Maker: Sue Wright

Panel number: 507

Petition sheet number: Did not sign 1893 petition

Person honouring: Mabel Annie Hattaway

Relationship to maker: My maternal grandmother

Mabel Gillard was a woman with many interests. She was born to a farming family in March 1890, the eldest of eight children and the only daughter. 

She married Robert Hattaway in 1915 and they farmed in Whitford. Mabel reared chickens and sold eggs. Mabel didn’t enjoy farming life, so when a son took over their dairy farm my grandfather was made to move to Howick. Here, Mabel and Robert built a house and Mabel pursued her interests, which included embroidery and crochet, travel, croquet, music, church, and her garden. 

She had five children; Ian, her second son, was killed in Egypt during World War 2. An oak tree was planted in his honour at the Howick Domain. 

Mabel died in December 1963 and was buried in the Hattaway plot, All Saints Church, Howick.

Panel materials: Cotton fabrics and lace that I had on hand.