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Being deaf doesn't stop girls enjoying netball | Stuff.co.nz
Two Taranaki athletes have proven there is nothing that can stand in the way of them achieving their dreams.
Gemma Dye, 23, and Tarsha Takarangi, 21, have recently been selected in the New Zealand deaf netball team.
The New Plymouth women will compete in the 10th Margo Allen national deaf netball club championships in Ballarat, Australia, in October.
Dye and Takarangi met at primary school and have shared a love of netball ever since.
They later attended the Van Asch Deaf Education Centre in Christchurch together, where they became involved in deaf netball and now travel the country playing the sport.
"We always make a point now of going to netball games for the deaf," Takarangi said.
"It's a great way to find out what's happening in the deaf community and what you may be able to do to make things better for those people."
Dye, who plays for the Tysons Blue team, said there was little difference between playing in deaf or hearing sides.
"When I play in a hearing team, I watch with my eyes, but when I play deaf netball, the umpires will use flags instead of whistles," she said.
Dye, who has just passed her certificate in culinary arts at Witt, will begin a Diploma in Patisserie (pastry cooking) later in the year.
"I hope to one day become a top chef and own my own restaurant that's my number one dream," she said.
Takarangi has recently moved back to New Plymouth after living in Christchurch for a couple of years.
The women say they have never felt limited by being deaf and agree the hardest thing is people treating them differently.
"People see a deaf person and they feel they can't come up and talk to you they feel nervous," Takarangi said.
"If they want to say something, they can write it down, act it out or even use their hands."The two women hope their story inspires others facing similar challenges.
"It's about not giving up. You can't let a disability hold you back. If you want something, you should go get it," Dye said. "Just remember that deaf can do it."
Two Taranaki athletes have proven there is nothing that can stand in the way of them achieving their dreams.
Gemma Dye, 23, and Tarsha Takarangi, 21, have recently been selected in the New Zealand deaf netball team.
The New Plymouth women will compete in the 10th Margo Allen national deaf netball club championships in Ballarat, Australia, in October.
Dye and Takarangi met at primary school and have shared a love of netball ever since.
They later attended the Van Asch Deaf Education Centre in Christchurch together, where they became involved in deaf netball and now travel the country playing the sport.
"We always make a point now of going to netball games for the deaf," Takarangi said.
"It's a great way to find out what's happening in the deaf community and what you may be able to do to make things better for those people."
Dye, who plays for the Tysons Blue team, said there was little difference between playing in deaf or hearing sides.
"When I play in a hearing team, I watch with my eyes, but when I play deaf netball, the umpires will use flags instead of whistles," she said.
Dye, who has just passed her certificate in culinary arts at Witt, will begin a Diploma in Patisserie (pastry cooking) later in the year.
"I hope to one day become a top chef and own my own restaurant that's my number one dream," she said.
Takarangi has recently moved back to New Plymouth after living in Christchurch for a couple of years.
The women say they have never felt limited by being deaf and agree the hardest thing is people treating them differently.
"People see a deaf person and they feel they can't come up and talk to you they feel nervous," Takarangi said.
"If they want to say something, they can write it down, act it out or even use their hands."The two women hope their story inspires others facing similar challenges.
"It's about not giving up. You can't let a disability hold you back. If you want something, you should go get it," Dye said. "Just remember that deaf can do it."