Maker: Jody Bowman

Panel number: 86

Petition Sheet Number: 88

Person honouring: Martha Ottaway

Relationship to makers: None

The Ottaway Family is well-known in Otago. They lived at Nuggets Point, Port Molyneux. For many years, Martha was the family matriarch of the late 19th Century.

Agnes Ottaway, one of Martha’s daughters, had a whirlwind romance with one of the lodgers at the boarding house her mother ran at Nuggets Point. After a swift engagement, Agnes married her groom Percival Redwood at home in front of a large group of family, friends and local officials. Agnes’ family had their suspicions about their new son-in-law, which were found out when he was arrested for male impersonation and fraud - several days after the wedding. Agnes and the family had been swindled by notorious trickster Amy Bock, who was after Agnes’ money. The subsequent trial was a scandal and made international headlines.

Panel materials: Cotton, felt, lace - all purchased from the Karori Hospice Op Shop.