History of DSRV

 

The start of structured deaf sports competition against hearing teams probably began in the summer of 1881. A deaf cricket team, established from scratch, played against a team of Richmond lads on a vacant plot of land opposite the Richmond Town Hall. Thus it was that, on 2nd November 1882, the Melbourne Adult Deaf Cricket Club came into existence at its Inaugural Meeting. That was two years before the Adult Deaf & Dumb Society (now Vicdeaf) was established.

It is difficult to chronicle the history of all other sport groups. However, it could be noted that lacrosse, women’s cricket, tennis, table tennis, basketball, badminton, golf, netball, lawn bowls, tenpin bowling, football, soccer, squash and angling clubs were part of our deaf sporting history. Some of these sports still exist today.