Origins of a Dream
From our humble beginnings, TSH has come to occupy a significant position in Western Australia’s health and disability landscape and an equally significant place in the educational realm.
TSH is the only place in Western Australia that provides education, speech,
and audiology services all in one location, ensuring a holistic and
family-friendly approach across all programs.
Our success today stems from the incredible spirit and zeal of our founding teachers, families, and friends who had great hopes for their profoundly deaf children and refused to settle for ‘second best.’ Their efforts inspire and motivate our growing team and remain part of TSH’s family-centered philosophy to this day.
Jenny’s Story
Words from Jenny’s father, the late Terry Crommelin.
The time – about six o’clock, one night, December 1962. The place – our home in Perth, Western Australia. The scene – our kitchen where our twelve-month-old daughter, Jenny was playing on the floor, her back to the door of my entry.
Audrey was busy preparing the evening meal; the other two children were doing their homework or watching television in another part of our home.
From the moment of my outburst, it was only a few hours before we both knew we had a deaf, a very deaf, child.
Fear, horror – what do we do? Who do we consult? Who do we know who might help bring some resolution to their problem?
Naturally, we sought the advice of doctors, hoping against hope that our fears were unfounded, but after several confirmations we settled down to the reality that Jenny was deaf.
We turned to friends and acquaintances for advice. I sought the counsel of a member of the golf club where I played as he held a senior position in the Special Education Branch in the Education Department.
The unacceptable advice that I received fired within me a desire, a determination, to find something else – there must be other, perhaps better, ways. Was Australia behind in these matters? What about overseas? USA? England? Their doctors must be way ahead of those in Perth.
I was looking at the possibility of a medical solution. But Jenny’s deafness was more than that and I realised that with deafness comes a ‘speaking’ problem. Would she ever learn to talk? Was it possible?
Long investigation followed and our personal search for answers became a shared one. Other parents, grandparents and friends were drawn together and began to express their hopes and aspirations. They also felt there must be another way of teaching deaf children to talk.
Thus commences, what is today, Telethon Speech & Hearing.
A ‘Jenny’ not only helps to bond a family but helps to build the character of each member, so bringing out the ‘giving’ and replacing the ‘taking’. We give thanks for our Jenny.
When I was asked to write this ‘Foreword’ my mind had to go back over thirty years and my emotions were deeply stirred, especially those of gratitude.
We have gained more from our ‘deaf’ experience than we can ever measure. To me, the softness that has developed as a trait in each member of my family is a characteristic of which I am so proud. That alone has made our ‘Jenny experience’ worthwhile.
A ‘Jenny’ offers a challenge to any caring parent, grandparent, brother, sister, or friend. It is a family challenge so badly needed in this selfish world today.
The history of the first twenty-five years of the Speech and Hearing Centre, so well put together by some of the real ‘givers’ of this world will give heart to those who, like Audrey and me, have a deaf child.
I say to those parents,
I commend this history to your attention and hope that you will find inspiration in the efforts of those parents and friends of the Centre who preceded you and whose achievements are recorded in it.
Terry Crommelin, Jenny’s Father
Excerpt taken from The Speech and Hearing Centre: the first twenty-five years (1967-1992) by Vince McCudden.
TSH Through the Years
A Timeline
TSH originated in 1966 with parents who had great hopes for their profoundly deaf children and refused to settle for ‘second best.’ These parents started a school with five students, no premises, little money, and little experience, committing to pursue the best oral education for their children.
The following year they started The Speech & Hearing Centre for Children WA Inc., an independent, registered school that officially opened on 6th February 1967 with Marie McCudden (Kormendy) as founding Principal.
The school operated in several temporary locations across Perth before finding a larger, permanent premise. In 1972, a site alongside Lake Monger in Wembley was offered and the planning and building of a purpose-built school began.
On 14th March 1975, hundreds of children, parents, and invited guests gathered to witness the official opening of the new school by Sir Charles Court. The new school was very tangible evidence of the dedication of a determined band of parents and friends of deaf children.
In 1984, the centre made a formal application to become a Telethon beneficiary. Since this time, the Channel 7 Telethon Trust has been a significant supporter of the centre’s efforts and each year witnesses its welcome impact on families.
In February 2005, The Speech & Hearing Centre became the Telethon Speech & Hearing Centre as part of the continuing support and relationship with the Channel 7 Telethon Trust.
The support offered by Telethon enabled Telethon Speech & Hearing to maintain a significantly high standard of service to deaf and hard of hearing children, and to support programs of research that might otherwise not have been possible.
On 30th April 2015, the members of Telethon Speech & Hearing Centre for Children WA Inc. passed a special resolution to move from an incorporated association to a company limited by guarantee.
This decision was based on the organisational size and the increased governance and protection of client information afforded by the new structure. It also allowed Telethon Speech & Hearing to seek sponsors and benefactors outside Western Australia. Consequently, Telethon Speech & Hearing Ltd. was registered by ASIC on 20th July 2015.
Telethon Speech & Hearing celebrated its 50th anniversary with a breakfast event at its head office in Wembley, where founding parent Terry Crommelin and his daughter Jenny returned as honorary guests to share their story on stage.
Telethon Speech & Hearing managed and thrived through the COVID-19 pandemic by adapting its services (including telehealth appointments and virtual learning) to continue supporting children and families during this challenging time.
Telethon Speech & Hearing Centre’s innovative programs were recognised for their effectiveness, including the early intervention programs delivered to children and their families. The recognition came with awards like the Dr. Harry Blackmore Award, demonstrating the Centre’s ongoing commitment to excellence.
In August, Telethon Speech & Hearing took on a new look, rebranding as TSH (Teach Speak Hear) with a new logo and corporate identity.
Our Programs
At TSH, we deliver evidence-based speech, hearing and language programs that are designed to create the best possible outcomes for children and their families.
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