Paterson [nee Cameron], Mrs Frances Jane
Frances Jane Cameron was born in Ginninderra in 1862, eldest of five children to Alexander Stewart Cameron and Lucy Catherine Davis, (sister of William Davis of the Palmerville estate). Shortly after Frances' birth her family moved to Queensland where her father worked as a station manager until his death in 1875, the family then returning to New South Wales.
In late 1885 Frances, aged twenty-two, took charge of Berebangalo Public as an unqualified teacher. Although the school had a small enrolment, a new building was under construction. A picnic held in November to celebrate the opening of the new structure was marred by fighting between two men, relatives from an extended local family, which ended with assault charges being laid. Aside from this incident – the ramifications of which Frances felt in later years – she settled into her duties, receiving permission to use the old schoolroom as a residence. By April 1886 enrolment had risen and she received a salary increase. She also successfully applied to have the school grounds fenced to prevent people and cattle continually passing through. In June she earned a IIIB classification at examination.
In January 1887 Frances married local farmer Henry Edward Paterson who was one party in the school picnic fight. Unlike most women of the time, Frances did not resign but continued teaching, with her husband moving into the old Berebangalo school. Her professional life was soon upset by a complaint to the Department from the other party in the picnic fracas, who claimed Frances' husband allowed livestock to wander the school grounds. Although Frances conceded the claim was partly true, she also argued the protest was motivated by a family grudge. The school inspector was largely supportive, dismissing the grievance as frivolous and reminding her to keep livestock off the grounds during school hours.
At the end of 1887 Frances took accouchement leave, returning a month after the birth to face a series of problems. First, she unsuccessfully applied to have the inadequate school tank replaced. Then she gained a poor result at her school inspection. Next, there was a complaint that she was an ineffective and neglectful teacher. The inspector defended her as 'a painstaking teacher of fair ability ... conscientious and trustworthy' (strangely at odds with the inspection report) and again regarded the issue as mostly 'a family quarrel'. Soon after this, fire destroyed a house owned by her husband, along with farming implements and a valuable store of oats.
The cumulative strain appears to have prompted Frances to apply for a transfer from Berebangalo. In early 1889 she was offered Euralie Provisional, which she initially declined in hope of a larger school, but then accepted. A few months later, her attendance register was questioned as it showed a marked increase. The inspector visited and after questioning pupils and examining the register, concluded she had 'systematically falsified' records to receive more income than was due – presumably indicative of financial desperation, although Frances claimed the inaccuracies were due to her habit of marking the roll after pupils had gone home. When called to 'show cause why she should not be dismissed' she asked for another chance - her income being the sole support for her sick husband and child.
The matter's resolution took several months and although ultimately not allowed to continue teaching, Frances was permitted to resign rather than being dismissed. After leaving Euralie, the family moved to Queanbeyan, then Gunning and Young, as shown by the birth of three more children. In later years Frances and her husband separated and she moved to Sydney, supported by her adult children until her death in 1936, aged 74.
[Biography prepared by Joanne Toohey, 2023. Sources consulted 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
- Berebangalo
09/1885 - 03/1889 - Euralie
03/1889 - 10/1889