Farewell, Dennis

It is with mixed emotions that we today say goodbye to Dennis Hobbs, our Mail Department Assistant, who has decided to retire after working with us for over eight years.

Dennis has worked tirelessly and professionally behind the scenes to ensure Deaf Lottery mail, tickets and payments are properly processed, and has become an invaluable member of our Deaf Services family.

In the early days, as one of few Deaf people working in a predominantly hearing department, Dennis generously taught many staff members Auslan signs, allowing better communication and connection among his colleagues.

Outside of work, Dennis is an accomplished tenpin bowler, having played for over 40 years in a weekly league, as well as competing in the National Deaf Championship, the Australian Deaf Games and Pan Pacific Masters.

As well as this, Dennis enjoys playing recreational golf, and Texas hold’em poker with a number of poker clubs, including Deaf Poker Queensland.

Dennis’ plans for retirement include travelling around Australia and overseas, as well as a healthy dose of “RSL lunches, pokies for fun and a few punts on the horses.”

“I plan to really enjoy my retirement and new lifestyle,” Dennis told us.

Pictured: Dennis receiving a card and farewell present (a poker set, scratch-its, and gift vouchers all presented in a bag emblazoned with the colours of Dennis’ beloved Brisbane Broncos) from Deaf Services CEO Brett Casey and Deaf Services Executive General Manager Maree Brown.

Dennis’ farewell was a standing room only affair, with Deaf Services CEO Brett Casey reflecting on what it meant to have Dennis working for the organisation.

“As a Deaf person, you connect with people in your own language,” Brett explained. “I treasured being able to chat with Dennis each time I visited the Alderley office because he is a perfect example of a Deaf person living a good and fulfilling life. People like Dennis are the reason we do what we do.”

Before coming to work with us in 2011, Dennis held professional positions at The Australian Tax Office and Queensland Health, remaining in the workforce for over 40 years.

From all of us at Deaf Services, we wish Dennis all the best. His work with us is emblematic of our mission: Deaf and hard of hearing Australians empowered, connected and achieving.

It won’t be the same without you, Dennis, but we look forward to hearing updates as your bowling scores and poker wins go up, and your golf handicap goes down!