1860s NSW – Beginnings of Catholic Education in Ulladulla by Keith McLaren.

I have included this article by Keith McLaren on my website, not only as an important addition to the region’s historical stories, but also as it records a part played by my family, particularly my great grandfather, Charles Murray Jr  in developing and providing education facilities there in the second half of the 19 Century. The article should be read alongside a more comprehensive story of the region, outlined in Chapter 13 page 237 of Joan (Murray) Dawes’ book Murray Family.

 

BEGINNINGS of CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN ULLADULLA.

INTRODUCTION.

 

 

 The story of the beginnings of catholic education in Ulladulla, seems to be one that has not been pieced together before. Thus, none of it is to be found in the recently published major work “The Catholic Church in the Illawarra; 150 Years; 1838 to 1888“. There, the “education story“ concentrates on the period from 1873 on, when religious teaching orders began operating in the Illawarra area.

 

Again, in Father Faherty’s earlier booklet, “The Catholic Church In Shoalhaven; 1877—1977”, there are just a few brief references to the beginnings of catholic education in the Shoalhaven area. In the period 1848-1866, Denominational Schools were controlled by the Denominational Schools Board (DSB). Many of the D58 records are in a fragile condition, and are not accessible for study at present. Fortunately there are some records available, from which we can get an outline of how Catholic education began In Ulladulla, in the last year of the DSB era.

 

On 1 January, 1867, the DSB was abolished, and Denominational Schools came under the Council of Education (COE), which operated until 1880. As late as 1855, education in New South Wales was in a parlous state. That year, the Government received an official Report on the state of the schools, both Government and Denominational, in the Colony. The Report was scathing, declaring that the condition of all schools was in every respect most unsatisfactory.

 

 A decade later, when catholic schooling began in Ulladulla, there were some problems, but as we shall see, these were overcome.

 

The parish of Nowra, of Shoalhaven—Ulladulla, as it was first called, was established in 1863, with Fr David D’Arcy as First resident priest. Ulladulla was only a Mass Centre then. The First Catholic school operating in the Shoalhaven area was probably at Berrellan, now known as Brundee, near Nowra. It seems to have started around 1855. St. Patrick’s at Terara was not completed until March, 1868. Ulladulla got a Public School in 1861, but there was no Catholic school in Ulladulla until 1866.

 

 Of necessity, this is only a brief glimpse of the beginnings of Ulladulla Catholic school, and of some of the people involved in its first decade of operation. It is dedicated to the people ot Ulladulla parish; it has a rightfu1 place in their history.

 

BEGINNINGS IN ULLADULLA

 

 On 9th March, 1866 Rev. Fr J McAuliffe, Parish Priest of the Shoalhaven, applied to the DSB For the establishment of a Denominational School at Ulladulla. He said there was already a school building 20 Ft x 60 Ft (6.1m x l8.3m), plaster boarded, and quite new. The property was a Government grant. A teacher’s residence was being built. The nearest Denominational School (of the same denomination) was 40 miles away.   

 

Fr. McAuliffe said a school was already operating, with 20 pupils (15 boys and 5 girls), and it was expected that the new school would have 30 pupils (20 boys and 10 girls). He concluded by saying the school was very much wanted in the locality. I suspect the site of the R.C. school was the present Catholic site in St Vincent’s Street Ulladulla.^[1] it was sometimes referred to as at “Armstrong’s Forest”, but not by the COE.

 

The existing school mentioned by Fr. McAuliffe. was apparently being conducted by William Brohan, who hailed From Clonmel, Tipperary. This is shown by a letter to the DSB, dated 11 May, 1866. in which Brohan applied for a position as a teacher in a Catholic School. He stated that he was presently conducting a new school with 33 pupils at Ulladulla, under the auspices of Rev. J. McAuliffe. ( I wonder iF Fr. John Brohan, who was parish priest of Milton in 1949 – 1951, was of the same family as William Brohan? )

 

 In July 1866, the Catholic Church’s spokesman, Archdeacon McEncroe, proposed a salary of 60 pounds p.a. for the teaching position at Ulladulla, and noted that a teacher would be recommended for the position once the salary was sanctioned. A few weeks later, McEncroe proposed the appointment of Mr.T.Brennan as Teacher at Ulladulla, to commence on l August, 1866. McEncroe also advised that Mr. Brohan was transferring to Gerringong, to replace Mr. O’Connor, who had resigned.

 

The opening of the Catholic school at Ulladulla had a significant impact on a Church of England Denominational School which had been operating there since about 1856. Its master, Mr. John Done, of Milton, wrote to the DSB in August, 1866, to explain that his pupil numbers had been reduced since the R.C. school started. He also explained that Dysentry and Scarlet Fever were affecting the childrens’ attendance. (Thank goodness we don’t have such problems in our schools now).

 

 Note that the number of pupils was of paramount importance for the survival of these early schools. They had to maintain a minimum average attendance of 30 pupils, in order to qualify for assistance.

 

 Government Funding was at anotorious1y inadequate level; For the year 1866, the proportion of the vote available For R.C. schools was 12,483 pounds. In 1879, Grants For teaching materials were at a rate not exceeding 2 shillings per annum for each child in average daily attendance. (“only absolute necessities…to be approved by the Inspector”). Perhaps it is not altogether surprising to find that the COE files show that attendances reported by teachers in small (and usually poor) country areas, were not always accurate!

 

 In 1867, Ulladulla was a small farming community. Roads were primitive in the extreme, and Ulladulla centred around its harbour, which provided a good anchorage for ships, which were the main source of transport for goods and produce. A steamer operated by the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company, left Sydney every Monday at noon. (Passage to Ulladulla cost Mr. D.J.Lewis, a teacher at the Public School, 7 Pounds For himself, his wife and their 5 children, around May, 1867). Timber (especially cedar), fruit, vegetables, wheat, cheese and butter were the main source of income. Shipbuilding was also carried on. The First Ulladulla Agricultural Society Show was held on 1 March, 1867, and this must have been a great occasion For the local school children, as well as for the local citizenry.

 

 Non-catholic pupils at R.C. schools got a bonus: In July, 1867, the Vicar General’s office ordained that Certified R.C. Denominational Schools should be closed on the following days, so that pupils might attend to their religious duties.. Feasts:— Circumcision; Epiphany, Maundy Thursday, Corpus Christi, Sts. Peter and Paul, Assumption and All Saints. Also, in each district, the Feast of the Patron Saint of its Church. (These days of closure were in addition to those specified in the Regulations).

 

Once the COE began operations in 1867, existing denominational schools had to apply within one year, for certification as meeting COE standards. This entailed a visit from an Inspector. The Colony was divided into nine districts; the Shoalhaven area came under Camden District, which was covered by Inspector John Huffer. Inspector Huffer visited Ulladulla in February, 1867. In his report he noted that Timothy Brennan was the son of a National Teacher in Ireland, and had himself been trained there as a teacher for nearly 7 years. Brennan had been master at the school For 6 months, and the average attendance of children For the Quarter ending 31st December, 1866, was recorded as 27 (19 boys and 8 girls).

 

 Huffer conceded that Brennan’s appearance and manner indicated he was likely to make a good teacher; nevertheless he felt unable to speak definitely of Brennan, and feared that his attainments might prove to be superficial. Despite these reservations, Huffer recommended that the school be certified. This was done on 25th February, 1867.

 

In those days, it was not uncommon for a teacher’s wife to seek extra income by helping at the school; in March, 1867, Brennan applied for a joint salary, claiming his wife was teaching sewing at the school in the evenings. This would have brought in at most, about an extra 10 pounds p.a. Unhappily, things were not good at the school, for in April,l867, a letter was received by the COE, requesting the removal of Brennan, who was “not giving satisfaction………Be good enough to send a teacher immediately….if you have a Catholic teacher, send him; if not, send a Church of England man for a time till you appoint a teacher to the school“. The letter was written by Francis McMahon, J.P., of Milton,^[2] who also said he had formed a Local Board for the school, the other members being Chas. Murray Jnr. and Wm. Egan, both farmers, of Ulladulla.^[3]

Brennan saw the writing on the wall, for he submitted his resignation on 1st May, giving as his reason that his salary was not enough to maintain him and his Family. On 29th May, Fr. McAuliffe asked for Brennan to be replaced at Milton-Ulladulla, but did not nominate a successor. Inspector Huffer visited the school on 31st May, 1867. He reported that only 17 children were present. He tested them in Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar, Arithmetic and Geography, and they failed in all subjects. Attendance records had been falsified, and all charges against Brennan had been substantiated. Huffer opined that the number 0f children in regular attendance would always be considerably less than 30. He also said that there was much need for a Public school about one and a quarter miles nearer to Milton, and he believed Mr Jas. Warden would provide 2 acres of land suitable For this purpose. Furthermore, he believed that if such a Public school were established, the R.C. parents would willingly send their children to it!

 

Charles Murray, of the Local School Board, reported that Brennan left in bad grace, refusing to cooperate with the Board, and quarrelling with them about his salary. Whilst in the area, Huffer paid a visit to Milton also, and noted that there were 12 R.C. children attending the Croobyar Public school, (about a mile to the west of Milton), whose parents had petitioned_for a school of some kind at Milton.

 

All in all, things did not look too bright for catholic education in Ulladulla Just then!

 

On July 18th, 1857, Fr McAuliffe advised the COE that the new teacher they had appointed to Ulladulla, Patrick Downey, had arrived and had been put in possession of the school and residence on July 17th….. “I hope he may be a good man“. Patrick Downey quickly got down to business. On 22 July, he wrote to the COE, advising that “there is needed nearly a complete set of apparatus for the school“. He believed it should be possible to maintain “an average attendance of 30 children, of whom the majority would be Roman Catholics“. He proposed to “use the Irish National School Books, and to give Special Religious Instruction to the R.C. children after the ordinary school hours of the day” “It is not my province to speak of the attainments of the children, but judging from what I have seen today, I should say that little or no attention has been paid to them by my predecessor in office.“ Downey concluded ….“I beg to thank you For my salary classification, and can only trust by future conduct to merit still higher honours From the Council of Education”. Francis McMahon was supportive, and on 23rd July wrote to the COE, backing up Downey’s request for vital equipment, and explaining the state of things at the Denominational school at “Armstrong’s Forest”, as he called it.

 

— – .,..“when the school was first about to be opened…. Mr. Brohan ordered a supply of the Christian Brothers’ books from Mr. Moore. When Moore requested 3 pounds 15 shillings in advance, Mr. Murray got his agent in Sydney to pay this amount. Subsequently, Fr. McAuliffe wrote to the DSB to have this money refunded; but the Board declined to do so, as the books had been paid for“!

….”Mr. Brennan succeeded Brohan, and on his leaving, he left very little of the books behind him, and there is not a Registry nor any other book left in connection with the details of the school”.

McMahon pointed out that no Local Board had been formed “until it was too late to look after Brennan – consequently I was of no service“.  He noted that although the school was nominally denominational, the pupils were of mixed denominations, and fully half would be Protestants.

 “ l…….suggest the books most approved of by the Council for such a mixed community should be sent— so that no form of offence should be given to any child”. …. and ……”There are three maps in stock, Map of the World, Map of Europe and Map of  Austra1ia— as also a clock— these with a few Christian Brother’ books form the entire stock“.

McMahon asked for a

 “full supply of everything….as soon as possible, as Mr. Downey cannot get on without them. The steamer leaves For Ulladulla every Monday at noon. There were 20 children in attendance yesterday“

 

A formal requisition for materials, totalling  5 pounds, 15 shillings and 6 pence, submitted by Downey on 7 August, was examined and approved by Inspector Huffer. Some of the goods arrived by steamer on 18th September, but the books most needed were not included. The latter goods eventually arrived on 29th September. Package and Freight brought the Final bill to 6 pounds 8 shillings and 6 pence.

 

By the end of 1867, a severe drought was causing great hardship in the district. On 13th January, 1868, Mr. D.T.Lewis, at the Ulladulla Public School, asked permission to close the school, for a “day of humiliation and prayer, on account of the drought“. Permission was refused. Lewis worried that he would not be able to keep up an average of 30 scholars… he was “also credibly informed that the Priest has prohibited the R.C. children from attending the school“. Inspector Huffer confirmed that poverty was causing low attendances, for fees were a hardship, and childrens’ help was needed on farms. He approved exemptions from fees for 18 children at the Ulladulla Public School, including 3 of the Teacher’s own children, on the grounds of poverty. On 25 June, 1868, Patrick Downey, the school teacher, was examined by Inspector Huffer. From many of his reports I have seen, Huffer seems to have been a hard man, who did not bestow praise lightly, but a fair man.  Downey’s attainments in Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Grammar, Geography, School Books, Art of Teaching, Linear Drawing and Skill in Teaching, were assessed. The rankings are relatively low-key, in the “Tolerable”, “Fair” or “Moderate” class. However, Huffer was sufficiently impressed to recommend Downey’s promotion From Class 3, Section C, to Class 3, Section A.

 Ulladulla P.C. School was in capable hands now.

 

 A rather touching letter, expressing patently sincere thanks for this promotion, was sent to the COE on 9th September, 1868, by Patrick Downey. Poverty continued to be a problem in 1868. On 19 August, Inspector Huffer reported that at the Ulladulla R.C. School, 4 “Free Scholars” had been admitted by the teacher, by Order of the School Board, because of the poverty of the parents. Huffer also gives us our first description of the Teacher’s Residence at the R.C.school:

1. 1. 1. Material: Slabs: Boarded floor: Bark Roof;

       2. Accomodation: Two rooms; sufficient only for a single teacher;

1. 1. 3. State of repair: Fair.
      4. General Appearance: A bark hut of the roughest description. It is tolerably clean. It stands in an uncleared piece of land, and is not fenced off except from the road. 

 

 A country teacher’s lot was no sinecure in those pioneer days.

 

Teachers at Government schools also had problems, for in June, 1870, Mr.D.Thomas Lewis, the teacher at the Ulladulla Public School, wrote a plaintive letter, telling how he was making do, by erecting calico partitions in the school, (in his own holidays), to provide accommodation for his family. Lewis claimed that no accommodation was provided for the teacher, and he could not find any other house …. “there has been only one little bark hut built since I have been here (3 years …this month)“.

 

 Ulladulla (the Township) seems to have been in the doldrums for many years, as most development was occurring in nearby Milton (called the Settlement). Settlement inhabitants tended to regard the Township as little more than a place for the shipment of produce.

 

In August and November, 1868, Patrick Downey managed to get more school materials, costing a total of 3 pounds, 2 shillings and 9 pence, delivered by steamer from Sydney. Around November, 1868, while visiting Shoalhaven, the indefagitab1e Bishop Polding took a brief trip to Milton and Boat Harbour (Ulladulla). He noted only that “there is a pretty little township called Milton and, four miles on, the Boat Harbour. A very large number of free selectors are clearing the deep forest; so in some years it will require a priest resident; at present it is served From Shoalhaven”. There was no mention of the Catholic school.

 

 Patrick Downey apparently suffered from rheumatism, and feared it might become chronic. During the Easter holidays in 1869, he took the opportunity to go to Sydney, to try the Turkish Baths. Finding the Baths gave him some relief, he applied for an extra week’s vacation, to continue the treatment. With benefit of hindsight, we might suspect that Downey had other things on his mind while in Sydney.  On 1 July, 1870, he wrote to the COE, requesting leave of absence From 4th to 18th July, to enable him to get married. Leave was approved, and on 7 July, l870, at St Patrick’s. Parramatta, Patrick Downey married Agnes Berry. Agnes was born in 1843 in George St, Sydney, where her father, John Berry, a native of Co. Cork, and his wife Eleanor, also from Ireland, were dealers in hay and corn. John was not related to the famous Alexander Berry, pioneer or the Shoalhaven.

 

 Patrick brought his bride to Ulladulla. If she had to start her married life in the rough slab teacher’s residence of August, 1868, it would have sorely tested her pioneer spirit. I have found no record of where Agnes and Patrick lived in Ulladulla, nor of any complaints to the COE of hardship, for that matter.

 

Life was not easy For the Catholic schoolchildren, either.  In October, l870, Fr. Patrick O’Reilly, P.P. of Shoalhaven, was asked by the COE why attendance of pupils at the Ulladulla school had fallen. In his reply, on 21 November, he explained that “the principal cause of the small attendance of  pupils For the last two quarters is owing to the wet weather……great many of the children come a distance of three miles to the school……since the good weather, improvement has taken place“.

 

Patrick’s and Agnes’ first child, John Francis Eugene Downey, was born at Ulladulla. He was baptised on 3 April, 1871, and Francis John McMahon ^[4]  was one sponsor. The baptism is listed in the old notebook which is the original record of the Shoalhaven, commenced by Fr. David D’Arcy, in March, 1853. ln 1971, this notebook was held in the presbytery at Nowra. In November, 1871, Patrick applied to the COE for a promotion; a report in 1870 had rated him “Fairly satisfactory”, and a further file comment in 1871 noted that Downey was “a careful and intelligent teacher“. An inspection was made on 21 November. and the decision was that the results were not sufficiently high to warrant the requested promotion.

 

 December, 1872 saw Whooping Cough raging in the Ulladulla  district; the epidemic lasted about three months, seriously affecting school attendances.

 

Charles Murray the Elder, Farmer, died on 19th June, 1872, at Ulladulla, and was buried in the R.C. Cemetery there on 21 June, 1872. His death certificate shows Patrick Downey was one of the witnesses at the burial.

 

Fr Patrick O’Reilly’s Mission Report of 1872 listed the Ulladulla Church/Chapel as in a “Fair” state of repair, with Mass being held there monthly. The school had 50 children, so Downey must have been kept busy. But with promotion delayed, Patrick Downey was already looking for other opportunities. In August, 1872, Downey wrote to the COE, advising them that Rev. P. Healy of Parramatta had intimated to him that there might be a vacancy there soon, as the teacher in charge of the R.C. school had applied For another post. Downey asked that if the vacancy did eventuate, he be transferred to fill it.

 

Downey did not get to Parramatta, but in November, 1872, he applied to the Petersham R.C. School Board For a position there. He was confident of the success of his educative work at Ulladulla, for he nominated as referees, Mr. Wilkins, Secretary of the COE, and the redoubtable Inspector Huffer. From the catholic angle, he was happy to offer as referees, Rev. Frs. McAuliffe, Cunningham and O’Reilly, successive pastors of the Shoalhaven during his time at Ulladulla, also Fr. Eugene Luckie, with whom Downey worked while teaching at Spring Valley in 1855-1856. It is an interesting coincidence that Fr. Luckie had been in charge of Kiama—Shoalhaven, but much earlier, in 1B50-1850-1852.

 

 Patrick Downey’s application For Petersham was successtul, and at the end of the school year he handed over to the local Board. He left the school well stocked with equipment and teaching aids, which were duly listed in a meticulously compiled inventory, counter – signed by Board members Charles Murray Jr. and Francis McMahon.

 

 After 5 and a half years getting Ulladulla R.C. School well on its feet, Patrick Downey transferred to the R.C. School at Petersham in January, 1873. ^[5] As we shall see, his successors in the COE era did not provide the same measure of stability at Ulladulla that Downey did.

In December, 1872, the Ulladulla R.C. Local School Board indicated they would like to nominate Mr. Dwyer to succeed Patrick Downey, and had written to Fr D’Arcy on the subject. If Dwyer could not accept, they would leave the appointment to the COE.

 

 Fr D’Arcy was now Chairman of the Ulladulla School Board, and on 2 January 1873, he asked the COE to make an appointment as soon as possible. He was not prepared to nominate anyone for the position. On 10 January, Mr David Cleary was selected. He was “lately trained, and not married“. He was recommended For Classification 111A at a salary of 84 pounds p.a.

 

By March, Cleary was on the Job at Ulladulla. He wrote to the COE, asking for books and materials to the value of nineteen shillings and six pence, and recommending that Mrs Phillip Murray be appointed to teach sewing. She was “about the most suitable person that can be found. She is willing, and resides close to the school….there are 22 girls at the school, many of them fit to learn sewing”. Cleary enclosed a letter from Francis McMahon, supporting Mrs Murray’s nomination…“a woman of excellent character, very intelligent, mild in her manner and in every way well adapted to perform this work“. True to Form, the COE bureaucrats chided Cleary for writing to them directly; he was instructed to order materials through the Inspector, also to submit a separate letter on the matter of the sewing teacher.

 

On 31 March a formal application for the position of sewing teacher, was received from Rosina Murray, wife of Phillip Murray of Armstrong”s Forest. Apparently Ulladulla now came under the Goulburn district, for Rosina’s application was vetted by D.S. Hicks, Inspector of the Goulburn District, who recommended

 “a salary not exceeding 10 pounds p.a., provided :…….. she works at least 4 hours per week; the Local Board certifies monthly that she performs the services required of her; that she enters in a Time Book….time of her arrival and departure from the school each day when she attends for the purpose of giving instructions”.

 

David Cleary found the going hard at Ulladulla in 1873. In the November, he asked the COE for a month’s rest, instead of the standard fortnight (!), when school closed in December. He wanted to close down on the 6th, instead of the 20th, of December. Cleary explained that he had come straight from Training School, where he had worked very hard, and had fallen ill, and had to have medical treatment. After Training School, he had no rest, going first to Parramatta, then to his present position Ulladulla. Here he had worked hard, and continued his studies. He deemed himself fortunate in that “the climate was exceedinglv healthful, and he had good opportunity for private study. Now, having worked hard for a long time with no break, he needed a rest; he wished to visit his sister at Braidwood, and this would require 2 days travel each way.”

 

 It is good to read that the system showed compassion; the Inspector was sympathetic, and recommended Cleary be given a fortnight’s leave, as it could be deemed to be an application For sick leave. The leave was granted, so David Cleary presumablv had a happy Christmas, with his sister.

 

On 28 May, 1874, Francis McMahon notified the COE that Wm. Egan, member of the R.C. School Board, Armstrongs Forest, had died. He recommended Mr Thomas Mitchell, storekeeper, Milton, and Mr. James Murray, Farmer, as members of the Board.

 

Oh dear, once again protocol had not been followed! A terse file notation shows that McMahon was informed of the proper course to be adopted re appointment of Board members…and that we know of no school at “Armstrong’s Forest”. (Ulladulla was always the official name, at least up till this time).

 

In May 1574, the COE apparently began to suspect that not everything was being done according to the book at Ulladulla. The COE accountant sent a memo to the Secretary, saving “Mrs. Murray’s voucher is forwarded herewith – “ the signatures are not in a woman“s writing“. ( How on earth could he have known that? However, the accountant may have been on to something.)

 

 By November, 1874, David Clearv had been replaced as teacher by William Ignatius Hanrahan. On 3 November, Hanrahan wrote to the COE, requesting authorization “to fill my ‘abstract’ for 6 pounds 10 shillings, as needlework will henceforth be taught by my own wife, instead, as hitherto, of Mrs Murray. The Rev. M.D. D’Arcy shall furnish you with the Certificate of Marriage” COE notations on the above letter shows that the CUE had a nice sense of the proprieties:—

 (i)…“informed that his request cannot be acceded to until Mrs Murray resigns, and he forwards his marriage certificate;

(ii) Mrs Murray has tendered her resignation, to take effect From 31st October, ultimo”.

 

We have already noted Patrick Downev’s approach to the fundamental part of a Catholic education, namely Religious Instruction (RI). He decided to give RI after the ordinary school hours of the day, an eminently sensible decision, given the presence of non—catholic pupils at the school. Now it seems to be a basic law in human affairs, that there are always people who feel the need for change, on the (doubtless) sincerely held belief that all change means progress! At some indeterminate time after Downey’s departure, this law seems to have manifested itself.

 

 Thus it is no surprise to find, in March 1875, Wm. Hanrahan writing to the COE, seeking permission to alter the time for RI From the morning, to the last period of the day, so that non catholic pupils could go home! The COE fielded the ball, and returned it: “what does the Local School Board say?” In due course, the Board solemnly approved Hanrahan’s application. By now, Wm. Hanrahan was seeking greener pastures, and in May, 1875, he requested appointment to Robertson Public School, then vacant. He said he had previously taught in Provisional schools near Robertson, and preferred that district, as it agreed better with his health. Furthermore, he preferred a Public to a Denominational school!

 

Either Hanrahan did not get his wish, or he changed his mind. In September, 1875, we find him writing (From Yatteyattah) to the COE, seeking advice on his rights to sue for recovery of 14 shillings and 9 pence, owed to him for school Fees for three children lately at the school. The errant Family had decamped to Sydney. The Local School Board duly certified that the children’s father was “in a position to pay for the education of his children”. What the outcome was, has not been recorded.

 

Still at Ulladulla in July, 1877, Hanrahan applied for promotion to Secn. A oF 3rd Class. He related that before entering Training School, he had taught at Provisional Schools at Yarrawah (For 12 months), then at Garrett’s Flat (now Mt Murray) for 18 months. When he left the Training School, after receiving apparently favourable Inspector’s reports in 1872 and 1873, he felt the rating he received, Class 3, Section C, was less than he had deserved. Eleven months out From Training School, he was promoted by examination to Secn. B. Since then he had received another two inspector’s reports.

 

Promotions did not come easy in those hard times. COE File notes show that Hanrahan had been rated “Very Fair“ in 1876, and “Good” in 1877. But the law required that he receive three reports before promotion. So they ruled that, deserving as he was, Hanrahan must await his next inspection, or compete for 3A by examination forthwith.

 

 Hanrahan resigned at the end of the 1878 school year, and apparently returned to Robertson. By the following February (22nd), the poor fellow was writing his fourth letter to the COE From Robertson, still chasing his salary for December, 1878. The COE had managed to lose the Inventory which Hanrahan, following procedures, had sent to Mr. O’Byrne, the Inspector of Schools. Goulburn, on his departure From Ulladulla school. No Inventory. no Pay!

 

Fortunately for Hanrahan, the Inventory had been checked and countersigned by Local School Board members Charles Murray and Thomas Mitchell, and Hanrahan had prudently kept a copy.

 

Meanwhile, the Ulladulla R.C. School Board told the COE they were unable to recommend a replacement for Hanrahan, and left it to the COE to find someone. Thomas Henry Arkins was the next teacher at Ulladulla R.C. School. On 20 January 1879, he applied to the COE for the appointment  of a teacher of needlework. Attached to this letter is an undated note from Arkins, recommending “Mrs P. Murray, who was a sewing teacher from the opening of the school till a few years ago, when the wife of the teacher, Mr. Hanrahan, took charge”.

 

 Here local politics seem to have surfaced, as we shall see:

 

On 23 January, Francis McMahon, writing to the COE for the Local School Board, reported that Arkins had arrived the previous Saturday, and entered on his duties. He went on to say the Board sought the appointment of Miss Kate Murray to be Sewing Mistress.    .“…she was a very nice mannered young girl (19 years), fairly educated..    who had spent some time in Maitland Convent School… she was recommended as the most suitable person in this district”.  On 30th January, Hate Murray applied for the position of Sewing Mistress in the Yatteyattah Denominational School. The COE’s reply to Kate’s letter was that “Mrs. Murray be informed there is no Denominational School at Yatteyattah. Ask if she means Ulladulla R.C. School? Kate humbly replied on 15th February, agreeing that she had meant the Certified Denominational School at Ulladulla. (There seems to have been more than a little confusion among the local residents about the correct title of the R.C. School. We have already seen how Ulladulla R.C. School Board member Francis McMahon sometimes described it as at “Armstrong”s Forest“, only to be corrected by the COE. Arkins’ letter oF 20th January was addressed From “CertiFied R.C. School, Yatteyattah, Ulladulla”).

 

How comes an intriguing contretemps:

On17 February, we find Mrs. Rosina Murray rom Yatteyattah, applying For the position or Sewing Mistress at Ulladulla. “I held the position for many years previous to the marriage of the late teacher (Hanrahan), when the post was occupied by that gentleman’s wife”. (A COE File note says she held the job From 30 May, 1873 to 31 October, 1874, when she resigned).

Only 4 days later, we find Rosina Murray writing again to the COE. She says

“…a letter came to me …….re Sewing Mistress For Ulladulla Certified R.C. School…….it was addressed to Mrs Kate Murray. You have made a mistake, there is no such person in the district…There is a Miss Kate Murray, but she is very young, so I concluded it cannot be for her. Hoping you put the mistake to rights“.

There were some red faces at COE headquarters?

 

One would like to know what was going on behind the scene in Ulladulla. It proved too much For Thomas Henry Arkins. On 14th July, 1879, writing From Ulladulla R.C. School, he said …...”I apply For removal from Ulladulla…this would prevent any antagonism between the above school and the new Public School, Yatteyattah”. A COE File Note says “Arkins to be appointed temporarily to Araluen R.E. School; consult Ulladulla Board as to whether they desire to recommend a successor; refer to Rev. E. Walsh and F. McMahon, Esq.“  Arkins handed over to Board Member Charles Murray on 30 July.

 

The Ulladulla R.C.School Board took umbrage at Arkins being let go before a replacement teacher had been found, and told the COE so, in a letter written on 18th August, 1879. As a result, Mr. B. Carroll, of Milton, was appointed to take temporary charge, to receive 7 pounds (and Fees) per month. Sewing continued to be a controversial matter at Ulladulla R.C. School. Kate Murray kept the issue alive, by applying for the position again, in October, 1879. The matter was referred to Inspector G. O’Byrne at Goulburn, who said that while he had no objection to the appointment of Miss Murray, “I do not think her services required, as I am or the opinion it will be….necesary to withdraw the Certificate from the school shortly“. The COE’s decision was that Kate’s application be declined……“the number of pupils not being sufficient to warrant such appointment“.

 

The Local School board were not to be put off lightly. Francis McMahon took up the cudgels again on 13 October, this time going direct to the Minister of Education:»…. “I have the honour to inform you the R.C. Certified Denominational School at Ulladulla has a large attendance, and most part females, and as there is no Sewing Mistress, parents are most anxious to-have one appointed. On their behalf, I have the honour to request you to have a Sewing Mistress appointed. I beg leave to recommend to your favourable notice Mrs  Phillip Murray who filled the position before, to the satisfaction of all concerned”. File notes show that two Inspectors, O’Byrne and Mclntyre, were consulted. O’Byrne maintained “attendance barely 30; I scarcely think sewing mistress needed, but if one is to be appointed, Mrs. Murray is a very suitable person“, McIntyre’s comment was “as about two thirds oF the 30 pupils in average attendance are Females, I recommend appointment oF Mrs. Murray as Sewing Mistress, and that the teacher be allowed full salary on the condition he pay Mrs. Murray”.

 Sadly for the interested reader, the outcome of the prolonged battle to have sewing taught at Ulladulla R.C. School was not recorded. But this little saga shows us that the difficulty in finding employment that we see in 1991, is no new phenomenon! The last information that I have Found recorded for the Ulladulla P.C. school during the COE period, is in Fr Michael D’Arcy’s Mission Report for Shoalhaven, in 1880:- He recorded that only one school was church property, namely that at Ulladulla. The building, made of weatherboard, was also used as a Mass Centre. There were Forty pupils, and the headmaster was Mr. Bernard Carrol, who received an annual salary of 84 pounds. ‘

 

In the entire district, there were 200 Catholic children aged between 7 and 14 years, and 100 of these attended Sunday Schools at the various centres.

Appendix including Downey Obituary is here.