Petronella Jacoba Wensing (née Goderie) was born on January 22, 1924, in Teteringen, the Netherlands, as the fourteenth of seventeen children.
In 1948, she married Michael Wensing, a skilled painter and signwriter. Facing post-war challenges in the Netherlands, the couple decided to migrate to Australia. They departed from Rotterdam aboard the Sibajak on May 2, 1953, and arrived in Sydney on June 11, 1953, accompanied by their two young sons.
Their third child was born shortly after their arrival at the Scheyville Migrant Centre.
The family soon relocated to Canberra, where Michael secured employment. Petronella became deeply involved in community activities, particularly focusing on assisting fellow migrants. She joined the St. Patrick’s branch of the Catholic Women’s League and, in 1961, became a member of the Good Neighbour Council of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), advocating for migrant welfare and integration.
A passionate artisan, Petronella specialised in lace-making and embroidery. She pursued formal studies in fashion, earning a Certificate in Fashion from the Canberra College of Technical and Further Education in 1970. From 1970 to 1986, she taught embroidery, needlework, and fashion at St. Clare’s Catholic College in Canberra. Her dedication to the craft led her to study lace-making in Brugge, Belgium, in 1982. She served as the foundation President of the Canberra Lace Makers Association and was a past President of the Embroiderers’ Guild of the ACT.
In recognition of her contributions to the arts and the community, Petronella was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2013.
She continued to share her expertise by volunteering and consulting with institutions such as the National Gallery of Australia and the Canberra Museum and Gallery on lace and textiles.
Petronella Wensing passed away in 2023 at the age of 99. Her legacy as a dedicated community advocate and esteemed lace artist endures, reflecting her significant impact on Australia’s cultural and artistic landscape.
See also: The Australian Woman’s Register.
