Mary Ann also signed sheet 65 of the petition.
Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley
Mary Ann Farrant was born in Victoria, Australia in 1854 - the daughter of George Farrant, a carpenter, and Elizabeth Thacker. She came to Otago with her family in 1863 on the Aldinga and they settled in Dunedin.
Mary married Peter Dick, a watchmaker, on 28 August 1879 at her parent’s home in Rattray St. They had two children and, when she signed the suffrage petition, Mary Ann was living with her family in Neidpath Rd, Mornington.
Peter died in 1911.
According to Mary Ann’s obituary her life was “spent largely in the service of others and in doing good deeds.”
She was one of the early members of the WCTU and was president and a very active member for many years. Another body for which she worked earnestly was the YWCA of which she was a life member. The work of the Chinese Church in Dunedin was also one of Mr and Mrs Dick’s interests. But in the work of the First Church Mrs Dick found her great happiness. For over 30 years she was president and hon. president of the Ladies’ Association, and for almost as long a time was connected with the PWMU. She was a teacher and Bible class leader in both the Central and Russell Street Sunday Schools for many years.
Mary Ann died on 15 August 1942. She is buried in the Andersons Bay Cemetery with Peter.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
BDM Victoria https://online.justice.vic.gov.au
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz