Waikato Deaf Society Inc History

Recently, my partner Rusty, Gordon’s cousin Ace, and I had the privilege of exploring Gordon’s garage with the family’s permission. As we opened the garage door, we were greeted by a sight that took our breath away. It was like stepping into an Aladdin’s Cave, a space where Gordy had spent countless hours crafting and woodworking. I can still picture the beautiful wooden toys he made for the fundraising efforts of the Waikato Deaf Society Inc., tucked away in boxes with pride in the corner.

 It has been three weeks since Gordon left us, but his legacy lives on in the form of his toys, tools, and equipment. His woodworking bench, a collection of vintage toys, and well-used gardening tools all remain in the garage, a testament to his passion and craftsmanship. The responsibility of continuing his legacy, entrusted to a select few, is one we hold with great honour and respect. 

I was trying to remember when Gordy started making woodwork toys, but it was more likely around the 1960s-1980s. His deaf brother Leslie told me about wooden toys around the late 1980s. Leslie showed me a few wooden toys at his home in Hamilton East when I was a deaf delegate for the Deaf Association of NZ Hamilton Branch in the mid-1990s. I have seen Gordy’s woodwork on many crafts, from wheelbarrows to tables, several years before the Lockdown. Gordy spoke highly and was proud of his crafts, and he said it is time to give away if I know someone who wants his toys for their child/ren. He mentioned donating to my project – Waikato Deaf Society Inc 1956-1999 (dissolved 2004), or the Waikato Deaf Seniors group at my workplace occasionally. I told Gordy it was a decision that would be made with utmost care and respect, as it was up to the family to decide, a responsibility we hold with great honour.  

There were boxes filled with unfinished wooden toys, finished wooden toys with missing wheels, and bits and pieces of wooden toys needed to match what he was planning, for example, a double trailer for the truck or a car. In the midst of this treasure trove, I managed to find a nice train with a trailer and an unfinished truck with an odd trailer, each one a testament to Gordy’s skill and creativity. These were not just toys, but pieces of his heart and soul, carefully crafted for his loved ones. I selected them with his sister’s requests in mind, ensuring that each one would bring joy and memories. 

Ultimately, Rusty took Gordy’s tools, equipment, odd wood, and other bits away. Rusty said the rest was up to Robert ‘Ace’ in the following weeks. Ace took tools, equipment, good odd wood, unfinished trucks, trailers, toys, and other bits for his woodworking at his place in Eureka. Yes, Ace lives near us, as it is a small world. I took a couple of boxes of wooden toys without wheels and a train set at the same time with Ace. 

The job is not done, and we will be back to clean up his garage and seek any more useful unfinished toys, wheels in three or four ice cream containers up on the shelves. Ace is taking all the rubbish home to burn, for he has vast sections at home. 

I learned from Gordy that he had woodworking skills over many years, though he had supported and assisted him through me since his close deaf brother Leslie passed away. He was a deaf man with a good heart who let any children play with his wooden toys. But he was often grumpy and complained about wasting too much money, anyone he met at the hospital, most of the interpreters or staff. Deep down, Gordy had found someone to talk to Rusty or Ace about woodworking skills, construction, or building DIY.

Gordy’s family approved this story for this website. 10/05/2024