Maker: Gillian Receveur

Panel number: 343

Petition sheet number: 410

Person honouring: Therza Jane Mudge

Relationship to maker: None

Therza [or Thirza] Jane Stocker appreciated the benefits of a washing machine. Her letters were published in the newspapers, claiming it a ‘splendid invention and a true friend of anyone that does their own washing’.

Therza was born in 1847 in the village of Ashcombe, Devon, England to her parents Mary and Samuel Stocker.

She was working as a servant by the time she was 14, until she married Abraham Mudge (labourer) in 1868. Their son George was born in 1870, and their daughter Alice was born aboard the Hurunui in 1873 on their way to New Zealand.

Therza and Abraham settled in Wellington, where they had two more daughters – Lois and Priscilla. In 1900, her daughter Alice became an agent for the Eureka brand of washing machine, and Therza’s published letters promoted the machine.

Therza died on 14 December 1908, aged 62 at her home in Adelaide Road. In her will, she left several houses and property in Wellington to her four children.

Panel materials: Recycled fine cotton sheet, with embroidery threads.