Maker: Rhiannon McKinstry

Panel number: 96

Petition Sheet Number: 99

Person honouring: Annette (Amy) Elizabeth Turton

Relationship to makers: First cousin four times removed

Annette Elizabeth Turton nee Swainson was born on 10 August 1851 in the Hutt Valley. Annette spoke Te Reo Maori, and worked among Maori. 

At an early age her first story was published, ‘Totara Nui’ by Hinatine Te Tawera, in the Australasian. It was favourably reviewed by the Evening Herald and Wanganui Chronicle. ‘Maori Land’ shortly followed, and many others. 

On the death of her parents, Annette went to Queenstown, Lake County, and there met solicitor Wesley Turton whom she married on 14 September 1873. After her marriage, she continued to write, sketch and paint. Two small books, ‘The Rare Justice of Women’ and ‘Studies of New Zealand Life’ were published. In 1904, she published ‘The Brown Sea-Rovers and their Home’ in a Christmas Annual of The Daily Times and Witness. She also had three artworks in the 1903 Otago Society Annual exhibition. The Alexander Turnbull Library holds four of her artworks in its collection. 

Annette and her husband had six children. She died in New Plymouth on 9 January 1925 aged 73.

Panel materials: White calico panel; images and text transfer printed onto same white calico; ‘antiqued’ trim and lace purchased in a sale.