Geraldine Woman 100 This Week

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32315, 5 June 1970, Page 2

Geraldine Woman 100 This Week

A woman who has spent the greater part of her life in Geraldine, Mrs Jeannie Robb Elliott, celebrated her hundredth birthday quietly at Geraldine this week. Unfortunately, her health did not permit her to receive visitors.

Mrs Elliott received many telegrams of congratulations and good wishes. These included messages from the Queen, the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) and Mrs Holyoake, the Chief Justice (Sir Richard Wild), who deputised in the absence of the Gover-nor-General, Mr R. L. G. Talbot, member of Parliament for South Canterbury, the Mayor of Geraldine (Mr H. W. W. Williamson), and and members of the Geraldine Borough Council. Born in Glasgow on June 3, 1870, Mrs Elliott left Scotland in 1882 in the sailing ship Ben Nevis, with Captain Mackie in charge. After an eventful voyage of 97 days, the ship arrived at Port Chalmers, its first port since leaving the Royal Albert Dock, London. There were 27 passengers aboard the Ben Nevis. Mrs Elliott says they were “like one big family.” An Anglican parson, the Rev, Mr Young, who went to Ravensbourne, conducted school as

well as services aboard ship. Mrs Elliott went to St Andrews, South Canterbury, where her father, Mr James Jackson, was employed by, the New Zealand and Australian Land Company as overseer of Clydesdale horses on the Pareora Estate. At Esk Valley, Mrs Elliott’s teacher was Miss Ferguson, whose daughter, Mrs E. J. Chapman, of Campbell Street, Geraldine is an old and esteemed friend. In 1893 Mrs Elliott was married in Linton by the Rev. Mr Thompson. Her father had taken up land there. Mrs Elliott first went to Geraldine in 1897 for a short period, and later settled there in 1901.

Mrs Elliott’s husband, who was in business in Geraldine, died many years ago, and she was left to bring up a young family. An esteemed citizen of the Geraldine borough, Mrs Elliott is remarkable in still possessing all her faculties, and in spite of failing health is a very bright person. Of her family, three daughters, Mrs Margaret Turner (Little Rakaia), Mrs Agnes McLeod (Geraldine), and Miss Jeannie Elliott (Geraldine), are living. Her only son, James, is dead.