Maker: Ronnie Martin

Panel number: 28

Petition Sheet Number: 20 

Person honouring: Annie Mears 

Relationship to makers: None 

Annie E. Mears (known as ‘Tottie’ to her family) was born in Auckland on the 9th March, 1858. In 1882 she married William Eden Mears, a bookseller. They had three children; Winifred 1883, Dorothy 1885 and Abraham 1888 who all died young (16, 23 and 33). Her husband died of typhoid in 1891. 

Annie became a music teacher. She was very involved with the Mount Eden Congregational Church, playing and singing in concerts. She took a keen interest in welfare work concerning women and children, and was an early member of the philanthropic committee affiliated to the National Council of Women. She died in 1941. 

Panel materials: tea- dyed cotton, vintage lace, vintage buttons, hand dyed threads, fabric paint,vintage beads.