The Australasian Deaf and Dumb Association (ADDA) was established at the first national ‘Congress’ in Melbourne, in December 1903-January 1904.

This was the Programme booklet for the Congress.

The ADDA published this small booklet of “Rules”, which was similar to a Constitution.

On p. 1 they have a list of “Objects”, beginning with:

“To unite the deaf and dumb and all interested in their welfare.”

This was the ADDA’s logo. The Latin phrase can be translated as “To educate and elevate”.

By the 1920s, the ADDA was declining. At a conference in Sydney, a group of hearing and deaf men discussed the purpose and future of ADDA. This photo shows some of those who were present.

(Can you identify these men? Let us know!)

This is the record of the meeting held in Sydney in 1922. It is an interesting account of the views of several key people (e.g., Fletcher Booth, Robert Luff, James Johnston, Samuel Showell – all deaf; and hearing men who had prominent roles in the Deaf Societies, such as Ernest Abraham, Alfred Lonsdale and others.

By the early 1930s, many deaf people were becoming restless and ready to consider a national organisation again. This circular was distributed by two NSW deaf leaders in 1931.

The Australian Association for the Advancement of the Deaf (AAAD) was formed at a meeting in Sydney in 1932. This was their first Council. All of them were deaf except John Paul and Herbert Hersee, and the Council included two deaf women. Standing (L to R): Ernest Quinnell (NSW), R. H. Lambert (Vic), J Allardice (Qld), John Paul (Qld, G. D. Harrison (Qld). Seated (L to R): William Crush (Vic), Martha Overend Wilson (Qld), Herbert Hersee (NSW), Fletcher Booth (NSW), Isabel Winn (NSW).

This is the text of a presentation given by Alf Eaton, a deaf man from Queensland, at an AAAD congress in Sydney in 1933. It is a very forthright description of the role of a national Deaf organisation, especially in an environment where it faces opposition (e.g., from the Deaf Societies of the time).

The first annual report of the Australian Association for the Advancement of the Deaf.

This was the Constitution developed by AAAD. It is interesting to see how they defined their membership (who could join and who they represented), and compare this to other national deaf organisations over time.

This proposed constitution was for the organisation established by Deaf Societies in opposition to the Australian Association of the Advancement for the Deaf. It was usually known as the National Council of the Deaf (NCOD). Deaf people such as Frank Frewin are listed as members of the Council. While deaf people in NSW and Queensland had to choose between their Deaf Society and the local breakaway, Victoria never had a breakaway. It is interesting to speculate where the loyalties might have been in Victoria, had there been a choice to make. It is unclear whether this constitution was ever adopted.

Hostilities between the AAAD and the National Council increased. This circular was distributed to AAAD members by Martha Overend Wilson of Queensland in 1936 or 1937, calling for “unity” amidst the conflict.

At the Australian Deaf Games in Adelaide, 1977, there was a meeting of deaf leaders to “consider the formation of a national body of the deaf.” This group agreed – almost unanimously – that it would not be a good idea to set up a national deaf organisation at that time. They seemed to prefer to let the Deaf Societies represent them, and were concerned about possible conflict with the Deaf Societies.

This gathering was at the Australian Deaf Games in Melbourne – this time the deaf representatives agreed it was time to set up a national body, and elected a Steering Committee

This is the record of the meeting at which AAD was established in 1986.

AAD’s first magazine included information about some of their activities and plans

This was AAD’s first Constitution – so it is possible to compare the Constitutions of all of Australia’s national Deaf organisations during the 20th century.