Walsh, Kate (Catherine)
Family background
Kate (Catherine) Walsh was born in the Queanbeyan district in 1874, third of six children to publican Edmund Walsh, a widower, and his second wife Catherine O'Donovan who was briefly employed at the Collector Catholic School after arriving from Ireland. [Kate's mother's siblings, Ellen and Nanno O'Donovan, subsequently emigrated and embarked on teaching careers in the Queanbeyan district]. In 1887 Kate's father died and her mother took over the licence of Hoskingtown's Victoria Hotel. Four years later, Kate was accepted as a candidate for a Pupil Teacher position.
Pupil teacher: Captains Flat Public School
In March 1892 Kate was appointed to the mining town of Captains Flat, about 12 miles from Hoskingtown, this position deemed suitable in light of a rule that 'Pupil Teachers - especially girls - are not to be sent to schools where they will be altogether removed from parental supervision'. Kate appears to have lodged with the principal teacher John Filshie and family, returning to Hoskingtown for the weekends. Mr Filshie, 'a dutiful and efficient teacher', reported after three months that Kate evinced good health, excellent moral character and conduct, and was 'of much assistance in the management of the school'. Despite this good report, confirmation of Kate's appointment remained in abeyance for several months until an inspector was able to visit the school.
In March 1893 Kate had a month's sick leave, returning home to recuperate. When she was able to resume duty, her former lodgings were unavailable as the Filshies were preparing to move, so her mother had to rent a hotel room which she regarded as expensive and unsuitable. Kate was also unhappy, reporting she could not 'study or sleep at night with the noise', so asked for removal to Bungendore, Queanbeyan, Goulburn or Sydney, each place having family friends with whom she could reside. Meanwhile, Mr Filshie was transferred and the incoming principal and family offered Kate accommodation, so she remained at Captain's Flat.
Pupil teacher: Goulburn North & Goulburn Public Schools
In March 1894 , Kate was moved to the Girls' Department of Goulburn North to continue her training. After a year she was moved again in an exchange of pupil teachers between Goulburn and Goulburn North. By early 1896 she had been promoted to Pupil Teacher Class I, subsequently passing an exam for admission to the Sydney Training School, but in the absence of a scholarship remained in situ, now eligible for appointment to a small school.
Merrigan Creek Provisional School
In October 1897 Kate, now 23, was appointed to Merrigan Creek near Tarago where she was able to lodge with a family near the school. She appears to have settled to her duties, and the following year her practical skill was assessed as 'Fair to Very Fair' so she was permitted to attend a classification exam in which she passed all except two subjects (Theory of Music and Domestic Economy). Twelve months later she was successful in these topics at a supplementary exam and gained a provisional classification. Soon after this, falling enrolment at Merrigan forced its conversion to half-time so Kate was appointed to Lake Plain Provisional School near Cooma for a few months, before being transferred to a larger school, as befit her new qualification.
Lithgow Public School
In January 1900 Kate was appointed to the coal mining town of Lithgow as Assistant in the Girls' Department. She appears to have adjusted to her new situation, although her request for a salary increase was denied due to the school's classification. After 18 months she was offered a transfer.
Woodfield (Amungula) Public School
In July 1901 Kate, now with nine years' experience, was appointed to Woodfield as the school was upgraded to Public School status. Her first two years in charge appear to have passed without issue, but in 1903 some parents alleged she had shown 'continuous and severe cruelty' towards their children. Kate denied the charges and stated that she has been 'misunderstood and wronged', noting further that the main agitators were an 'extremely bigoted' family with whom she had formerly boarded. After an inquiry the inspector noted most families supported each other's statements because they were related, and their complaints were likely underpinned by sectarian differences with Kate being Roman Catholic and the residents Protestant. Nonetheless, Kate received an official censure, stating that 'on more than one occasion she has used corporal punishment ... in excess'. Despite this rupture, Kate remained at Woodfield another 18 months, her community rapport seemingly restored as indicated by an Arbor Day event she later helped organise that concluded with 'three hearty cheers for the teacher' ['Queanbeyan Age', 1 September 1903, p. 2].
Queanbeyan Public School
In January 1905 Kate was appointed to Queanbeyan, replacing the head of the Infants department, on an annual salary of £104, and seems to have settled readily to her duties. Later that year she helped organise Queanbeyan's Empire Day celebrations, the Department having directed all schools to observe the day by replacing the usual teaching programme with 'short lecturettes ... on the expansion of the British Empire', followed by a 'part holiday', ['Queanbeyan Observer', 12 May 1905, p. 2].
Gardeners Road Public School
In September 1905 Kate, now 31, was promoted to the Infants' Department of Gardeners Road in Sydney. A year later she married Owen Gilmartin who was a clerk with NSW Railways. After her marriage Kate continued teaching until early 1907 when several months pregnant, and in a 'very poor state of health', her doctor ordered 'complete rest'. Notwithstanding this respite, Kate's baby was born prematurely and survived only a week. She then resumed teaching until the end of the year, resigning on 31 December 1907, after 15 years' service.
Later life
Over the next decade Kate had four more children, their births indicating the family moved in time from Redfern to Northbridge, where she was active in the Catholic Church in addition to raising her family, until her death in 1948, aged 73.
[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, and 'Early Education and Schools in the Canberra Region', (1999) by Lyall Gillespie.]
Schools
- Amungula
07/1901 - 12/1904