Makers: Lynette Kleiven (nee Wright), Judy Wright, Joan Adam, William Wright, Tim Wright, Robyn Tyler, Ben Wright, Jess Ashley

Panel number: 240

Petition sheet number: 297

Person honouring: Rachel Wright

Relationship to makers: My husband William Wright and sister-in-law, Lynette Kleiven’s, great-great-grandmother

Rachel Gibb was born in Carnbroe, Lanarkshire, Scotland about 1848.

 She was a milliner and dress maker and in 1870 she married John Wright, a miner.  The couple lived in the coal and ironstone mining villages in the hills near Dalmellington in Ayrshire, Scotland. 

In 1870 their son Robert was born and daughter Jessie was born in 1873. Sadly Jessie died as a young infant; another daughter, also named Jessie, was born in 1875.



In August 1876 the family sailed from Glasgow to Dunedin on the sailing ship Dunedin. The voyage took 83 days. Unfortunately Jessie died of meningitis during the long journey. 

In 1878 the family settled in the South Oamaru area where husband John was employed on the railways. They went on to have five more children: Christina Rachel (1879)
, Esther (1882), Mary Brydone (1883)
,   Margaret Finlay (1887)
, and John (1892). 

Initially they lived in Waiareka, then Toka-rahi and Totara (south of Oamaru).  

In 1899 Rachel was employed by the Post Office as postmistress and telephonist at nearby Toka-rahi.

 At a presentation at Totara in April 1908 to farewell the Wright family, the Oamaru Mail reported the following words spoken by Mr John Macpherson (Manager of Totara Estate):


“Speaking of Mrs Wright, words failed him to convey all he should say of the many good qualities of that lady. Were it a time of sickness or trouble, she was ever ready day or night to do what she could for any one in the district, and all were sure of a cheery welcome at her house. Her connection with the post office and telephone bureau at Totara entailed a good deal of worry, but the speaker had to compliment her for the way she had conducted her duties.”



In September 1908 Rachel sold their six-bedroom house at South Oamaru; in October 1908 she and John retired to Christchurch. Rachel died in Christchurch on 29 May 1933.

Panel materials: Lynette supplied cotton quilting fabrics for the background, Joan supplied pieces of lace, beads, fabric flowers (except the Pohutukawa) and ribbon. Ben supplied photo fabric for Rachel’s photo. Judy supplied embroidery threads, felt and some of the cotton fabric. The map fabric was from an old shirt of William’s. All materials were from supplies we had to hand.