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Mavis Barnett (née Sheat) QSM
Description
TitleMavis Barnett (née Sheat) QSM
SummaryDunsandel community advocateDescriptionMavis Barnett (née Sheat) is known in her beloved Dunsandel community as its unofficial Mayoress. She was raised in the town and married local farmer Mervyn Barnett (1931 - 1996). Mervyn was also a member and President of the Canterbury Rugby Football Union as well as being involved in the Meat Board, for which he was awarded an OBE in 1994.
Along with raising their four children, Mavis has been deeply immersed in all aspects of community life in the town, including the amateur drama club 'The Dunsandel Players', the local choir, and annual carol singing as well as Trinity church where she is the organist. She also set up the 'Lunch Bunch', a monthly social meal at various cafes and restaurants. Mavis supported the project set up by her mother and sister-in-law, known as Crafts Church in the old Methodist church to raise funds for the new Trinity church. She would also cater for large community events, tour groups of overseas visitors and local funerals in the district. She travelled with Mervyn to the UK and Europe for his work with the Meat Board. They met Queen Elizabeth II in 1982 on the occasion of the centenary celebration of the first successful shipment of frozen meat to Britain in 1882. Mavis is also an avid knitter and seamstress.
In the late 1960s Mavis and Mervyn purchased the 1960 painting 'Canterbury Township' of Dunsandel by noted New Zealand artist Russell Clark: it is a family taonga.
Mavis received a Queen's Service Medal for Community Services in 2016.First NameMavisMiddle NameWinnieLast NameBarnettOccupationCommunity advocate
SummaryDunsandel community advocateDescriptionMavis Barnett (née Sheat) is known in her beloved Dunsandel community as its unofficial Mayoress. She was raised in the town and married local farmer Mervyn Barnett (1931 - 1996). Mervyn was also a member and President of the Canterbury Rugby Football Union as well as being involved in the Meat Board, for which he was awarded an OBE in 1994.Along with raising their four children, Mavis has been deeply immersed in all aspects of community life in the town, including the amateur drama club 'The Dunsandel Players', the local choir, and annual carol singing as well as Trinity church where she is the organist. She also set up the 'Lunch Bunch', a monthly social meal at various cafes and restaurants. Mavis supported the project set up by her mother and sister-in-law, known as Crafts Church in the old Methodist church to raise funds for the new Trinity church. She would also cater for large community events, tour groups of overseas visitors and local funerals in the district. She travelled with Mervyn to the UK and Europe for his work with the Meat Board. They met Queen Elizabeth II in 1982 on the occasion of the centenary celebration of the first successful shipment of frozen meat to Britain in 1882. Mavis is also an avid knitter and seamstress.
In the late 1960s Mavis and Mervyn purchased the 1960 painting 'Canterbury Township' of Dunsandel by noted New Zealand artist Russell Clark: it is a family taonga.
Mavis received a Queen's Service Medal for Community Services in 2016.
First NameMavisMiddle NameWinnieLast NameBarnettOccupationCommunity advocateImage
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Attribution
Researched ByStephanie BarnettWritten BySarah Davy
Written BySarah DavyMavis Barnett (née Sheat) QSM. Selwyn Stories, accessed 01/05/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6612
