Waikato Deaf Society Inc History

The Members of the Waikato Deaf Society Inc.

Started in 1956 in Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand

Brief Introduction of the members/committee Board – from the Deaf News Books (Newsletters from around New Zealand)

Jessie L Hughes nee Reyburn (Hearing) 1902-1983

Jessie married Allan R. H. Hughes in 1927 and had five children between 1928 and 1938: their youngest son, Allan John Hughes (John, as many Deaf people called him). Jessie’s husband died in 1953. Jessie, her son, and the members founded the Waikato Deaf Society in 1956. She served as the secretary and possibly a treasurer of the committee from 1956 to 1967.

Allan John Hughes (Deaf) 1938-2001

Many deaf people called him John instead of Allan. John was the youngest of Jessie and Allan R. H. Hughes and lived in Frankton, Waikato. John never married and led a quiet life.

Allan H. Dance (Deaf) 1920-2012

Allan was born in Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom. He came from Southampton, England, with his parents, three brothers, and four sisters in 1925. He was a farmhand in Komakorau, Raglan, and a storeman in Frankton, Waikato. Allan does not use communication in sign language, only speaking the language. He had an invisible disability – deafness through genetics in the family lines.

Leslie Wood (Deaf)

Leslie was the oldest male in the family of five siblings. His brothers were Gordon and Eric – the youngest son of the Wood family. Leslie and his brothers were deaf and related to Allan H. Dance as an Uncle in the genealogy.

Leslie married a Deaf lady of … and had one daughter (hearing) with experience in the Deaf community as a CODA (Children of the Deaf Adults). Leslie attended Van Asch School for the Deaf in Sumner, Christchurch, and Titirangi School for the Deaf, Auckland.

Gordon Wood (Deaf) 1932-2024

Gordon was Wood’s second son and Leslie Wood’s brother. He attended Van Asch School for the Deaf in Sumner, Christchurch, and Titirangi School for the Deaf in Auckland. He never married, and his jobs ranged from Storehand to?

Clive Lasenby (Deaf)

Clive was Vice President before 1980 and President in 1980. He attended Titirangi School for the Deaf.

Diane Lasenby nee Jackson (Deaf)

Was a secretary. She attended Titirangi School for the Deaf and Mount Wellington School for the Deaf.

John Gilmour (Deaf)

Keith W. Rae (Deaf) 1939-2024

Keith was a Vice president from 1956 to 1967.

Keith married a Deaf lady, and they have two hearing siblings as a CODA through the Deaf Community. He attended Titirangi School for the Deaf and Mount Wellington School for the Deaf. (?)

Olive Rae (Hearing) 1914- 2010

Olive and her husband William had two siblings, one of whom was Deaf—Keith Rae. Olive was a close friend of Jessie.

Gavin Appleby (Deaf) 1939-2017

He attended Titirangi School for the Deaf and Mount Wellington School for the Deaf.

David Owen McCorkindale (Hearing?) – 1995

Owen served as a long-time President from 1956 to 1972.

They had no children.

Noela McCorkindale

Ivan F. Churchfield (Hearing?) – 1986

Ivan married C, and they had siblings – 4 children. The youngest daughter is alive, and Jean will interview her by email.