Kate+Shepherd

= Kate Sheppard = by Jackie Chippendale === Catherine Wilson Malcolm who would rather prefer Kate, was born to Scottish parents Andrew Wilson Malcolm and his wife Jemima Crawford Souter in 1847. She received a good education, and thorough religious education from an uncle who was a Minister of the Free Church of Scotland. Kate's dad passed away in 1862, her mother brought her and her two brothers and sister to New Zealand in 1868. The family settled in Christchurch, Kate was 24 when she married a Christchurch man Walter Allen Sheppard in 1871. Their only son, Douglas, was born at Christchurch on 8 October 1880. During the early years of her marriage Katherine Sheppard was an active member of the Trinity Congregational Church, giving her time to church visiting, Bible classes and fund-raising. The first petition, in 1891, attracted 9000 women's signatures, the second petition in the following year 19000 signatures. In the third and final petition, in 1895 was signed by almost 32000 women estimated at up to a third of the adult female population at the time. It was then the largest petition ever presented in Parliament. A women's suffrage bill was introduced to Parliament by Sheppard's political ally, John Hall in June 1893, but superseded by the Electorical bill which was introduced by Seddon and which contained a clause on women's suffrage. Seddon had no choice but to introduce the bill, as his Government had already pledged its support. Sheppard's only child Douglas died in1910, her husband Walter died in 1915. In 1925 at the age 78, Sheppard married again to William Sidney Lovell Smith, who died four years later, Sheppard's only grandchild Margaret died in 1930. Kate Sheppard Lovell Smith died in Christchurch on 13th July 1934, she is buried in Addington cemetery, next to her mother, brother and sister. The poet Jessie Mackay, who knew Kate well, described Her as, '' the women whose life and personality made the deepest mark upon New Zealand history ". Today her image graces the New Zealand $10.00 note and the achievements of the suffragists stand on the banks of the Avon River in Christchurch. ===