Edwards, Alice Ann
Family background
Alice Edwards was born in 1872 in Daylesford, Victoria, second of ten children to labourer Joseph William Edwards and Elizabeth Frances nee Delaney. Within three years her family, including her paternal grandparents, moved from the Victorian gold fields to Adelong, where gold mining was also prevalent. By the time she was fourteen Alice had completed her schooling and passed the Public Service examination, although she waited another two years for appointment.
Pupil teacher: Shephardstown & Adelong Public Schools
In July 1888, Alice, now 16, commenced Pupil Teacher training at Shephardstown (Shepherdstown), walking three miles from Adelong morning and afternoon as her parents were unable to pay for lodging. Her appointment was confirmed by the end of the year, the principal teacher reporting she displayed good health and moral character, obedience and diligence. She progressed steadily over the next two years, passing examinations and seemingly maintaining good health. In November 1890 however, she asked to withdraw from training and become a teacher of a small school, her reasons being her long daily walk, and a claim that she had 'not received proper attention in the subjects required for examination', but her application was declined, there being numerous fully-trained Pupil Teachers awaiting placement. She then asked to be moved to Adelong, which was granted in early 1892. Soon after this she was promoted to Pupil Teacher Class I, and several months later gained a position in a small school.
Henty Provisional School
In November 1892 Alice, now 20, was appointed inaugural teacher at Henty, midway between Albury and Wagga. After a few months, she applied to exchange with a teacher in a locality nearer Adelong who had indicated willingness to swap in order to bring each closer home, however the request was denied due to the brevity of Alice's tenure at Henty. Undaunted by the refusal, Alice then addressed her request to the Chief Inspector in Sydney, offering to pay her own travel expenses, but was again denied. At the end of her first year at Henty the school was upgraded and she was transferred to a smaller school, despite a local petition to retain her.
Widgiewa Siding Provisional School
Alice's next appointment, commencing October 1893, was to Widgiewa Siding, south west of Narrandera. This school had only ten pupils, several families having recently left the district, likely due to economic circumstances. After a month, Alice's grandmother appealed for her granddaughter to be moved due to the school's poor prospects and limited accommodation options that compelled her to walk two miles to school 'on a lonely road'. Alice also campaigned for removal but to no avail. In January 1894 her grandfather voiced concerns about her daily walk on a road used by tramps and drovers with cattle. A month later Widgiewa closed and Alice was transferred.
Balabla, Barwang, Willundry, Bimbi and Kimo schools
In 1894 Alice commenced several appointments of less than a year, predominantly in the Young District. The reasons for her short tenure at each school varied: in one case she was moved in an exchange intended to mitigate disharmony between the incumbent and local residents; two moves were due to schools being converted to half-time; and another because of uncomfortable boarding arrangements. Despite the frequency of location changes during this period, Alice was able to achieve a classification by examination.
Warham Provisional School
In mid-1897 Alice was appointed to Warham (Waroo), which had been closed two months awaiting a teacher, the school then having an average attendance of fifteen pupils. Shortly after arriving Alice requested several repairs including lining the ceiling, white washing the walls, fixing holes, fireplace and window fastenings, and installing floorboards in outhouses - upkeep the local inspector stated was 'very much needed'. Alice also asked for the fencing, which stretched along three sides of the school, to be extended so children would have a secure space for their horses. While this latter request seems to have remained unfulfilled, the necessary repairs were completed in October, the school closing for five days during the work. After a year at Warham, Alice applied for promotion, highlighting her ten years' service and classification. As time passed, she evidently let other teachers know of her wish to move, and in 1899 received a letter from Mrs Emily Clark, teacher at Harefield, stating she would accept Alice's offer of exchange, and this swap was authorised.
Harefield, Junee and Yathella schools
Alice commenced at Harefield, south of Junee, in late February 1899. After six months she asked for promotion to Junee Public if a vacancy arose. Although the local inspector did not recommend this, in October 1899 she received temporary appointment at Junee, but was moved to Yathella (near Harefield) two months later, another short-lived position.
Gregadoo Public School
In February 1900 Alice was appointed to Gregadoo near Wagga Wagga, described as a 'desperately poor' community. At inspection later that year she received a negative report, defects being recorded in student attainments and classroom governance. As a result, she received a standard warning – that unless she showed better results at next inspection her classification might be reduced. Fortunately, her 1901 inspection was more positive, a hard-won improvement as she 'found it impossible to persuade the parents to provide the pupils with books and they also refused to allow them to do homework'. Soon after this the school was recommended for closure due to insufficient numbers, an accompanying annotation revealing that Alice had been 'compelled to buy her own provisions and cook her own food' as the family she lodged with 'gained their nourishment from the consumption of opossums'.
Yass Public School
After the challenges of Gregadoo, Alice doubtless welcomed her transfer in September 1901 to Yass, a school with almost 200 pupils, managed by a Principal teacher, two Assistants and a Pupil Teacher. In early 1904, Alice married farmer William E Bullman, coincident with appointment to Tumbarumba Public School, where after three months she retired having completed sixteen years' service across sixteen schools.
Later life
Alice and her husband settled in the Yass district where four children were born over the next six years. As the children reached adulthood the family moved to Sydney. In 1930, Alice was widowed, after which she remained in Sydney, her children mostly living nearby, until her own death in 1948, aged 75. She was buried in Woronora Cemetery.
[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.]
Schools
- Warham
07/1897 - 02/1899