HomePublicationsNFD Journal: March 1988 (Vol. 2, No. 1)

NFD Journal: March 1988 (Vol. 2, No. 1)

Some of the items featured in the March 1988 issue of ‘NFD Journal:

  • Deaf people are able to book their own flights, by ringing Ansett Airlines via TTY. They recently installed a teleprinter telephone in their Auckland booking office. 
  • NZAD’s Living Skills Centre in Auckland became a reality, taking its first clients in October 1987. 
  • Joan Bailey, the ever dependable Manawatu Deaf Society correspondent gives an indepth breakdown on the Club’s doings, saying that their Christmas Social was where “there were more young deaf there than ‘Golden Oldies’ – Yes, we are sadly getting outnumbered by the young fry.”
  • All Civil Defence and emergency announcements from TVNZ will now have to carry written subtitles.
  • ‘The Magic Park’ created in 1986 by Deaf children at Kelston has been turned into a small film and promoted. 
  • Rachel Locker, funded by the Roy McKenzie Foundation on a study trip to the USA, reports back on her Californian trip, with a copy of ‘Introduction to New Zealand Sign Language’ by Dan Levitt presented She says a lot of interest was expressed in NZ Sign Language, due to New Zealand’s forthcoming host of the World Games for the Deaf in January 1989. 
  • Brian Whalley and Sheila Gibbons, two Deaf actors, have their first opportunity to appear on the stage in ‘Children of a Lesser God.’
  • TVNZ replies to the Deaf community’s frustration about the lengthy vacation break for News Review over the Christmas period, saying “…a shorter recess for News Review will be considered when schedules are being drawn up for December 1988, January and February 1989.”
  • An excerpt from Phil Thompson’s paper presented at the NFD Combined Conference in June 1987, “The use of computers and telecommunications at Kelston School for Deaf Children”.
  • Deaf Organisations
  • TV/Media
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: 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.
Taonga source:
National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Reference number:
SignDNA – Deaf National Archive New Zealand, NFDJ1988-2-1-MJN
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