Maker: Winnie Duggan

Panel number: 206

Petition sheet number: 248

Person honouring: Susannah Fairhall

Relationship to maker: None

Susannah Fairhall (born Trotman) was an independent woman who left Gloucestershire in 1849, as an ‘untutored seamstress’, and travelled to Melbourne as part of a move ‘to balance the sexes’ at the goldfields.

Born in 1828, Susannah married William Fairhall and moved to Johnsonville in New Zealand, where the couple had six children before moving again in 1864 – to Greymouth to farm. Susannah gave birth to seven more children (hence the 13 roses) and was prominent in local charities. She won prizes for her flower arrangements and donated bouquets to the hospital for bedridden patients.

Susannah was in Greymouth when she signed the suffrage petition; her daughter Kate Fairhall also signed [sheet 492], in Eketahuna.

William died in 1904 and left the farm and his estate to his eldest son, also William. Susannah took the case to court, along with seven of the children, to get the right to live in the farm house and have enough money to live on. Sadly, while she won the case, it was announced on the day she died in 1905.

Susannah was described as ‘one of nature’s ladies’ by the local newspaper.

Panel materials: Background cloth is a linen piece stitched with hardanger by my husband’s great-aunt, who would have been alive in 1893. Roses are from a sister-in-law’s sister who made china dolls. They represent Susannah and William’s 13 children. Photos of Susannah and her signature were transferred to fabric by Spoonflower.