Frances Stewart

Background

Stewart was born in Sydney in 1840. In 1842 the family moved to Nelson, New Zealand, where her brother Arthur Carkeek was born, and they moved again to Wellington in 1849 when her father was promoted to collector of customs.

Career

Her parents were Martha Piotti and Stephen Carkeek, the commander of the revenue cutter Ranger. She also donated land to establish the Wanganui Girls" College and was appointed the superintendent of a system of Sunday schools in Wanganui. In 1910, the first year that board members were elected rather than appointed, she ran again, and although she was unsuccessful she later said: "I consider myself a pioneer for my own sex, hoping that other women will have the courage to come forward the next time there is an election." She was a frequent letter writer to local newspapers, often using pseudonyms such as "A Mother", "Indignant Mother", and "Vox".

Stewart House was the home of John Tiffin Stewart and Frances Ann Stewart and is located in Plymouth Street Whanganui.

lieutenant is now a private home but it is remembered as the Karitane Home and later as the boarding residence for secondary school students. Stewart died in her Wanganui home on 12 November 1916.

Achievements

• Although she retired in 1899, citing the difficulty of achieving progress as the lone woman board member, she was reappointed to the Wanganui board for a year in 1903.

Politics

Stewart fought for women"s right to participate in public activities, including politics, education, and church affairs In 1896 she nominated herself for election to the Wanganui Borough Council with a view to ultimately being elected to the Wanganui Hospital Board.

Views

Quotations: "I consider myself a pioneer for my own sex, hoping that other women will have the courage to come forward the next time there is an election." She was a frequent letter writer to local newspapers, often using pseudonyms such as "A Mother".

Membership

She was the first female member of a New Zealand hospital board. After John Stewart retired in 1889, the family moved to Wanganui, where both Frances and John became important members of the community by hosting parties, fundraising, and leading community organisations. Although she was not elected to the council, in 1897 and 1898 she was appointed to the Wanganui and Marton Hospital Boards, making her the first female member of a hospital board in New Zealand.