Jenny and Michael's Story | Telethon Speech & Hearing

Jenny and Michael’s Story

“Looking back, both Michael and I share some of our best memories at TSH and we would like to thank them for those memories and everything else they have done for us.”


To celebrate our 50th year anniversary, Telethon Speech & Hearing (TSH) will be showcasing 50 stories of people who have been a part of our organisation’s history since 1967.

Today’s highlighted story is from former students, Jenny and Michael Pittaway.

 

In 1969, when I (Jenny) was just two years old, my mother brought me into Telethon Speech & Hearing. I first started going in three times a week for auditory training, then not long after five days a week only in the mornings, to finally starting full time in 1970.

My husband Michael also started his journey at TSH in 1969 and was there until 1978 when he left to go into high school. His father, Graham Pittaway is a life member of TSH and has a long history of supporting and helping the organisation.

We both have so many special memories and fond moments during our time at TSH. I would remember being excited to have little bottles of milk neatly set out on the tables during lunch and skipping rope with the other children, waiting for my turn as I watched the older students jump so smoothly over the rope.

I loved it when the teachers would take us out to Lake Monger to feed the ducks and swans (even though I was a bit scared of the swans!), it was always nice to get out into nature. The teachers liked us being out, planting trees and flowers out the front of the school, and going on school camps. That was one of my favourite memories, going to school camps, being with my friends all day and night playing games and doing fun activities. I remember I’d always want to be with the girls and Michael always wanted to be with the boys, however we would all get along so well.

 

“I loved it when the teachers would take us out to Lake Monger to feed the ducks and swans, it was always nice to get out into nature. The teachers liked us being out, planting trees and flowers out the front of the school, and going on school camps.”

 

Looking back, both Michael and I share some of our best memories at TSH and we would like to thank them for those memories and everything else they have done for us. Congratulations Telethon Speech and Hearing for celebrating 50 years!

 


About Jenny and Michael Pittaway

Former students Jenny and Michael both went to Telethon Speech & Hearing as children in 1969. While Jenny attended TSH for several years, Michael continued onto our school program until 1978. Both Jenny and Michael are deaf, although Jenny’s hearing is now supported by a cochlear implant.

In 1992, Jenny and Michael got married and have since had two boys who can both hear. 2017 marks their 25th wedding anniversary.

Michael’s father, Graham Pittaway is an honorary life member of TSH. Graham’s involvement and interest in TSH first began with the enrolment of his son. It is through the dedicated efforts of parents like Graham that many successful fundraising activities were conducted to support the work of TSH in its early years.