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Moon, Ethel Maude

Ethel Moon was one of many young women teachers assigned to a rural school who married into a local family. Miss Ethel M Moon was appointed as teacher at Brooklands School in April 1903.

Some years after teaching at Brooklands school, Ethel married George Southwell (born on 15th July 1877 to 'Captain Sam' and Ann Southwell) at the Prospect Church of England on 20th December 1913. They settled at 'Sunnyside', Hall, where George engaged in farming activities, and had an excellent orchard. George and Ethel had no children but Ethel's nephew Allan Thomas Moon lived with them. Ethel died on 15th January 1944. She and George were both buried at Hall Cemetery.

Wallaroo Tennis Club

Report of a meeting at Wallaroo on Wednesday night last chaired by Mr Southwell at which a tennis club was formed. Miss E Moon was elected Treasurer, also a Committee member.
Queanbeyan Observer (Wallaroo Correspondent) 21.10.1904

In a letter of 4.12.1906 G. Kinlyside and W McClung, Joint Secretaries of Hall Progress Association, sought advice as to the reopening of the school which had been closed for some time due to the illness of the teacher Miss Moon
Brooklands School file – AO NSW Reference 5/15121.2

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*More about Ethel's family and teaching career

Family background

Ethel Maude Moon was born in western Sydney in 1877, one of eleven children to farmer John Moon and Ellen nee Leabon. She attended Blacktown Public School along with her siblings, the township then regarded as 'a whistle¬stop on the main line from Parramatta to the Blue Mountains'.

Pupil teacher: Blacktown Public School

In April 1897 twenty-year old Ellen began as Pupil Teacher at Blacktown, her employment coinciding with the retirement of an older sister after nine years teaching at the school. Ethel progressed steadily through her training over the next four years, then sat an examination for the Sydney training college but was unsuccessful, so stayed at Blacktown another two years awaiting appointment to a small school, during which time two of her younger sisters commenced as Pupil Teachers, while another sadly died of rheumatic fever.

Brooklands Provisional School

In April 1903 Ethel was appointed to Brooklands and while she received vouchers to cover her travel from Blacktown, she had to request additional reimbursement after being compelled to stay overnight in Queanbeyan awaiting transport to Hall. After arriving, she appears to have lodged with James and Hannah Southwell at 'Heywood', and settled to her teaching duties although she earned a reprimand in her first year for delaying to report two instances of student nonattendance. The first instance was due to wet weather, a common reason, while the other was due to her pupils attending a picnic at Wattle Park, which she joined after school hours, contributing to the musical entertainment ['Queanbeyan Observer', 13 October 1903, p. 2].

In late 1903 Ethel required three weeks leave for influenza, her return to duty and subsequent positive school inspection report being noted by the local press ['Queanbeyan Observer', 24 November 1903, p.2]. A few weeks later she again merited mention for organising an end-of-year school concert, the programme including 'songs, recitations, dialogues and readings' ['Queanbeyan Observer', 29 December 1903, p. 2]. In early 1906, Ethel required extended leave for 'weakness & debility', a Government Medical Officer recommending complete rest and a change of climate. Although she likely returned to duty at Brooklands for a short while after recovery, she was soon transferred as the enrolment fell below the number required for a full-time teacher. Ethel's connection with the community was not severed, however, as later events would show.

Neila Creek Provisional School

In late May 1906 Ethel commenced at Neila Creek near Cowra, where she soon developed health issues. She initially took leave for laryngitis, then submitted a doctor's certificate stating she was suffering from 'nervous exhaustion', and 'would benefit from a removal to a more populous locality' with 'more cheerful surroundings'.

Dapto Public School

In mid-September 1906 Ethel was appointed Assistant teacher at Dapto, where she remained for two-and-a-half years, her health initially improving, then lapsing with a severe episode of laryngitis.

Blacktown Public School

In January 1909, after some months recovering at home, Ethel, now 32, was appointed Assistant teacher at Blacktown, joining her two younger sisters on staff. She submitted a medical certificate stating that she had recovered from 'Aphonia' (complete loss of voice), a condition that would reoccur, along with episodes of bronchitis and influenza, in ensuing years. Despite her episodic ill health, she appears to have competently managed her duties at Blacktown, on one occasion enacting the Principal's duties until a relieving teacher was sent, and on another delivering an Empire Day address to local councillors, businessmen, students and parents ['Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate', 31 May 1913, p. 12]. In December 1913, she married George Southwell, orchardist and grazier from Hall, and retired from teaching, having completed 16 years' service.

Later life

After marriage, Ethel moved to 'Sunnyside', her husband's Hall property. While her health issues continued, she 'possessed a great spirit and a clear mind' and became closely involved with the Wattle Park Methodist Church, acknowledged as 'a regular attendant... a tower of strength in the choir, (and) a gifted Sunday school teacher' ['Methodist' (Sydney), 26 February 1944, p. 12]. After she was widowed in 1942, she rented out the cottage and moved to Sydney, living alternately with two of her sisters until her own death in January 1944. A few years after her death a nephew organised a memorial window in the Wattle Park Methodist Church to acknowledge Ethel and her husband's longstanding involvement.

[Biography prepared by Joanne Toohey, 2025. Sources include NSW School Teachers' Rolls and Career Cards, 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.]

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