Going through photos and newspaper clippings at work today as I ponder the planning of a list to do while preserving the Waikato Deaf Society Inc here. I came across these two photocopies in the folders by late L. Wood.

I remember these two ladies – the late Olive Rae and Elanie Wallace over many years in Waikato. They were a great example of mentors and supporters to the Waikato Deaf Society Inc from late 1956 to the 2000s. I remember fading the late Jean Pearce through Waikato Deaf Club around the late 1980s or 1990s before I went overseas.

Let’s start with Olive Rae and her closet friend – Elaine Wallace. Olive married William Rae and had two children. One of their two children is a deaf son. Their deaf son married a deaf lady and has two children. Olive was intensely involved with establishing a Waikato Deaf Society Inc and supported many Deaf people and their families for many years. One of Olive’s friends was Lina Nowicki, who Lina had deaf with CP (Cerebral Palsy) plus a speech-impaired son. Lina was intensely involved with the Waikato Deaf Society Inc as well. Olive and Lina helped many Deaf members with finances, setting up events, making phone calls and other involvement within the Waikato and New Zealand communities.

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world. – Mahatma Gandhi”

Jean Pearce was an artist and spent many times in Deaf Clubs. The last time she lived was in Matamata to be near her family for many years, and her death came recently, not long after Eric Wood’s death this year.

The planning list I am working on is to meet and interview the Deaf elderly people of Waikato by talking about their old times, going through naming the people in the photos and photocopies for the record, making the times to meet and chat, bringing my video for interviewing and of course permission letters. I have got someone who is making contact with their old Deaf friends and bringing together photos.

A small donation would be appreciation toward the Deaf History project, work hours, and preparing research and materials.