History: Matilda was a lady of many talents
The headstone of Matilda Gustava Croucher, nee Kelling, at Richmond Cemetery, with her husband buried beside her. Photo: Supplied.
Many times, in days gone past, much is written about the men in a community. But, in comparison, not so much about the women behind the men.
One such lady was Matilda Gustava Croucher, wife of John Martin Croucher, Mayor of Richmond.
Matilda was born in Ranzau in 1845 where she lived for much of her life.
She was the second child of Johann Friedrich August Kelling, better known as Fedor, and Johanna Christiana Lampe.
Fedor and Johanna had arrived in New Zealand via the ship Skiold in September 1844 from Germany.
Fedor and his brother Charles were put in charge of this expedition of German settlers who were to come out on the ship.
The pair were also tasked with the management of the land that Count Ranzau had purchased.
In 1859 Fedor was appointed a Justice of the Peace and in 1869 became German Consul in Nelson.
Life in early Waimea East was tough and the young community experienced many hardships, but with the resolute attitude of Matilda’s father the family overcame the difficulties.
Fedor was a keen educationist and staunch supporter of any forward progress; therefore he saw to it that Matilda, along with her siblings, attended the best schools in the district.
Shortly after leaving school, Matilda established a successful private school in Richmond where she proved to be a very gifted teacher.
She was much thought of by the parents of her students.
In 1881, Matilda gave up teaching when she became the second wife of John Croucher.
John’s first wife, Elizabeth nee Jary, had died a year earlier in 1880 which had left 10 children motherless.
Matilda stepped into the role as a mother of all ten children, ranging from ages 17 to just one year old.
John and Matilda also had one daughter together, Ethel Louise, who became well-known in musical circles in Christchurch as a violinist.
Having studied for nearly five years at the Leipzig Conservatorium she was awarded the Helbig Diploma and Scholarship of Honours, a distinction that only one other New Zealander, to this time, had been awarded.
Matilda continued to play a role in the community and was, for many years, a valued worker for the local Anglican Church.
She managed the family home which fronted Queen St and was known as ‘Isleden’, and supported John in his business at Croucher’s Mill.
The mill had experienced a fire in 1878, however, John rebuilt a more modern and efficient mill which he named ‘Phoenix Flour’ in reference to its rise from the ashes.
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By 1903 a bakery and store were built in front of the mill.
John was a civic man and served as mayor of Richmond from 1903 to 1907 with Matilda acting as host at many formal functions in her role as mayoress.
Matilda died peacefully at her residence on the 22nd of September 1933 and was buried in the Richmond Cemetery beside her husband who had predeceased her in 1916.