Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: August 1991

Some of the items featured in Auckland Deaf Society’s August 1991 newsletter:

Sen Smith has been the first Deaf person in New Zealand to be awarded the N.Z.A.D. Deaf Achiever’s Award for his many years of voluntary work with the Deaf community, both in Auckland and on national level with the NZ Deaf Sports Association. He is the only New Zealander – Deaf or hearing – ever to win five National Titles for indoor bowls.
It is confirmed that the NZ Deaf News will still carry on, but contributions are requested for news, e.g. babies born, weddings, deaths, holidays, jokes, penfriends, etc.
The Auckland Branch of the N.Z. Network Communication Committee has closed down. It has been suggested that an updated directory for TTY owners is made in the form of a booklet. Please submit your contact details.

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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: 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: John Hunt

Establishing the ‘NZ Deaf News’ in 1962

John Hunt's involvement with NZ Deaf News spanned 23 years. Upon moving to New Zealand in 1962, he was surprised to find out that there was no NZ Deaf News at a time where radio and TV (which was inaccessible for Deaf people) were one of the main medium of news. He established the NZ Deaf News publication with a group of 10 people. The first issue was only 8 pages and with donations, the next one was 16 pages. It grew exponentially and was the place to go for Deaf-related news.

NZSL story – Taonga source: John Mansell

Part 3: Making a Statement in Christchurch

In 1986, John moved to Christchurch for work as a supervisor and continued refereeing. He was warmly welcomed into the local rugby league scene and received several awards for his efforts. In one memorable game on the outskirts of Christchurch, a hearing coach was badmouthing John from the sideline. John caught it from the corner of his eye, blew the whistle, and firmly told the coach to be quiet using clear gestures. The coach was stunned that a Deaf referee had spotted it. The crowd erupted in support. After the match, John simply said, “Deaf can do it.”

NZSL story – Taonga source: John Mansell

Part 2: Refereeing Across Regions – Hawke’s Bay to Wellington

After his time with the Auckland Rugby League Referees Association, John moved to Hawke’s Bay where he continued refereeing while settling into a new job. He quickly adapted to their systems and wasn’t shy about calling out fights or handing out penalties. His gestures were sharp and clear, especially when sending someone to the sin bin for ten minutes. Later, he moved to Wellington where his name was already known. Although there was some hesitation at first, John worked hard to ease concerns and became a popular and respected referee. Clubs often invited him to events, but he kept things modest and only accepted one pint.

NZSL story – Taonga source: John Mansell

Part 1: John’s First Whistle – A Deaf Ref Takes the Field

John shares how he got into rugby league refereeing after approaching a ref at his local Glenora Bears club, where he used to play. His first game was in Manurewa, and both teams were told in advance that the referee was deaf. The match was even filmed, with none other than the Mad Butcher, Peter Leitch, watching from the sidelines keeping a close eye on John. He rose to the challenge. John used clear, sharp signals and wasn’t afraid to use his voice to keep the game moving. He even added some of his own flair – a bold “I’ve had enough!” gesture. He got a big thumbs up from the Mad Butcher and was later picked to referee the final of the season. That same year, he was also given an award for his refereeing.

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: 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.

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: John Mansell

Part 4: Flying the Flag as a Deaf Referee

In 1990, John was stunned to be selected as the New Zealand XV referee for an international tour to England and France. He embraced the experience, swapped ties with other referees, and visited the Leeds Deaf Club. England won the match 25 to 11. Later, John passed a refereeing exam to move up a level and went on to officiate another international between New Zealand and France, where France won by just one point. No issues were raised about his performance. He was proud to show that a Deaf referee could do the job just as well as anyone else.

NZSL story – Taonga source: Tony Walton

Tony Walton on Building a More Accessible Deaf Aotearoa

Tony reflects on his involvement with the New Zealand Association of the Deaf (now Deaf Aotearoa). In 1989, during the World Deaf Games, New Zealand had only two or three qualified NZSL interpreters – a serious shortage. NZDSA was strongly sign-based, while the NZAD board leaned more oral. After the Games, Tony joined NZAD as a delegate to learn how it worked, eventually becoming President. His focus was on Deaf youth, leading to the creation of Friends of Young Deaf (FYD), better Māori engagement and involvement with more NZSL interpreters. One key goal was to have 13 interpreters nationwide, giving every major town and city access. Interpreter pay and access were limited back then – very different from today.

NZSL story – Taonga source: Tony Walton

From New Lynn to Avondale: A Necessary Move

Tony served as President of the New Zealand Association of the Deaf from 1999 to 2003. At the time, the focus was on supporting Deaf youth – not relocating. But when asbestos was discovered in the ceiling of the New Lynn building, with removal costs estimated at $600,000, a major decision had to be made. With support from a funder willing to underwrite the risk, the building was sold and a new location was secured. The Avondale office officially opened in November 1999.

Andrew Vickery

Arona Amosa

Craig McKeogh

Craig Nixon

Danny (Daniel) Beech

Danny (Daniel) Beech

Jeff (Jeffrey) Went

Jeff (Jeffrey) Went

Jennifer Brain (Shearer)

Jennifer Brain (Shearer)

John Hunt

John McRae

Kathleen French

Kathleen French

Kelly Hohaia

Ken Brain

Lee Bullivant

Marion Forrest (Butcher)

Marion Forrest (Butcher)

Ngaire Doherty

Paul Walters

Penny Went (Clements)

Penny Went (Clements)

Sen (Stewart) Smith

Sen (Stewart) Smith

Relevant Links

Auckland Deaf Society

Taonga source:

Auckland Deaf Society

Reference number:

SignDNA – Deaf National Archive New Zealand, ADS1991-08-MJN

Copyright status:

This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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