NZ Deaf News: March 1976 (Vol. 13, No. 4)

Some of the items featured in the March 1976 (Vol. 13, No. 4) issue of ‘New Zealand Deaf News’:

NZ Deaf Sports team tour of Australia – a team of 30 deaf players representing New Zealand left on 25 December 1975, playing netball, table tennis, basketball, golf – playing at Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. The formal Trans-Tasman ceremony was on 9 January 1975.
The tables turned on the Canterbury Deaf Club’s single and men’s married game, with the singles finally beating the married men 7-0, the first time they’ve won in 5 years.
The establishment of a national body is considered important as the main function of this group will be to direct Government representation or communication on our behalf. It will, hopefully, give deaf people an united voice that the Government will listen to.
Annual picnic results from Auckland Deaf Society, Waikato Deaf Club, Manawatu Deaf Society and Christchurch Deaf Club.
An article on Total Communication used in Melbourne Deaf education. Many people seemed keen to see TC introduced in New Zealand, with the high language level of deaf children at Victoria a great incentive!

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: Richard Hay

From Behind the Camera to Bodybuilding Runner-Up: Richard’s First Deaf Society Picnic!

Richard reminisces about his first Auckland Deaf Society picnic at Long Bay in 1990. At just 18 years old, he was full of excitement – and luckily, he had borrowed his mum’s video camera to capture the day, including the infamous tug-of-war! Encouraging others to take turns filming, he documented the fun while stepping out of his comfort zone. Despite his shyness, he even took part in the bodybuilding show, and to his surprise, placed second!

NZSL story – Taonga source: Doug Croskery

Wenderholm, Long Bay and a Trophy on the Side!

Doug shares his favourite Auckland Deaf Society picnic locations, Wenderholm Park and Long Bay. The club used them on alternate years and both had big grassy spaces, plenty of shade and easy access to swimming. Doug also talks about how he won the Oliver Trophy for Step Distance with a clever strategy. Later, he shared his secret with his wife, who went on to win the trophy two years later. Doug came in a close second and took the loss happily.

NZSL story – Taonga source: Pam Croskery

From Eggs to Gumboots: Classic ADS Picnic Games

Pam recalls her favourite games from the Auckland Deaf Society picnics. One standout was the pea-spitting contest, where someone’s false teeth famously flew out mid-spit! Other popular events included messy raw egg challenges, gumboot throwing, and even bodybuilding competitions. Club picnics were often held at Long Bay.

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

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: Pam Croskery

The Oliver Trophy Challenge: One Step at a Time

The Oliver Trophy – Step Distance is a well-known award at the Auckland Deaf Society annual picnic. Open to men and women aged 40 and over, the goal is to match a set distance as closely as possible. Each year, the distance changes. In 2004, when Pam Croskery won, the target was 43 metres. Everyone had their own strategy to get as close as they could!

Allan Simpson

Ann Bennett

Barbara Hazelwood (O’Neill)

Barbara Hazelwood (O’Neill)

Barbara Lawrence

Barbara Lawrence

Bill (William) Katu

Bill (William) Katu

Bruce McHattie

Claire Liddicoat

Claire Liddicoat

Colleen Norris (Cary)

Colleen Norris (Cary)

Danny (Daniel) Beech

Danny (Daniel) Beech

Darcy Dale

Diane Burch

Douglas Ashley

Gloria Fage

Graham Thomas

Janet Watt

John Chandler

John Lovett

John McRae

John Schischka

Jonathan Anton

Kath Smith

Kathleen French

Kathleen French

Keith Gordon

Ken Brain

Kevin Lawrence

Lance Manning

Laurie Schischka

Laurie Schischka

Lesley Schischka (Wratt)

Lesley Schischka (Wratt)

Margaret Coutts

Margaret Coutts

Mary Johnson

Owen Gibbons

Peter F Murray

Polly Fechney

Royce Flynn

Sen (Stewart) Smith

Sen (Stewart) Smith

Terry Stead

Terry Walbran

Taonga source:

New Zealand Deaf News

Reference number:

SignDNA – Deaf National Archive New Zealand, DN1976-13-4-MJN

Copyright status:

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

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