This is the sister of leading suffragist Helen Lyster Nicol (1854 - 1932), whose biography appears in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Lavinia's mother Margaret also signed Sheet 115.
Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley:
Lavinia Ann Nicol was born in New Zealand in 1865 – the daughter of David Nicol and Margaret Cairns Smith.
Lavinia was active in several charitable causes. In 1889 she was elected as treasurer of the Dunedin YWCA and was active in their efforts to build a cabmen and carters shelter in the Exchange. She served on the committee of the Otago Sunday School Union from 1895 until at least 1899.
On 13 January 1909, at her family home in William St, Lavinia married David Edmond, a 73 year old farmer. Lavinia & David lived at Beta St, Roslyn until David’s death in 1912.
Lavinia returned live with her sister Helen, she stayed at William St for the rest of her life.
Lavinia died on 26 April 1942, ten years after her sister Helen. She left her linen, blankets and bedding to the Presbyterian orphanages in Dunedin. She also gifted the sum of £500, called the Edmond-Nicol Gift, to be made available to assist students studying for the ministry of the Presbyterian Church.
Lavinia is buried in the family grave in the Southern Cemetery.
Sources
BDM online NZ https://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
DCC Cemetery Records http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/facilities/cemeteries/cemeteries-search
Family Search https://www.familysearch.org
Otago Nominal Index http://marvin.otago.ac.nz
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.
Community contributions