NFD Communicate: March 1992

Some of the items featured in the March 1992 (Vol 2. No. 5) issue of ‘NFD Communicate’:

Deaf View 1991 – a weekend of several firsts – Deaf Māori in powhiri, 1st Conference for the Deaf, live captioning of speeches, culturally Deaf guest speaker and Deaf New Zealanders leading workshops.
End of an era – NZAD without Ken Jillings? After more than 30 years, Ken has been a part of the Deaf world and is retiring to a life of peaceful fishing and maybe even some golf!
Deaf woman of the Year 1991 – Jane Butler
Jennifer Brain, Pat Dugdale and Sonya Logan wrote an article on the difference between NZSL and Total Communication. A major aim of NZAD and NFD is to have NZSL recognised as an official language.
‘The sounds of silence’ – an excerpt from an article on Jennifer Brain in the NZ Herald.
An advertisement for the Schools for the Deaf 50th Jubilee, with wine & cheese evening at $10.00; the Saturday fathering at $7.00, and dinner & ball at the Avondale Racecourse at $40.00.
Scores from the NZ Deaf Games for the Deaf in Dunedin 1991, with golf, table tennis, basketball and ten pin bowling. Auckland was the winner of the Aotearoa Turi shield.

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.

NZSL story – Taonga source: Patreena Bryan

Titirangi School for the Deaf: Going home for the holidays

Patreena Bryan, an ex-Titirangi School for the Deaf student reminisces when students would be going home for the holidays, and how they'd all wake up at 5am in excitement for the day (and holidays) ahead!

NZSL story – Taonga source: Susie Ovens

Switching Between Modes: Total Communication on Stage, NZSL Off

Susie Ovens shares her memories of the well-known Deaf Sign Singers group founded by Dulcie McKie, which used a Total Communication approach. She knew it wasn’t natural signing, and the group would often relax and switch to NZSL during breaks. Still, Susie recalls the performances having a strong impact, especially on hearing audiences who were moved by the group's energy and visual expressions.

NZSL story – Taonga source: Shona McGhie

Shona McGhie and the Magic of the Auckland Sign Singers

Shona McGhie reflects on her time with the Auckland Sign Singers, a group that helped raise awareness of Deaf culture and showed what Deaf performers could do. Rehearsals were often held at Dulcie McKie’s home, with support from Mac McKie and Gavin Gibbons. Shona recalls her favourite song and the challenge of remembering over 25 routines. It was a busy time full of travel, performance, and connection, and a chapter she looks back on fondly.

NZSL story – Taonga source: John Mansell

Kelston on Tour: A Hard-Fought Win in Russell

John shares a memorable rugby trip with Kelston School for the Deaf to play in Russell in 1961, coached by teachers Aspen and Brown. After taking the ferry from Paihia, students were billeted with local families. John’s hosts were baffled when they saw him doing press-ups to get ready for the game. After watching the girls' netball match, it was his turn on the field, playing as hooker. Kelston came out strong, scoring a try straight away. John added another try later, sealing a 9-6 win for Kelston in a game that turned rough by halftime.

Angus McDonald

Ann Croy

Beth Titter

Breda Carty

Danny (Daniel) Beech

Danny (Daniel) Beech

Dulcie McKie

Hilary McCormack

Hilary McCormack

Jane Butler

Jennifer Brain (Shearer)

Jennifer Brain (Shearer)

Jenny Kirk

Kathy Hassan

Ken Brain

Ken Jillings

Kevin Stokes

Linda Prouse

Mary Johnson

Maureen Seth

Megan Mansfield

Megan Mansfield

Michael May

Miranda Harcourt

Miranda Harcourt

Ngaire Doherty

Noel Bow

Pat Dugdale

Pat Te Paa

Patreena Bryan (Barningham)

Patreena Bryan (Barningham)

Robyn Carter

Sonya Logan

Sue Williams

Susan Hamilton

Relevant Links

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Taonga source:

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Reference number:

SignDNA – Deaf National Archive New Zealand, NFDC1992-2-5-MJN

Copyright status:

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

Note:

This item has been compressed and/or edited.

If you liked this, you might also like...

article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Split over how to teach deaf worries parent

Parents of deaf children would be saddened to hear that educationists oppose teaching deaf pupils the technique of "total communication", a parent has stated in a letter to the Post.

Object – Taonga source: Hawkes Bay Deaf Club

Souvenir Paperweight: Deaf View Conference, November 1991

Hawkes Bay Deaf Club

article – Taonga source: The Dominion

An actor learns about being deaf

Children Of A Lesser God, a play that tackles the communication problems faced by deaf people, opens at Circa tomorrow night. Suzanne Pollard talks to two of the cast about their roles.

Aotearoa New Zealand Deaf History: Classroom lesson plans

Aotearoa New Zealand Deaf History: Classroom lesson plans

Aotearoa New Zealand Deaf History: Classroom lesson plans

COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE

Aotearoa New Zealand Deaf History: Classroom lesson plans

SignDNA has created six lesson plans that can guide learners through some themes within the archive, such as language change, Deaf gatherings, and Deaf in the media.

article – Taonga source: The Dominion

Communicating from a silent world

Jenny Griffiths, the mother of two profoundly deaf children, talks about communicating with them in Total Communication.

article – Taonga source: Wellington Deaf Society

Letter to the Editor: Deaf Demand

The Wellington Association for Deaf Children writes to the editor covering Total Communication, the difficulties in the school system, the need for an interpreting training programme, and the need for deaf people to make their own decisions.

Wellington Deaf Society

publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: March 1980 (Vol. 3, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

article – Taonga source: NZ Listener

Communication

Whakatane teacher Ruth Gerzon looks at some of the problems facing the deaf, in particular the controversy on how they should be taught.

article – Taonga source: The Evening Post

Specialist in deaf education on NZ visit

From the day a child is diagnosed as being profoundly deaf, he should learn the system of "total communication," advocates Australian educationist Mr Brian Reynolds.

Deaf View conferences

Deaf View conferences

Deaf View conferences

COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE

Deaf View conferences

The series of national Deaf View conferences have been organised by Deaf people in New Zealand spanning three decades. Each conference has successfully created a platform for better awareness and understanding of Deaf culture and NZSL language; and nurturing links for a stronger Deaf community at a local, national and international level. They also celebrated the rich achievements and diversity of the Deaf community over the past 30 years as well as often pointing the way forwards, for a better resourced and more empowered Deaf community.