Mrs Fyfe

Signed family name

Fyfe

Signed given name

Mrs

Given address

Kakanui

Sheet number

Town/Suburb

Kakanui

City/Region

Otago

Notes

Biography contributed by Katherine Blakeley

Harriet Darton was born in 1855 in Victoria, Australia – the daughter of Thomas Michelmore Darton, a farmer, and Harriet Bray.

She came to Otago with her family & they settled at Lawrence in Central Otago.

Harriet worked as a teacher at Lawrence, Waikouaiti and Kakanui schools before she resigned prior to her wedding in 1890 when the Kakanui school presented her with a 'cruet, set of china, Britannia metal teapot, and tray.'

Harriet married William Henderson Tulloch Fyfe on 6 October 1890 at her home 'The Willows' in Lawrence.

They had six children, two who died in infancy, and when Harriet signed the suffrage petition the family were living in Kakanui.

In 1909 William, who had been working as a wool classer at Ocean Beach, near Invercargill, was walking home on the railway line with two friends when they were hit by a train - he died soon after.

Later that year Harriet resumed teaching and was appointed as head teacher at Kartigi. She remained there until she retired on superannuation in December 1915.

At the school break up Harriet was presented with 'a travelling rug and lady’s handbag by the pupils and residents of the district.' Reference was made to Harriet’s 'high qualities as a teacher, and also as a sympathetic friend and neighbour...A very pleasant reunion, during which afternoon tea was dispensed by the ladies of the district, was brought to a close by the singing of the National Anthem.'

After her retirement Harriet moved to Dunedin where she died on 17 June 1952 – she is buried with William in the Old Oamaru Cemetery.