Webster, Robina
Family background
Robina Webster, born in 1869, was the 5th of nine children to Janet nee Vallance and David Webster of 'Woodside', Murrumbateman. She attended Murrumbatemen School with her siblings - built on land resumed from her father's property - and in 1884 passed a Pupil Teacher admission examination.
Pupil teacher: Barmedman Public School
In August 1885 Robina, aged 16, commenced as Pupil Teacher at Barmedman, north-west of Temora, 160 miles (210 km) from home. After four months on probation her appointment was confirmed, with a report that noted she was 'punctual, diligent, obedient, and very attentive to duty' and had 'fair aptitude for teaching'. Despite her promising start, the next year Robina failed an examination, which she ascribed to catching a 'severe cold' while enroute from Barmedman to an exam centre in Yass. She was permitted another attempt a year later but failed again as she did not achieve the standard in all subjects, although her overall score (which included full marks in Euclid) was high.
In the wake of this second failure Robina expressed concern about the financial demand her delayed progress would have on her parents, as they funded her accommodation and board. She asked if she might resign as Pupil Teacher and become teacher of a provisional school instead. This request was declined due to Departmental protocols, but she was offered another examination attempt at which she was successful, and by 1889 had been promoted to Pupil Teacher Class II. Soon after this, her father requested Robina be considered for a position nearer home to provide financial relief to the family. By this time Barmedman's enrolment had fallen, making Robina's position surplus to staffing rules, and she was opportunely moved to Gunning, only 30 miles (50 km) from Murrumbateman.
Pupil teacher: Gunning Public School
Robina continued her training at Gunning along with fellow trainee Catherine Murray, assisting to manage a daily attendance of around 100 pupils. In early 1892 she was declared eligible to teach a small school (at the same time as a younger brother also gained appointment).
Caulderwood Provisional School
In June 1892 Robina, now 23, commenced duty at Caulderwood near Jugiong, replacing a young woman from a metropolitan background who asked for removal stating, 'I lead a most wretched life, ... the loneliness of this place is intolerable'. While Robina's rural background likely provided greater understanding of the challenges of bush schools, after five months she too sought removal 'on account of the small attendance at this school, and also great inconvenience with my lodging'. After her request was denied, she remained three years at Caulderwood, her 'deep interest and great care ... in giving the desired and useful knowledge' to pupils being much appreciated by parents ['Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser', 24 May 1895, p. 3]. Robina's removal came at short notice as was often the case. The Caulderwood residents nonetheless organised a gift and presentation to 'recognise her many good qualities' and express their 'sorrow at losing such a painstaking teacher and such a kind friend' ['Yass Courier', 31 May 1895, p. 2].
Griffiths Flat (Nanama) Provisional School
In May 1895 Robina was moved to Griffiths Flat (Nanama) as the school was raised from half-time, bringing her close to her family home in Murrumbateman. While the school received cosmetic improvements prior to Robina's commencement, within six months the parents at Griffiths Flat, supported by the Murrumbateman School Board which included Robina's father, complained about the inadequacy of the schoolroom for the number of pupils (23). Approval was given for an extension, as well as new furniture and a water tank, improvements that were presumably appreciated by teacher and students. Robina ultimately taught for four-and-a-half years at Griffiths Flat, during which time she attempted two classification examinations without success, her failure perhaps linked to a period of 'anaemia & nervous exhaustion' after the death of a sister. By early 1900, attendance at Griffiths Flat had fallen considerably so it returned to half-time, and Robina was moved.
Brooklands Public School
Robina's next appointment – Brooklands - was temporary pending success at a classification exam. She was given lodgings at Richard Southwell's, and seems to have settled to duty, unlike Catherine Murray, her predecessor, who departed after only four days. A year later, however, Robina resigned, effective 31 March 1901, having completed 16 years' service.
Later life
Shortly after resigning Robina married Joseph Crocker, a Murrumbateman farmer. After a time, they moved to Euralie, south-west of Yass, where their daughters attended Euralie Provisional School, and the family provided teacher accommodation. At a 1919 school assembly, Robina, her husband, and Miss King, the teacher, spoke in turn about the Victory Medals they were presenting to students to impress 'upon the minds of the pupils what those medals stood for' ['Yass Courier', 7 August 1919, p. 2]. Around ten years later Robina and her family moved to Epping in north-west Sydney, where she lived out the remainder of her life, dying in 1957, aged 88.
[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, and 'Early Education and Schools in the Canberra Region', (1999) by Lyall Gillespie.]
Schools
- Nanama (Griffiths Flats)
05/1895 - 01/1900 - Brooklands
02/1900 - 04/1901