McNamara, Miss Bridget
Family background
Bridget Agnes McNamara was born c1866 in Yass, second of five children to Bridget nee Marsh and Patrick McNamara, a road contractor and stonemason recognised for his skills in constructing Galong, Murrumburrah, and Tumut Catholic churches ['Tumut and Adelong Times', 3 February 1911, p. 2].
Frankfield Provisional School
Bridget began teaching in December 1884, aged 18, with appointment to Frankfield near Gunning, which had been some time in abeyance due to insufficient numbers. The school's reopening came after parents, mostly railway fettlers, agreed to make the school watertight and repair the door hinges in readiness for a teacher. Bridget travelled to Gunning from her family home in Adelong, her expenses reimbursed by the Department. Within a few months of her arrival, however, the enrolment was insufficient for a full-time teacher, likely due to the itinerant nature of railway work, so the school closed.
Bedellick Provisional School
In March 1885 Bridget was appointed to Bedellick which had been closed some months owing to the illness of teacher Margaret Bell. Bridget seems to have settled to her duties without issue, but after two years requested removal stating she had insufficient time to study for a pending classification examination as she had to walk three miles to and from school. Her request was noted for consideration with her teaching skill rated as 'Tolerable', and three months later she was transferred.
Ironbong Public School
In June 1887 Bridget, having two weeks earlier unsuccessfully attempted the exam, was temporarily appointed to Ironbong near Cootamundra. She was also appointed postal Receiving Officer, a position held by her predecessor, but once made aware of her added duties 'intimated her unwillingness to accept'. After eighteen months she passed a classification exam and asked for removal to a larger school as befit her new qualification. At the same time, plans were underway to relocate the Ironbong school to a site nearer more families, so the local inspector suggested Bridget be temporarily transferred to Bulga Hut Provisional School, only 10 miles from her parents at Adelong and she agreed 'until a more suitable vacancy may occur'. Around the same time, she began to sign herself as 'Agnes' McNamara rather than Bridget, perhaps to distinguish herself from her mother.
Agnes (as she used henceforth) remained at Bulga Hut for four months, then returned to Ironbong in its new location where an increased attendance entitled her to higher remuneration. After another two years, however, she asked for removal, stating she had to 'ride six (6) miles to school and open eight (8) gates on the way which ... has thoroughly debilitated me', the district inspector validating this statement. Shortly after, Agnes contracted influenza, compelling her to close the school for two weeks and absent herself from a Public Schools picnic ['Cootamundra Herald', 31 October 1891, p. 6]. Her illness also temporarily prevented her from taking up a new appointment as she had been advised not to travel for a month, so after her leave expired she was provisionally appointed to Cootamundra Public School.
Broken Hill Public School
In January 1892 Agnes, now 26, commenced as an Assistant Teacher in the Infants Department of Broken Hill Public where an average attendance of 350 children was managed by the Mistress, 3 Assistants and 2 Pupil Teachers. Her salary was now £126 p.a, plus a special allowance of £24 for the remote location. She continued at Broken Hill for three years then asked for a transfer 'on account of the climate disagreeing' with her.
Manton Public School
In January 1895 Agnes was appointed to Manton near Yass, and soon had her classification upgraded for Good Service, having now served ten years at a satisfactory standard. Her ensuing three years at Manton was affected by accommodation issues and health problems, as characteristic of many bush teachers. In the 1895 winter vacation she went to Sydney to visit a specialist for an ear abscess, then was unable to reopen school after her return as she had no place to board. She eventually obtained lodgings quite a distance from the school and in early 1896 required leave for 'inflammation of the heel' which left her unable to walk. Her ear problems soon returned and she required nearly three months respite after being advised to 'take thorough rest from brain work'.
Dulwich Hill & Redfern West Public Schools
In February 1898 Agnes was temporarily appointed to the Infants Department of Dulwich Hill, then five months later to the Girls Department at Redfern West, where she continued for four years despite ongoing health problems including 'extreme debility' and an abdominal operation. On 26 December 1901 she married Edward John Howe, a Railway Stores Inspector, in a 'quiet but pretty wedding' in Adelong, with her younger sister Susan, also a teacher, as bridesmaid. Agnes had already given notice of her intention to resign and this became effective a week later, completing 17 years' service. (Her sister meanwhile went on to a 46-year teaching career).
Later Life
After marriage Agnes and her husband took up residence in Sydney where twin sons were born in 1904. She remained close to her sister Susan who jointly purchased a brick cottage in Dulwich Hill with Agnes' husband, in which Agnes and family lived. When Agnes was widowed in 1936, her husband's share of the property was transferred to her and she continued to reside there until her admission to Rydalmere Mental Hospital in late 1945 where she died six months later, aged 79. Bridget 'Agnes' was buried in Rookwood Catholic Cemetery beside her husband.
[Biography prepared by Joanne Toohey, 2025. Sources include NSW school teachers' rolls 1868-1908, NSW school and related records 1876-1979, historic newspapers, NSW births, deaths and marriages index, NSW Probate records, and 'Early Education and Schools in the Canberra Region', (1999) by Lyall Gillespie.]
Schools
- Bedellick
03/1885 - 06/1887