Hilary Strang McCormack CNZM (31 December 1934 – 12 December 2022)[1] was a New Zealand advocate for the Deaf community. She was president and patron of the New Zealand Association of the Deaf, and a strong supporter of New Zealand Sign Language. In 1998 McCormack was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the deaf.
Hilary McCormack | |
|---|---|
| Born | 31 December 1934 |
| Died | 12 December 2022 |
| Alma mater | Van Asch Deaf Education Centre |
| Awards | Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit |
Early life and education
editMcCormack had meningitis when she was seven, and became profoundly deaf "almost overnight" as a result.[2] McCormack attended the Sumner School for the Deaf (later Van Asch College), for a year, where she was a weekly boarder and learned to lip read.[2] At that time sign language was not used or taught at the school, so McCormack relied on lipreading and interpreters throughout her life.[3][2]
Work
editDespite not using sign language, McCormack was a strong supporter of New Zealand Sign Language.[2] She led the establishment of the NZSL Dictionary.[3] McCormack also advocated for government funding for a NZ Relay Service, providing relay services for deaf people and people with other communication difficulties.[3]
McCormack was President and Patron of the New Zealand Association of the Deaf.[3] In 1987 she was elected to the executive of the Disabled Person's Assembly, which had been formed in 1983.[4][5]
McCormack served on the Board of Trustees for Van Asch College and from 1992 to 1993 served as Chair.[3]
Honours and awards
editIn the 1998 New Year Honours, McCormack was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the deaf.[6]
In 2020 McCormack was awarded the New Zealand Sign Language Awards' Supreme Long-standing Service Award.[7]
McCormack was awarded life membership of the Canterbury Deaf Society.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Hilary MCCORMACK Obituary (1934–2023) – Christchurch, Canterbury – The Press". Legacy.com. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d "'Inside Out' interviews Hilary McCormack: Deaf education, advocacy and technology". SignDNA – Deaf National Archive New Zealand. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Remembering Hilary McCormack". Ko Taku Reo. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "Home – Disabled Persons Assembly NZ – DPA". www.dpa.org.nz. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ Hilary, McCormack (1987). "Network Communications". NFD Journal. 1 (1): 11.
- ^ "New Year Honours List 1998 | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC)". www.dpmc.govt.nz. 31 December 1997. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "In memoriam – Hilary McCormack". Deaf Aotearoa. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
External links
edit- Remembering Hilary McCormack 1934–2022, (in New Zealand Sign Language), via Vimeo