Kathleen French (photo from the book – People of the Eye – Stories from the Deaf World by Rachel McKee and Bruce Connew)

It is really difficult to find any of the earliest Deaf woman during the Suffrage in New Zealand. Because no one thought about it and understand about the Suffrage.

I recalled Kathleen French through the Auckland Deaf Fellowship and Rev Edna Garner many years ago. She was a lovely and spiritual person who believe  in God again. Her parents were Salvation Army people down in Eltham, near New Plymouth.  Kathleen was a tailor when her mother found a job for her.

In the early days, Kathleen went to Van Asch School for the Deaf in Sumner, Christchurch, NZ. She does not sign in the early days and she learnt to speak in the classroom at the Van Asch. But she learnt to sign with her Deaf friends outside and away from the teachers.

Kathleen’s family were poor but they do not complain how the life at the home were. Her father did not accept Kathleen’s disability – deafness and he spent a lot of money on hearing aids for Kathleen. She hated the hearing aids. Kathleen’s parents took her to the church and she hated it because she had to sit on the bench, squirming around and getting bored. Remember in the old days, there was no interpreter or notes for any Deaf people.

Kathleen met her husband – Leslie who he went to Van Asch School earlier, at the Deaf Club in Auckland. Her mother said to her, you don’t know him well, because Kathleen and Leslie were together for five months before getting hitched. They have six hearing children and their life were tough in Auckland. Kathleen learnt how to look after their first child after leaving the hospital. One of the trick thing that she asked God even she never went to the church and it was a guidance. She moved the cot under the edge of the bed and when their child woke up, banged the cot so Kathleen felt the movement such as vibration.  Later on, Leslie and Kathleen had more children, and the older children lets Kathleen know when the baby is crying or in the need of changing nappy. Leslie was a not a good helper around the house even he did not pay Kathleen any money BUT she loved him to death.

When the children grew up and Kathleen took up a job as a tailor again. This time she earned her own money. She did not help the children for their homework because she did not know how to teach or explain. Her children did well throughout schools.

Kathleen found God again and she met a small group of Deaf people at the Deaf club in 1971. The first minister was Mr Fear and it was only just a short time because he could not cope with the Deaf people. Then Rev Edna Garner took over Mr Fear’s job and the group moved to the Aotea Chapel (the Methodist Mission) in Auckland.