Paul Briscoe

Vincent ‘Paul’ Briscoe was born deaf to deaf parents, Frank and Margaret. He had four siblings – two of his siblings, Joseph and Mary, were also deaf. In 1947, at the age of four, Paul was sent to St Gabriel’s School for Deaf Boys at Castle Hill where he completed his education in 1958.

As a member of the Briscoe family, Paul participated in the popular weekly Card Nights held at their home. He continued his involvement in the Deaf Community by becoming a member of the Deaf General Committee and the Deaf Men’s Club, two roles that lasted many years. He also encouraged the establishment of other deaf clubs, including the Deaf Drivers Car Club, the NSW Deaf Rugby League Football Club, the NSW Deaf Tenpin Bowling Club and the NSW Deaf Sports Association Inc. Paul was involved in the critical move by the Deaf Cricket Club from the Moore Park Cricket Association to the Western Suburbs.

Paul began in the workforce as a trainee carpenter and joiner and then later worked as a guillotine operator, lithographer printer, truck driver, brick setter and painter. Finally, Paul worked for the Department of Taxation. With his wife Heather, Paul has two children and eight grandchildren.

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Personal information from Paul Briscoe

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Image – Paul Briscoe