Mā mua ka kite a muri Mā muri ka ora a mua
Those who lead give sight to those who follow Those who follow give life to those who lead. Whakatauki.
From the day I was born deaf, that went unnoticed until my late grandmother told my mother about my hearing problem when I was eighteen months old. My deafness was the result of rubella; at the time, my mother went through the Second trimester via my sister got rubella. Oh gosh, fifty-eight years and counting…
I don’t usually write/type my life here to reflect on how far I managed to go through every year. I inputted my philosophy as a deaf blogger on this website, apart from The Dog’s Tales and Deaf International History sites.
Be mindful to understand how my life and my deaf with disabilities mark my journey to the present.
I am the second deaf child/person in the household of four children (note three other children are hearing). We lost a favourite father at six years old due to lung cancer (Asbestos) and left our mother with four children. I did not actually realise I was deaf until I was a teenager. Of course – silly me BUT every morning, I put on a pair of hearing aids before going to school or activity. This pair of hearing aids did not affect my understanding of my deafness until I realised it during my teenage stage.
My late grandparents on our father’s side were a great help when mum needed time out or went to work to earn income. Poppa (Shorty) taught me a fine yarn of stories, his skill in carpentry, dog, and taking me out to duck/rabbit shootings over the school holidays. I love visiting Ruakura Research Centre, where Poppa worked for many years. Of course, Mama (Biddy) spoiled rotten to me, for she knew I was deaf and taught me everything around home, sewing, knitting, gardens and met many other people until I realised these people were related to us at the time of her death. Beaches and farms were among my favourite places, but once I refused to go away with them, I was sick and threw up onto Mama’s rug. Oops! I don’t remember why I did this, for I was young. Mamma and Poppa took me out to see their friends who worked at Ruakura Research Centre outside Rotorua, and I enjoyed the company of their friend’s children. One of the memories was the giant mushrooms, and we held the largest mushrooms for the photoshoot by Mama. As well as holding ducks from duck shooting.
My sister and I played in the old playhouse – Dad built this old playhouse because we loved this place. We played with dolls as hairdressers, but I decided to cut our brothers’ hair. Yep, and poor mum was horrified to see that. Oh well, that us as what a mischief children! We love playing with our neighbours’ children, and I don’t recall how I managed to communicate with our neighbours’ children. We have had many pets, such as budgies, dogs, quails, one rabbit, a cat, and my brother’s two ferrets. I was waiting for mum to finish cleaning the house when I was about 5 years old, and I decided to walk to the dairy shop for lolly treats. Mum was aware until she got a phone call and was taken back how I walked to the shop without problem except for not having enough money for the lolly treats.
I went to three Deaf Units in Hamilton – Hamilton West Primary, Melville Intermediate and Melville High. I decided on the education by the Kelston Deaf Education-Specialised Education for Disabled children; I was not getting the benefit of learning from the Deaf Units and not having equally to other students in the ordinary classrooms, for example, examination to get an excellent job. I spoke to my mother, and we went to Hillcrest High, where my sister went. I recalled the principal – J Morrison, was a well-respected man, and I was accepted to enrol at Hillcrest High School with extra staff/equipment such as an FM Loop and a notetaker. I had to re-learn literacy and take up subjects in Form 5 (Years Eleven or Twelve?) in 1979. Because in our education system, there was a school certificate examination before taking up higher-level certificates. Yes, it was hard work with homework and timeframes from home and school. My mother and sister realised I had not learned more grammar at the Deaf Units Melville High School because the teachers had not done that. Yes, I passed SC (School Certificate exams) before completing the Sixth Form. I was the first deaf student at Hillcrest High School from 1979 to 1981.
In primary school, parents made the resources for the Deaf children until the funding came through. A means of transport to/from school was using the taxi service, while the MOE (Ministry of Education) paid the financing. With the Intermediate and High School in the Melville area, I caught the bus, and sometimes I rode the bike to/from school. Then I walked to/from Hillcrest High School or rode a bike.
I remember having a broken wrist at the primary school field, and I was pushed over by one of the Deaf boys. Oh, brilliant, there does the broken wrist as mum thought I sprained the wrist. Mum said to wait and see overnight if the pain went away or not. The following day, the pain was still there, and I told the taxi driver that we were going to the hospital about my wrist. Bummer! The doctor told mum that I had got three small bones broken in the wrist area, and I would need to have the wrist and forearm in plaster. That was the second accident I had, the previous accident was my tongue split in half, and mum and dad took me up to the hospital for surgery when I was under two years old. I still have a scar on my tongue. According to my mum, I fell out of the pram for some reason.
More to follow in Part Two…
Life in Eureka 