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Johnson, Kate Ann

Family background

Kate Ann Johnson was born in the Gunning district c1866, eldest of four children to farmer John Johnson, and widow Esther Bayley nee Smith who had five young children already. Kate presumably attended Chain of Ponds School, her father being a member of the school board for a time.

Talmo Provisional School

In May 1884 Kate was appointed inaugural teacher at Talmo, about 12 km south of Bookham. The small school, with an enrolment of 14, was conducted in a slab building leased by the Department, reportedly in good repair, with boarded floor and shingle roof, measuring 12ft x 20ft x 9 ft. After only two months, however, she was moved to a larger school in need of a replacement teacher.

Bookham Public School

Kate was given temporary charge of Bookham in July 1884, replacing Bridget Carroll who had been suspended for falsifying school attendance records. Kate's appointment was confirmed two months later as Miss Carroll was officially dismissed, the Department by then having purchased the Bookham school and grounds from the former teacher. Two instances of attempted arson at the school soon followed, with police suspecting a disgruntled member of Miss Carroll's family to be responsible. The disruption caused by these incidents perhaps explains Kate's coincident failure at a classification examination.

Although conditions at Bookham improved, in 1885 Kate failed another classification exam and, concerned that she might be removed to a smaller school, explained she had been unwell with 'brain fever' and requested to be allowed to stay at Bookham. The local inspector supported the request with the proviso her school remained 'up to the standard', describing Kate as a diligent teacher, and popular in the neighbourhood. As enrolments increased over the next six months, repairs were requested to the building which was 'thoroughly drafty and uncomfortable', a possible factor in Kate's ongoing ill-health. At the end of 1885 she reluctantly resigned on medical advice, with the understanding she could apply for reemployment when her health was restored.

Cullagong Provisional School

Kate returned to teaching in early 1886, being appointed inaugural teacher at Cullagong near Young, her positive testimonial to the effects of 'Dr Scott's Electric Hair Brush' (claimed to soothe 'the weary brain') suggesting it may have aided recovery ['Globe' (Sydney), 26 January 1886, p. 2]. While she appears to have settled to her duties, she was concerned she would fail another examination so asked for removal to a less remote location to enable her to 'get instructions from a good teacher'.

Cavan Public School

In July 1886 Kate was given temporary charge of Cavan, north-west of Wee Jasper. While this improved her chances of seeking the instruction she desired by bringing her close to Yass, her transfer was primarily prompted by the Department's need to remove the incumbent at Cavan. Before long, however, Kate was transferred to again replace an inefficient teacher.

Milong Public School

In October 1886, Kate took temporary charge at Milong near Young but after a few months required leave due to ophthalmia, and while recuperating at her family home, Milong school was destroyed by fire. She and several residents were called to a coroner's inquiry where it was found that the school was 'feloniously and wilfully destroyed ... by some person or persons unknown' ['Burrangong Argus', 9 March 1887, p. 2]. Kate was then briefly assigned to Young Public School.

Nanama (Griffiths Flat) Provisional School

In May 1887 Kate was appointed to Nanama (Griffiths Flat), replacing a teacher removed for relocating the school premises without authority. Shortly after Kate's arrival, work began on a new weatherboard school building, 14ft x 12ft x 9 ft. While this was no doubt a welcome development for teacher and students, a couple of months later a parent alleged that Kate did not teach regular hours and had been absent for three days. Several other parents wrote in support of Kate's teaching efficiency, while her three-day absence (due to the Nanama Creek flooding) was sanctioned. The Inspector stated he had 'always found Miss Johnson a thoroughly conscientious teacher', and identified the catalyst to the allegation as the fact Kate no longer boarded at the claimant's house (thereby depriving him of extra income). Although cleared of any charge, after six months she was moved again.

Bullokreek Provisional School

In November 1887 Kate was appointed inaugural teacher at Bullokreek between Young and Grenfell, where a weatherboard building, 'very well built ... with an iron roof and a ceiling' had been erected for an enrolment of 20. After a year, however, she requested removal because the resident with whom she boarded 'made matters very disagreeable ... by circulating false reports', and hearing of an impending vacancy at Berebangalo, close to her family home at Lade Vale, asked to be appointed there.

Berebangalo Public School

In March 1889 Kate took charge at Berebangalo where the average attendance was 15. Although an old one-room building was available as a residence, she chose to live at her family home, walking or riding the 1.5 miles to school each day. She seems to have settled to her duties and as enrolments increased, the school was approved for urgent maintenance including fixing gaps between slabs, improving ventilation, and repairing the fireplace. Meanwhile, Kate also engaged with the local community, as indicated by her participation in the Gunning Show and her resignation in September 1890 due to impending marriage, having completed six years' service overall across eight small schools ['Goulburn Evening Penny Post', 1 March 1890, p. 6].

Later life

In November 1890 Kate married Henry Collier, a Gunning storekeeper, but their life was soon disrupted as Henry was charged with alleged breach of the Bankruptcy Act. After a legal process involving two trials, (the first jury being unable to agree on a verdict), he was found not guilty ['Goulburn Herald', 24 August 1892, p. 2; & 30 September 1892, p. 4]. Kate, meanwhile, was pregnant with their first child and gave birth at the end of the year, with a second child born in 1896. In 1900, however, Kate, brought a divorce suit against her husband for deserting her, (an unusual action for a woman of that time), which was granted a year later, along with custody of her two children.

By 1905 Kate had remarried and was living in Fremantle with her new husband, John Meufing. Sometime later they moved to Sydney, and in 1913 Kate had another child, her adult children having by then left home. In 1916 she and her sister inherited their father's estate, which included the family property at Lade Vale. By 1924 Kate had moved to this property, 'Euramby', which she then leased for grazing. Over the next decade she purchased additional land in the area, now registering her occupation as 'farmer', and continued to reside at Lade Vale until her death in Goulburn Hospital in March 1939, aged 71. Her funeral was held at St Edmund's, Gunning, after which she was buried in the Gunning Church of England cemetery.

[Biography prepared by Joanne Toohey, 2025. Sources include NSW school teachers' rolls 1868-1908, NSW school and related records 1876-1979, historic newspapers and magazines, NSW births, deaths and marriages index, NSW Probate records, and 'Early Education and Schools in the Canberra Region', (1999) by Lyall Gillespie.]

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