Travelling to Wellington for NZ Deaf Sports Convention, 1951

1951
  • Deaf Sports
A group of Auckland Deaf travel to and from Wellington for the New Zealand Deaf Sports Convention during Labour Weekend, 1951.
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A group of Auckland Deaf travel to and from Wellington for the New Zealand Deaf Sports Convention during Labour Weekend, 1951. Deaf people are seen frolicking around in their cars, and having a jolly good time! Road trips such as this one became the norm for the Deaf Community from the early 1950s as the annual Deaf Sports Convention was hosted in different cities throughout New Zealand, giving the community incentive to travel to catch up with old friends, and to compete in competitions, many of which continue to this day.

Although there was a tug-o-war match in this video, it wasn’t until the formal ’75th Jubilee Memorial Shield’ was set up in 1955 for tug-o-matches.

NZSL story – Taonga source: John Mansell

Dressed to Represent at the NZ Deaf Sports Convention

John recalls how athletes travelling to Deaf Sports Conventions, such as the one in Christchurch in 1968, were required to dress formally, including wearing ties. Both athletes and supporters wore rosettes to show their club. These were removed during games but worn again afterward. On the final evening, swapping rosettes was a tradition. John still has a few at home.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Kevin Pivac

A Sleepless Train Ride to and from Wellington for the Sports Convention

In 1972, Kevin played basketball for the Auckland Deaf Society at the Deaf Sports Convention in Wellington, where the team took home the Cunniffe Cup. The Auckland group travelled by overnight train, with one carriage packed full of Deaf people. Sleep was scarce with constant chatting and playing with the lights. Alcohol was banned on trains at the time, but on the return trip on Monday night, a friend met them at Paekākāriki and dropped off a crate, which they secretly brought into the carriage!
Taonga source:
Auckland Deaf Society
Produced by:
John McRae
Original format:
5" 8mm
Reference number:
SignDNA – Deaf National Archive New Zealand, ADS06-01-OTH51
Note:
This item has been compressed and/or edited.