Maker: Shirley Irvine

Panel number: 350

Petition sheet number: 422

Person honouring: Elizabeth A. Mabey

Relationship to maker: Great-great-grandmother

Elizabeth Annie (Lizzie) Benge was born in June 1868 in Mangaroa, Upper Hutt, the eldest child of Rose Anne Wilkins (1851-1933) and John Benge (1841-1906). Her father was a sawyer in the Collins Creek sawmill at Te Marua, Upper Hutt; he later owned the mill after his father’s death.

Lizzie had six brothers and three sisters. She was a foundation pupil of Te Marua School, and then attended Mangaroa School.

She married Job Charles Mabey in June 1889 at St John’s Church, Trentham. They had seven children: Rachel (1890), George (1892), Rosie (1894), Blanche (1897), Grace (1900), Jean (1904) and Beth (1908). 

Job and Elizabeth farmed on Mabey Road, Taita, the land that Job was born on in 1858. They donated the land on which Taita (Avalon) Hall was built. Job is described as a genuine ‘character’, something of a living local legend, in articles in the Hutt News. 

Elizabeth was a foundation member of the Taita Methodist Church; her contribution to the spiritual life and fellowship of the church was said to be incalculable. 

Job died at their home in May 1952 aged 93 years; Elizabeth died 10 years later in November 1962, aged 94 years. They were both buried in the cemetery surrounding Christ Church, Taita.

Panel materials: I used materials I had, with the addition of some lace that I purchased.