Maker: Anne Howard

Panel number: 266

Petition sheet number: 321

Person honouring: G. [Georgina] Penny

Relationship to maker: Geographical

Georgina Blaymires was born in 1868, the second daughter of Kate Murray and Robert Blaymires, a Picton settler. Her grandparents were assisted immigrants who arrived in Picton in 1859.

Georgina married Edward Henry Penny in 1890 and they had eight children: Ellen (Nell) Agnes (1892), Samuel Murray (1894), Walter Blaymires (1896), Gertrude Phyllis (1899), Edward York (1901), Alice Lorna Jean (1903), Henry (Harry) Arthur (1905), Kathleen Muriel (1908).

Georgina and Edward lived with their family in Park Terrace, Blenheim. Edward purchased a general stationery business in 1893, known as Penny’s Bookshop, and was elected a councillor of the Blenheim Borough Council in 1900. In 1906 and again in 1911 he was elected mayor – Georgina was mayoress.

Georgina lost her two eldest sons in World War 1 and her husband in 1926. She died in 1958 (aged 90 years) and was buried in the Omaka Cemetery – with her husband, one son, and a daughter-in-law.

Panel materials: Quilting fabrics (purchased), self-printed fabric (purchased), beads (already had).