Biographical information provided by Briar Barry for the He Tohu exhibition:
John Collis was a farmer at Longburn (also known as Karere), just out of Palmerston North and his wife was Eleanor Douglas Bulliman. They were married in 1893 so she was a newlywed when she signed the petition. Perhaps the thrill of her new name led her to sign as Mrs John Collis rather than Eleanor Collis. On the 1896 Electoral Roll Eleanor’s occupation is listed as butcher. Several other men with the surname Collis from the Longburn area have this same profession listed against their name so perhaps she learnt the trade from members of her husband’s family. The Longburn Freezing works had been open since 1889 and had space for 15 butchers so it’s likely that Eleanor worked there. Eleanor and John went on to have 8 children. They both died in 1952 and are buried together at Rongotea Cemetery.
