HomePublicationsAuckland Deaf Society newsletter: August 1989

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: August 1989

Some of the items featured in Auckland Deaf Society’s August 1989 newsletter:

  • Congratulations to the following members of Auckland Deaf Society who have announced their engagements – Celia King to William Waitohi, and Katherine Mead to Richard Peri. 
  • ADS Ten Pin Bowling Club is organising a ‘Las Vegas Evening’ at the Deaf Club where people will be given ‘fun money’ to have a go at gambling. $6 entrance per person, $4 pensioners. Raffles and good prizes!
  • The ADS Golf Club will be meeting at Chamberlain Park on 10 September. People are welcomed to play, with the golf club providing old balls. Owen Gibbons also got a hold in one recently. Congratulations Owen!!
  • Deaf Clubs
  • TV/Media

Can you help?

NZSL story – Taonga source: John Mansell

A Trophy from His Father: John Remembers the Mansell Cup

John Mansell shares how his father, Clyde Mansell, donated the Chairman Trophy to the Auckland Deaf Society Golf Club. Known as the Mansell Cup, it was awarded for overall points in an annual competition. Deaf golfers played at various courses, and in the first competition, one player even scored a hole in one!
NZSL story – Taonga source: John Mansell

John’s Early Days on the Indoor Bowls Mat

John gave indoor bowls a go in the late 1960s and played for about a decade. He started in 1968, the year his team won the overall Jerome Plate. He was lucky to play under Skip Sen Smith, a top indoor bowls player in both Auckland and New Zealand. John remembers how everyone had to dress formally for team photos, wearing suits and ties. Unlike today’s more relaxed style, he believes things were better back then.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Michelle Kruger

Taking the Shot: Representing New Zealand in Deaf Squash

One night at the ADS Balmoral Clubroom, Michelle Kruger was asked if she’d play in the World Deaf Squash Championships, hosted in Palmerston North. She jumped at the chance and began training, learning the sport’s rules and techniques. Competing against players from South Africa, Australia, and England, Michelle found the international level intense and eye-opening – a big leap from playing against local Auckland players to facing the world’s best.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Terry Kane

Ending the Streak: Terry’s Proud Table Tennis Memory

Terry Kane captained the ADS table tennis team at the 1985 Sports Convention in Napier, where they won the Men's Interclub Table Tennis Cup. He also ended an 11-year winning streak by defeating a long-dominant Christchurch player. Terry recalls spotting a weakness in his opponent’s game and using it to secure a very satisfying win!
NZSL story – Taonga source: Doug Croskery

From Rough Start to Trophies: Doug’s Golfing Journey

Doug, former treasurer of the Auckland Deaf Society Golf Club, looks back on his time chasing trophies like Most Improved Player, Best Putted Trophy, and Most Attendance. Yes, he won them all! His golfing adventure began with a push from friends and a rough first round at the tricky Waitakere Golf Club. The result? Not great. But Doug stuck with it, teeing off at courses like Takapuna and Chamberlain, and even swinging his way into the NZ Deaf Games.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Unknown, Colleen Norris

Colleen’s Bowls Win While Six Months Pregnant

Colleen explains how she got involved in Auckland Deaf Society’s indoor bowls team for the 1968 NZ Deaf Sports Convention in Christchurch. The team was short on players, and since her husband was already going to play basketball, she decided to join. Her mother-in-law came to help look after her daughter. At the time, Colleen was six months pregnant. Despite that, she won the singles, doubles, and team events. She remembers how formal team photos were back then. In the November team photo, everyone tried to hide her pregnancy!
NZSL story – Taonga source: Colleen Norris

How Auckland’s Deaf Ten Pin Bowling Club Took Off

After a trip to Melbourne, Colleen was asked if there were any Deaf ten pin bowlers in Auckland. That question stuck with her. Once home, she placed an advertisement in the Auckland Deaf Club newsletter to gauge interest. Years earlier, she had bowled casually in New Lynn with a few Deaf friends but this time, the response exploded. Twenty-four Deaf bowlers signed up. They began holding regular Sunday competitions at the Lincoln Road bowling centre. Colleen’s love for the sport also took her overseas, representing New Zealand in tournaments across the USA, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Terry Kane

Table Tennis Drill Sessions That Paid Off

Top-seeded ADS table tennis players Terry Kane and Lyndon Malcolm were coached by a hearing man, Sonny Rivers. To improve their game, they trained several times a week. Terry recalls Sonny pushing them hard, especially with spin returns from the training machine. Over time, their technique improved, leading to wins against both hearing and Deaf opponents.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Terry Kane

The Rise of Table Tennis at Auckland Deaf Society

Terry Kane, one of ADS’s top-ranked table tennis players, shares how he got involved with the club. He recalls encouraging 26 players to join, with games played on 4 to 5 tables in the old Balmoral hall. It was a popular time, with strong fundraising and high participation. Terry remembers it as a wonderful period. He also talks about the Auckland Adult Deaf Society Challenge Cup, established in 1938, interclub competitions, open championships, and matches against hearing players at Waitemata.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Terry Kane

Donating the Doubles Trophies: Terry Kane’s Gift to ADS Table Tennis

Terry Kane shares how he donated two trophies to the ADS Table Tennis Club, one for men’s doubles and one for women’s doubles. The club held annual prizegivings to celebrate its players. As a former chairperson, Terry helped carry on the legacy of earlier leaders like the Seddons and players such as Rae McKie.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Doug Croskery

Golf Bloopers and Good Times with the ADS Golf Club

Doug looks back on his golfing days with the Auckland Deaf Society Golf Club, playing alongside friends like Owen Gibbons and John McRae. He remembers the fun they had and laughs at some of his worst moments on the course. One time, his ball hit a tree and got stuck in the branches. He had to take a penalty to get it out. In another game, his shot landed near a tree. He lined it up carefully, took the swing, and badly bent his iron. That club went straight into the rubbish bin!
NZSL story – Taonga source: Jeff Went

How Combined Sports Powered Auckland Deaf Society

Jeff shares how he first got involved with Combined Sports at the Auckland Deaf Society and how it all worked behind the scenes. Combined Sports – later known as Sports, Social and Recreation (SSR) – ran monthly social events at the Deaf Club that were hugely popular and helped raise significant funds for individual sports clubs. Instead of relying on the Board of Management, Combined Sports used those funds to buy much-needed sports and office equipment. At the time, investment interest rates were strong and every member contributed $5 to help cover tournament and competition costs.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Ruth Jessep

Ruth Jessep’s Long Game to Win the Overall High Series Shield

Ruth Jessep shares her journey to winning the Auckland Deaf Society’s Overall High Series (Scratch) Shield, a title she had been aiming for over several years. The competition runs across ten months, with monthly games and points adding up toward the shield. Ruth placed second at one point before finally winning in 2023. She describes herself as a dark horse, starting with a low handicap and aiming for a minimum score of 160, improving steadily from there.
Ava Buzzard
Ava Buzzard
Caroline Gould (Scally)
Caroline Gould (Scally)
Cecilia Waitohi
Cecilia Waitohi
Colleen Norris (Cary)
Colleen Norris (Cary)
Daphne Jones
Daphne Jones
Darryn Paul
Darryn Paul
Hilary McCormack
Hilary McCormack
Jean Monk
Jean Monk
Jeff (Jeffrey) Went
Jeff (Jeffrey) Went
Jennifer Brain (Shearer)
Jennifer Brain (Shearer)
Jim Monk
Jim Monk
John McRae
John McRae
Judy Clews
Judy Clews
Katherine Peri (Mead)
Katherine Peri (Mead)
Ken Jillings
Ken Jillings
Kevin Stokes
Kevin Stokes
Lee Bullivant
Lee Bullivant
Lyndon Malcolm
Lyndon Malcolm
Mary Johnson
Mary Johnson
Ngaire Doherty
Ngaire Doherty
Owen Gibbons
Owen Gibbons
Rae McKie (Oxspring)
Rae McKie (Oxspring)
Ray Whiting
Ray Whiting
Rex Chester
Rex Chester
Richard Peri
Richard Peri
Sen (Stewart) Smith
Sen (Stewart) Smith
Susan Hamilton
Susan Hamilton
Terry (Terence) Kane
Terry (Terence) Kane
William Waitohi
William Waitohi
Zane Climo
Zane Climo

Relevant Links

Taonga source:
Auckland Deaf Society
Reference number:
SignDNA – Deaf National Archive New Zealand, ADS1989-08-MJN
Copyright status:
This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Note:
This item has been compressed and/or edited.

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