Maker: Helen Thomas

Panel number: 209

Petition sheet number: 252

Person honouring: Ada A. O. Holland

Relationship to maker: Great-grandfather’s brother’s wife

Born at sea on the Oriental in November 1855, Ada Augusta Oriental Giles was the ninth child of Rachel and Launcelot Giles. She had more siblings from Launcelot’s second marriage.

On arrival, her father bought 25 acres to farm in Clarkville, Canterbury, then added 73 acres in 1884. He imported machinery from England and set up a threshing business. 

At 20, Ada married farm hand Charles Holland in December 1875. Ten years later, Launcelot transferred land to Ada. With six children she and Charles added to the original house; they brought up 11 children.

Ada was at Clarkville when she signed the suffrage petition, and enrolled for later elections.

In 1895, when he was aged just 39, Charles died of cancer. As well as farming the property, Ada and her boys gradually took over the Holland and Giles threshing business.

Ada was a very compassionate and caring woman who kept open home for all her family, including children and grandchildren from afar. As she aged, her daughter Sarah, Sarah’s daughter Doris, and her brother Dick continued to live at home, assisting Ada with the farm and cooking for the threshing teams. Ada lived at home until her death in 1939, aged 83.

Other related women signed sheet 252: Florence and Lucy Clothier (related through Ada’s mother), Hannah Salt (future sister-in-law), Phoebe Giles (sister), Alice Clothier (aunt, who married the same day as Ada and Charles).

Panel materials: Curtain fabric remnant from my scrap box because of the colours, reminding me of the big-sky sunrises and sunsets of Canterbury plains, and the gold of the harvest.