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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
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: February 1984

NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • John Hunt
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1983
article – Taonga source: NZ Herald

Sign Language Puts The Deaf in Tune

The Deaf Sign Singers have a busy schedule this year with performances throughout the North Island.
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
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
article – Taonga source: Central Leader

Deaf singers in song

For the last 15 months, the Independent Theatre of the Deaf has performed in venues all over Auckland as the Deaf Sign Singers.
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • Pam Croskery
  • Jeff Went
  • Janet Watt
  • John Hunt
  • Susie Ovens
  • Terry Kane
  • Tony Walton
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
1990
video – Taonga source: Dulcie McKie

Welcome 1990 Haere Mai!

The Auckland Sign Singers were invited to perform with others in a three-hour entertainment special to celebrate 1990 which was broadcast live from Bastion Point on TV One at 7.30pm.
Dulcie McKie
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
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.
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
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1992
publication – Taonga source: National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

NFD Communicate: March 1992

National Foundation for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Patreena Bryan
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Mansell
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
  • Jeff Went
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1982
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

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

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre
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
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: July 1983

NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Hunt
  • Jeff Went
  • Shona McGhie
1981
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • Milton Reedy
  • Colleen Norris
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Mansell
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Hunt
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
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
Telethons
Telethons
Telethons
1970s onwards
COLLECTIONS – CURATED BY SIGNDNA: DEAF NATIONAL ARCHIVE

Telethons

Telethons were run nationwide in New Zealand in 1975-79, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1990-91, 1993 and 2009. The 24-hour fundraiser would take place in regions around New Zealand and was broadcast on TV. Viewers would be shown coverage of the telethon nearest to their location. Smaller regions would typically see coverage of the telethon in one of the main centres (Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch or Dunedin), and it was in those areas where Deaf people were invited to participate.
1989
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: Spring 1989 (Vol. 23, No. 3)

NZSL Stories
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Hunt
  • Tony Walton
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
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1984
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • John Hunt
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
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
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
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
  • Shona McGhie
  • John Hunt
1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

NZ Deaf News: March 1983 (Vol. 20, No. 2)

NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • Susie Ovens
  • John Hunt
  • Shona McGhie
  • Jeff Went
1983
publication – Taonga source: New Zealand Deaf News

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

NZSL Stories
  • Tony Walton
  • John Hunt
  • Shona McGhie
  • Jeff Went
  • Terry Kane
  • Janet Watt
  • Susie Ovens
2015
video – Taonga source: Auckland Deaf Society

History through Young Eyes: Interview with Susie Ovens

A Tu Kokiri student interviews Susie Ovens on her involvement with the infamous Deaf Sign Singers group.
Auckland Deaf Society
NZSL Stories
  • Susie Ovens
  • Shona McGhie
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
  • Shona McGhie
  • Susie Ovens
1981
publication – Taonga source: St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre

Ephpheta: March 1981 (Vol. 4, No. 1)

St Dominic’s Catholic Deaf Centre