Maker: Kim Ellwood

Panel number: 81

Petition Sheet Number: 82

Person honouring: Mrs W Blaikie,

Relationship to makers: great-great-grandmother?s sister in law

Jessie McCorkindale was born in the parish of Killean and Kilchenzie, Argyllshire, Scotland in 1865. At the age of 2, she came to New Zealand with her parents Malcolm and Jeanette McCorkindale.

She married William Blaikie and they had six children - Hugh, Malcolm, William, Robert, Jessie and Elizabeth Ella. Jessie’s husband was a mill owner and he also farmed at Waitahuna where all their children were born.

Jessie signed sheet 82 as Mrs W Blaikie, Waitahuna.Their son, Robert died in the Great War in 1916 and was buried at the Alexandra Military Cemetery, Egypt. William and Jessie later moved to Dunback, North Otago where she died, in 1948.

Panel materials: Mostly old material from previous sewing projects. The sacking back represents the farming background of Jessie, the velvet ribbons (new) would have been what the women wore on their hats. The felt of the Victorian woman profile, the flag and the Southern Cross were old offcuts and the embroidery thread was already owned prior to the project.