Sullivan, Mary
Family background
Mary Sullivan was born in 1870, third of nine children to Irish emigrants Patrick Sullivan and Mary Renwick. Her father's quest for gold took the family to several locations before settling in Cathcart near Bombala by the time of her birth. In 1880 they moved to Sydney briefly, then relocated to Bega, where her father was employed as a road contractor until his death a year later. With the family then financially challenged, her mother opted to move to Cooma where she began a storekeeping business, then in 1882 took the position of Sewing Mistress at Cooma Public School. Soon after this Mary's eldest sister commenced teaching in a small school, the first of four siblings to enter the profession.
Pupil Teacher: Cooma Public School, & Wallsend Public School
In 1886 Mary began as Pupil Teacher at Cooma. Over the next four years she passed the necessary exams, during which time her mother took appointment near Newcastle, two younger sisters gained pupil teacher positions, and her older sister resigned from teaching to care for younger siblings. In 1890, Mary was moved from Cooma to Wallsend, bringing her closer to her mother. At the end of that year, she attempted an entry examination for the Sydney Teacher Training College but being unsuccessful then applied for a small school. In 1892 she was temporarily appointed to Rhine Falls (north west of Cooma) while the regular teacher was on sick leave.
Woodfield (Amungula) Provisional School
In October 1892, Mary was instructed to 'proceed at once' to take temporary charge of Woodfield (in place of Gertrude Houston who was on sick leave), a position lasting ten weeks.
Rhine Falls Provisional/Public School
In January 1893 Mary was recalled to Rhine Falls, now as the appointed teacher. Six months later, however, as it became a Public School, her status was made temporary until passing an examination a year later. She appears to have settled to her duties, although in 1894 it was alleged she refused enrolment to a child due to overcrowding, an untrue claim that usefully highlighted the schoolroom's deficient space. In mid 1894 Mary applied for the Newcastle district where her mother was still employed, outlining the difficulties of her current situation, which involved long daily walks to school impeded by 'veritable swamps' in wet weather. Despite her application being endorsed by the inspector, she remained at Rhine Falls and in 1895 required six months leave for ill health.
Narrabri Public School
In January 1896 Mary was appointed to Narrabri Public as Assistant Teacher in the girls' department, from which location she continued her campaign for a position in the Newcastle district.
Newcastle Public School
In September 1897 she succeeded in gaining an appointment to Newcastle Public. Unfortunately, her mother was now in ill health and resigned six months after Mary's arrival, then moved to Gundagai. Mary, nonetheless, settled into her new position where she remained several years.
Birchgrove, & Annandale North Public Schools
In 1904 Mary, now aged 35, moved to Sydney to take up a position at Birchgrove Public. After three years, she was appointed to Annandale North, where she remained for the next twenty-two years as 'a teacher of great worth and skill'. Over time, she gained a higher classification due to her good service, but the death of three of her siblings in succession affected her health. Although granted leave in 1928 to recuperate, her own death occurred in September 1929, aged 59, having achieved more than forty years teaching service. Mary was buried in the Botany cemetery with a large funeral cortege that included the Annandale North headmaster, staff, parents, and two hundred students ['Gundagai Independent', 3 October 1929, p. 2].
[Biography prepared by Joanne Toohey, 2024. Sources include NSW school teachers' rolls 1868-1908, 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.]