Makers: Arohanui Hospice Day Stay Group, Palmerston North

Panel number: 424

Petition sheet number: 516

Person honouring: Mrs John Collis

Relationship to makers: None

Eleanor Douglas Bulliman, who signed as Mrs John Collis, was the third daughter of Jane and Richard Bulliman who came to Wainuiomata in 1884. Eleanor was from Kent and was born 20 May 1872. 

Eleanor had a short time at school then worked as a housemaid earning 2/6 per week. She married John Collis on 1 February 1893 at Taranaki St Methodist Church, Wellington.

They moved to Longburn (where she signed the petition along with her mother-in-law, Mrs Charles Collis, same sheet 516). They moved to Utiku and lived in a log cabin built by her husband. Eleanor often went more than six weeks without seeing another European woman. They moved again, back to Kairanga (near Longburn). 

Eleanor enjoyed her flower garden and did crochet. She was a Methodist and had nine children. She died aged 80 on 15 November 1952.

Panel materials: All fabrics, lace, buttons donated to hospice. Main fabric from a curtain sampler. Tatting made by a volunteer’s mother and was on her wedding dress. The only item purchased was the printable fabric for the photo.