By Luke Voogt
Geelong Deaf Social Group will celebrate 50 years of connecting people across the city at a Batesford luncheon this weekend.
The Indy visited a Geelong West home on Monday where the dedicated group of locals were busily planning the weekend’s half-century celebrations.
“We’re all very excited – it’s fantastic,” said group president Mary Stewart.
“It’s the longest-running deaf club in regional Victoria.”
The 65-year-old from Grovedale has been part of the group for more than 40 years.
“Deaf people are scattered all over Geelong and miss being able to communicate with other deaf people,” she said.
Mary joined the group, then Geelong Deaf Ladies Auxiliary, when she was teaching AUSLAN to parents and carers for them to sign with deaf children.
The group holds social functions and product forums for deaf people and has fluctuated between 20 and 35 people over the 50 years.
Belmont’s Charlie Claxton became the club’s first male president and helped keep the group alive when numbers were down.
“It was looking a bit grim – we’ve really fought over the last ten years to keep the group going,” the 68-year-old said.
Charlie joined 16 years ago after retiring from working in mattress and car factories, when he found he had more time on his hands.
As the current vice president he loves going on outings and meeting people through the group, and is determined to keep doing so.
He said he felt “a connection and respect” for inaugural group president Gert Hennessy and four other local women who established the group in 1968.
