Maker: Sarah Hooper

Panel number: 302

Petition sheet number: 360

Person honouring: Selina Beaven

Relationship to maker: None.

Selina Gregg was born in Herefordshire, England, to Sarah and James Gregg. She grew up on a farm and was educated until at least the age of 13.

After marrying Alfred Beaven at the age of 25, she left England for life in New Zealand. They arrived in Bluff on board the Sir George Pollock, the first direct vessel from London to that port. 

Selina and her husband purchased their farm ‘Brooklyn’ at Waianiwa five years later. She had one son whom she outlived. Selina was an active member of the temperance movement and, at her death at 95, she was the oldest supporter of the Southland Metropolitan Agricultural and Pastoral Winter Show.

Selina died in 1932 and was buried at Wallacetown cemetery.

She [Selina] is significant to me [panel maker] as all women who fought for the enfranchisement of women in New Zealand are heroes.

Panel materials: Red roses for Selina’s English heritage. Left-over material from a quilt I’ve worked on over the years. The 23 roses through the middle of the panel each have two french knots – to represent the other 46 people who signed sheet 360. The lace flowers were from a hand-stitched tablecloth belonging to my great-grandmother – they represent Selina’s keen interest in agriculture, as does the green border that was from my Nana. The white bow was made to show Selina’s involvement in the WCTU.