Margaret will share two immigrant stories, reliving the experiences of Sarah Stokes, who arrived in 1850 on The Randolph, one of the first four ships, and Rosalia Gierszewski, a Vogel immigrant who arrived on the Friedeburg in 1872 and settled in Marshlands. Her stories focus on local women and local history which she endeavours to present as authentically as possible.
Margaret’s ancestors came from England, Poland, Germany and Ireland and were all in Canterbury by 1874. She graduated from Canterbury University with a degree in English and History and taught history in several New Zealand High schools. She has always been interested in history and in the 1990s started Storytelling.
Following retirement, she connected with the Polish community in Christchurch and was able to follow her interest in the Polish settlement of Marshland in the 19th Century. She has been awarded a medal from the Polish Government for her contribution to Polish culture.