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1981
video – Taonga source: Manawatu Deaf Society

Joan Bailey films Deaf performing at the Palmerston North Telethon!

Local Manawatu Deaf people appear on Telethon to sign a song, after Joan Bailey films a range of Deaf people at their workplaces - a welder, spraypainter, seamstress, data entry clerk and joiner.
Manawatu Deaf Society
1982
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers: ‘Sailing’

The Sign Singers perform the hit song 'Sailing' broadcast on Stars on Sunday in May 1982. Ian Watkins, introduces the group by saying “…and I’m delighted to welcome back to the programme the deaf sign singers.”
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1982
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: Christmas 1982 (Vol. 5, No. 3)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
1988
video – Taonga source: Deaf Society of Canterbury

Black and White Fancy Dress Fundraiser for 1989 WGD Christchurch

The Black and White themed Fancy Dress party at Christchurch Deaf Society on 28th May 1988 was a fundraiser for the World Games for the Deaf. Creative members dressed-up as prisoners, punk rockers, Spanish costume dress with bolero, nuns, waitresses, and rugby league players!
Deaf Society of Canterbury
NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: January 1983 (Vol. 20, No. 1)

NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Terry Kane
  • Jeff Went
  • Pam Croskery
  • Janet Watt
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1982
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers: ‘Born Free’

The Sign Singers perform the song 'Born Free' broadcast on Stars on Sunday in June 1982.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1990-91
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Spring/Summer 1990/91 (Vol. 24. No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Hunt
  • Susie Ovens
1988
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Journal: July 1988 (Vol. 2, No. 2)

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
1984
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: June 1984 (Vol. 21, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Hunt
1988
article – Taonga source: NZ Woman’s Weekly

They’re naturals for the part

A production this month of the play Children of a Lesser God in Auckland will feature two deaf actors, Bryan Williams and Sheila Gibbons. And the starring role will be played, for the second time, by Gloss actress Miranda Harcourt.
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: July 1983

NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
  • Tony Walton
  • Jeff Went
  • John Hunt
biography
Profile

Mary Johnson (MNZM)

Mary has contributed to the Deaf community as a hardworking and willing volunteer for over 50 years. She was recognised in the 2010 New Years Honours list when she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM). She was a founding member of the Otago Deaf Society, where she served as president, and was also a founding member of the Manawatu Deaf Club.
1984
article – Taonga source: Southern News

Helping deaf to communicate

There is still much lack of understanding among the general public about the needs of deaf people, says Pat Dugdale, field officer in Wellington for the New Zealand Association of the Deaf.
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Tony Walton
  • John Hunt
  • Shona McGhie
1984
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers perform on the ‘In South Tonight’ programme – Dunedin 1984

The Sign Singers tour the South Island for Deaf Awareness in 1984, and are invited to perform on ‘In South Tonight’ while in Dunedin.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1985
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: Easter 1985 (Vol. 8, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1981
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers: ‘I Hear Your Hand’

The Sign Singers perform the song 'I Hear Your Hand' for the Stars on Sunday programme.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1990
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: February 1990

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • Terry Kane
  • Doug Croskery
  • Jeff Went
  • Ruth Jessep
  • John Mansell
1982
article – Taonga source: NZ Woman’s Weekly

Mime put to use

Susie Ovens, born 97% deaf, uses mime as one of the many methods to relate to the hearing world. She is also a member of the “Deaf Sign Singers”, a group of 11 deaf people who perform sign language to music.
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
  • Milton Reedy
1981
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers at Telethon 1981

The popular Sign Singers are the first act to perform at the 1981 Telethon Live at the Auckland Town Hall.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1981
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers perform Silent Night

The Sign Singers perform the famous carol 'Silent Night' for the Stars on Sunday programme.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1984
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers perform at Dunedin Deaf Club

The Sign Singers perform at the Dunedin Deaf Club in front of Deaf members and their friends.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1985
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Telethon 1985

The Sign Singers perform ‘You’re My Sunshine’ at the 1985 Telethon.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1986
video – Taonga source: Ngaire Doherty

A ‘Mime and Masks’ show by Deaf Drama Group: A Visit to Kiwiland

A Deaf Drama group perfoms 'A Visit to Kiwiland' at Kelston with supporting acts by the Sign Singers. The evening fundraised $766.00 towards the purchase of a TTY and to sponsor two pupils from Kelston to attend the World Deaf Games in Christchurch 1989.
Ngaire Doherty
NZSL Stories
  • Jeff Went
  • Pam Croskery
  • Tony Walton
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: October 1983 (Vol. 20, No. 4)

NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Jonathan Anton
  • Terry Kane
  • Jeff Went
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Hunt
  • Janet Watt
1982
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers: ‘Oh What a Beautiful Day’

The Sign Singers perform 'Oh What a Beautiful Day' broadcast on Stars on Sunday in February 1983.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1989
publication – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

Auckland Deaf Society newsletter: December 1989

Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Terry Kane
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Hunt
  • Jeff Went
  • Shona McGhie
  • Ruth Jessep
  • Colleen Norris
The Sign Singing Superstars
The Sign Singing Superstars
The Sign Singing Superstars
Est. 1980s
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE

The Sign Singing Superstars

Throughout the early 1980s, the New Zealand Deaf community created two sign singing supergroups: The Sign Singers from Auckland, and The Silent Singers from Christchurch. These two groups pioneered Sign Singing as an art form and gained considerable public admiration for their efforts. Both groups made appearances on national Telethon events, and the Auckland group also were regulars on the Stars on Sunday programme, making more appearances than any other single group.
1981
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: June 1981 (Vol. 18, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • Colleen Norris
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Hunt
  • Milton Reedy
  • John Mansell
1982
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Sign Singers: ‘Harmony’

The Sign Singers perform 'Harmony' broadcast on Stars on Sunday in February 1983. They are introduced in sign language, in one of the first examples of a non-Deaf person signing on prime time television.
Dulcie McKie
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1990
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald

Singing and signing

The price in being part of the 600-strong Commonwealth Games opening ceremony choir as they use sign language to sing is evident.