Maker: Pamela McCarthy

Panel number: 311

Petition sheet number: 369

Person honouring: Eugenie A. Chalmers

Relationship to maker: Geographical

Eugenie Adeline Smith was born in London, England in May 1855.

She married James Leslie Chalmers in August 1873 in Port Louis, Mauritius. Their first child Helen May, was born in Mauritius in 1876, and while there is no recorded location for the birth of their second child, Catherine Leslie, their remaining children were born in New Zealand.

Their youngest, Gertrude Amy, was born in Te Awamutu in 1889. They also had a daughter named Eugenie but she died at 11 months and was buried at St John’s cemetery in Te Awamutu.

In 1893, when Eugenie signed the petition, the electoral roll states her occupation as domestic duties. James was an Inspector of Public Works and an engineer.

The family moved from Te Awamutu to Auckland and in 1921, James died, aged 84. Eugenie died in 1932, aged 77.

Panel materials: Cotton calico, recycled men’s shirt, quilting cotton, felt. Applique with cotton thread, embroidery with stranded cotton. Maps and newspaper sections printed from originals on computer. Camellia flower made from cotton fabric I bonded myself. Tulle on hat from my grandmother’s treasures I inherited. No new materials – everything was from my sewing room!