Sign of the times
IN THE CHAOS AND despair of the most recent notable chapter in Australian history–the bushfire disaster followed so closely by the COVID-19 pandemic–many of us have found comfort from an unexpected source. At government press conferences and during emergency news broadcasts, it’s increasingly common to see the reassuring presence of an Auslan interpreter signing the crucial information to people in the deaf community.
If the true measure of any society is found in how it treats its most vulnerable members, then perhaps we find the interpreters comforting because they indicate our society is functioning well, even in what are repeatedly referred to as “unprecedented times”.
The interpreters’ presence can be even better than comforting: it can provide some welcome light relief. During a media appearance by the premier of Western Australia, Mark McGowan, in April, interpreter Dianne Prior had to convey a shout of support from a passerby. The difficulty lay in the swear word the fan used, as he dropped what’s more politely referred to as the f-bomb. Without missing a beat, Dianne duly con-veyed his enthusiasm. “The way I
