melbourne, Australia to participate in another show. At the time of her victory there were no communicators or NZSL interpreters, leaving Susie to figure out at the end of the show whether she had won!

The Sign Singers perform the song 'Born Free' broadcast on Stars on Sunday in June 1982.

The grit! The determination! The hours of practice! Finally it’s game day for the first Deaf Netball New Zealand versus Australia in Manawatu. Watch highlights of the gameplay followed by expert post-match analysis and limbo shenanigans at MDS. Good times.