Maker: Wendy Johnstone

Panel number: 422

Petition sheet number: 511

Person honouring: Agnes Galpin

Relationship to maker: Paternal grandmother’s cousin

Agnes signed the 1893 petition along with her mother – Mrs C. Galpin [also Agnes]. Her younger sister wasn’t quite old enough but she was asked to accompany their friend Rachel Thomas and Miss Heath on a trip to collect signatures. 

Ruth was adept at driving a horse and buggy and on 17 May 1893 they set out to drive from Tutaenui to Whanganui and up to Eltham. They were away a month and returned with a laden buggy on a cold, wet and snowy winter’s day. These petitions were then taken to Wellington to join all the others.