Maker: Tayla Longstaff

Panel number: 291

Petition sheet number: 345

Person honouring: Flora Wickens

Relationship to maker: None

Flora Wickens was a strong woman with ambition. She changed her own path, from working as a domestic servant, to being part owner of a department store.

Flora Wickens was born in Kent, England, in 1858 – the year her father died. Flora and her elder sister Clara lived with their grandparents until her mother remarried a baker, Walter Moseley.

Flora and Clara came to New Zealand in 1874 when Flora was just 15 years old. They came on the William Davie to Otago as assisted migrants and to work as domestic servants.

After settling in Invercargill, Flora and her half-sister Laura Moseley set up a department store under the name ‘Misses Wickens & Moseley’. They were drapers. Both women signed the suffrage petition.

Flora died at the age of 54 in 1912. She left her estate to Clara and Laura.

Panel materials: I purchased fabric paints; old fabric I had at home was used for the servant dress; black ballpoint pen, a paper clip, and for the door knob a curtain rail hook painted white. These were all found at home. For the clock I used white card; for the brick street, card with a brown and yellow watercolour wash over it – l I had all at home already. For Xs and Flora’s name I used embroidery thread from home.