Hurd-Wood, Kathleen Gertrude (1886–1965)

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Hurd-Wood, Kathleen Gertrude (1886–1965)

New Zealand advocate for hard of hearing. Name variations: Kathleen Gertrude Chitty. Born on Aug 1, 1886, at Kirikirioa, near Hamilton, New Zealand; died on April 10, 1965, in Hamilton; dau. of Walter Chitty (farmer) and Alicia Wilhelmina de Vere (Hunt) Chitty; m. Gervase Alven Hurd-Wood, 1911 (d. 1924).

During pilgrimage to Rome and Lourdes, decided to devote her life to people who had lost their hearing (1925); trained as lip-reading teacher and held free classes (1926); was instrumental in establishing New Zealand League for the Hard of Hearing (1932). MBE (1961).

See also Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (Vol. 4).