Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Bronwyn Watson has brought communication to the deaf in my community. It started 30 years ago when her niece, Anna, was born profoundly deaf. When Jenny, Bronwyn's sister, went back to work, Bronwyn looked after Anna, along with her own two children. Bronwyn soon became passionate about deaf peoples' access to sign language and twice did the only course, that was six weeks long, offered at the Lismore TAFE. This put her on the road to becoming a sign language interpreter. Bronwyn, along with another interpreter, Karen Lloyd, formed a group called sign interpreters north coast and they rallied interested people to become interpreters.

The northern rivers deaf community is now the largest in regional New South Wales with the most interpreters. Bronwyn works full-time as a head teacher and consultant for deaf and hard of hearing students for North Coast TAFE in New South Wales.

In 2006 Bronwyn was named the Lismore woman of the year. Her niece, Anna, went on to become a professional dancer in Melbourne and works with deaf groups. Bronwyn, I thank you for all that you have done for the hearing impaired in our community.