Davis, Ann Wilkinson
Family background
Ann Wilkinson Davis was born in Sydney in 1885, eldest of two daughters to draper Charles Howard Davis, and Jane nee Wilkinson, recently married and emigrated from England.
Pupil teacher: Ultimo and Stanmore Public Schools
After growing up in Sydney, Ann began as a Pupil Teacher at Ultimo in 1904. An initial report noted her good health, moral character, punctuality and diligence. After six months she was moved to Stanmore, closer to her family home. Over the next two years she progressed through compulsory examinations, reaching Pupil Teacher Class I by early 1906, but tendered her resignation prior to her final exam. Two months later she withdrew her resignation and was 'deemed eligible for charge of a small school'
Toual Public School
In November 1906 Ann was appointed relieving teacher at Toual, but by January 1907 had returned home to Sydney where she received a telegram to 'proceed to Lade Vale School, via Gunning'. Being unwell at the time, she declined the position and instead requested sick leave. By March she had taken a temporary position at Brocklehurst, near Dubbo, until recalled to Toual two months later. Although her reappointment at Toual was initially temporary, Ann was soon confirmed in the position, with the inspector regarding her as 'enthusiastic & energetic', and she remained just over a year.
Wedderburn Provisional School
In Oct 1908 Ann began teaching at Wedderburn, a rural locality near Campbelltown, which increased her annual salary and brought her closer to her family home, although her practice of returning home for weekends and vacations soon became problematic. In 1909 she was a day late reopening school after the Easter break, prompting a parental complaint as she had also been late reopening after the summer vacation, and often left school early on Fridays. Ann's explanation of transport issues and lingering influenza was regarded as unacceptable and after another complaint, the local inspector held an inquiry. He determined Ann was 'guilty of gross irregularities & neglect of duty' after perceiving the pattern of absences after school vacations, and advocated she be censured and possibly 'removed to a less convenient school'. Fortunately, this did not eventuate, perhaps because the complaints were withdrawn as it became known Ann's father was seriously ill with consumption.
Despite her troublesome beginning at Wedderburn, Ann continued in the position for over four years, and became more involved in the local community. On one occasion, after spraining her ankle playing tennis, Wedderburn residents certified the validity of her injury on her leave request. In February 1912, after eight years' service overall, she resigned due to her impending marriage to a local man.
Later life
In May 1912, Ann married orchardist James Haddow Scobie, settling on the Wedderburn property he owned with his viticulturalist brother. Ann had one son, Eric, who eventually combined the expertise of both parents by becoming an agriculture teacher. Ann died at Wedderburn in 1967, aged 81, having been widowed nine years earlier.
[Biography prepared by Joanne Toohey, 2024. Sources include NSW school teachers' rolls 1868-1908, NSW school and related records 1876-1979, historic newspapers, NSW births, deaths and marriages index, probate documents, and 'Early Education and Schools in the Canberra Region', (1999) by Lyall Gillespie.]
Schools
- Toual
05/1907 - 10/1908