Maker: Donna Boniface-Webb

Panel number: 464

Petition sheet number: Did not sign 1893 petition

Person honouring: Dr Suzanne Boniface

Relationship to maker: Mother

Suzanne Margaret James was born in 1952 to Hiram and Margaret ‘Peggy’ James. She grew up in Auckland in a state house in Sandringham. Her father died when she was 12 and her mother worked part time while raising Suzanne and her sister Heather on a widow’s pension.

Suzanne went to Auckland Girls’ Grammar and on to Auckland University, planning to be a maths teacher. She stayed on to do a PhD in chemistry while teaching part time at the university.

In 1977 she married John Boniface and they went to Papua New Guinea, where John worked as an accountant and Suzanne at the University of Papua New Guinea. She returned to New Zealand to sit her final PhD exams in 1979.

Suzanne had her first child in Papua New Guinea in 1980 and the family returned to New Zealand in 1981 before the birth of her second child in 1982. Two more children followed in 1983 and 1985.

Suzanne started teaching at high school before returning to Auckland University to work on the Wellesley programme, which allows people who didn’t finish high school to gain the knowledge they need to study at university.

In 1991 John decided to train for the ministry. Suzanne worked full time at Auckland medical school while he completed at PhD in theology.

The family moved to Nelson where Suzanne went back to high school teaching. While teaching she set national chemistry exams, such as school certificate and bursary, and also worked on the new NCEA syllabus. She wrote guides to NCEA levels two and three before going back to academic life at Victoria University Wellington.

Suzanne’s passion for science is inspiring. She has a way of looking at everyday objects and seeing the fascinating chemistry that shapes our modern life, and inspires her students to keep wondering and exploring.

Panel materials: Patchwork fabrics from my collection and my mum’s collection. Wool and embroidery thread. These fabrics and wool are all leftovers from things made for and by the women in my family. The purple fabrics are from a bag I made my Grandma, which my mum now uses for her knitting. Some other fabrics are from quilts and dresses my Mum made when we were young.