Maker: Helen Geard

Panel number: 289

Petition sheet number: 342

Person honouring: Rebecca Wohlmann

Relationship to maker: None

“A loving and kind hearted woman with a large circle of friends,” was the description of Mrs Rebecca Wohlmann at the time of her death in 1925.

Born Rebecca McDonald in Aberdeenshire in 1834, she migrated to New Zealand some time before 1872. In that year she married George Wohlmann, a farmer, police constable, and veteran of the Crimean War.

In 1872 Rebecca also gave birth to her son Ward George Wohlmann (he later became New Zealand’s Commissioner of Police). She had two daughters, Amy in 1874 and Minnie in 1876.

The Wohlmann family lived in Dunedin until 1895 when they moved to Otautau, which was where Rebecca signed the petition.

George died in 1899. Rebecca seems to have returned to Dunedin – she was 91 when she died.

Panel materials: I already had all materials. I made a sacking oven cloth. On it I sewed a lace collar found in my late mother’s work box. On top, I sewed a satin mending kit lined with flannel that had belonged to my grandmother. Rebecca Wohlmann Otautau was written on a small gold envelope. ‘Sheet 342′ and 46 crosses were sewn on the sacking.