Bassett, (Caroline) 'Amy'
Family background
Amy Bassett was born in 1871 in Eldorado, Victoria, the eldest of nine children to miner George Bassett, and Henrietta nee Margrie. Although christened 'Caroline', she was known by her middle name, 'Amy', throughout childhood and her teaching career, but reverted to 'Caroline' upon marriage.
The family moved to New South Wales when Amy was about three years old, settling in Shepardstown near Adelong where her father supported an application for a provisional school in 1879, listing Amy and two siblings for enrolment. After a decade in the area the family moved to Wollongong where Amy, now 18, applied to become teacher of a small school.
Berkeley Public School
Amy's first appointment, in October 1889, was four months as temporary teacher at Berkeley Public near her home, where her satisfactory performance recommended her for another temporary position.
Canberra Public School
Amy's next appointment was to Canberra Public in March 1890, replacing Elizabeth Brook who was on leave for health reasons. When Miss Brook chose to resign two months later rather than resume her position, Amy retained charge, the parents attesting their children were 'progressing favourably'. Before long however, low enrolment caused the school's conversion to half-time and Amy was sent to the Forbes district as there were no vacancies near her family home.
Bogolong Public School
In March 1891 Amy took temporary charge of Bogolong Public School near Grenfell, with an average attendance of 19 pupils, receiving an annual salary of £96. In December she attempted a classification examination which, if successful, would have helped her achieve a permanent position. Although she did not pass, she retained charge of Bogolong. Ten months later, her mother died suddenly and her father petitioned to have Amy transferred nearer Wollongong to oversee the care of her siblings. Unfortunately, her unclassified status made her ineligible for such a move, and as her family's financial situation prevented her from resigning, she remained in place.
In her third year at Bogolong Amy was asked to account for defects found at regular school inspection. Although she explained her pupils' low achievements were likely caused by their irregular attendance due to pervasive whooping cough, she was cautioned 'to remove the grounds for complaint without delay'. In June 1893 she attempted another classification exam but again failed. Her situation did not improve in 1894 when she was again received a negative report, albeit tempered by the inspector's comment that 'Miss Bassett is a diligent, well-intentioned girl but ... much of her energy has been misdirected'. After another poor report in 1895, Amy revealed that for twelve months she had suffered intense headaches for which she 'could get no relief till placed under a doctor's care'. She also conceded her teaching methods could be improved but declined to attempt another examination until her health improved. Although her account was considered 'partly satisfactory', she was nonetheless moved to a lower ranked school.
Marina Public School
In April 1895, Amy was given temporary charge of Marina (Nine Mile) Public School, north of Young, her salary reduced to £91 p.a. Shortly before her arrival the school was painted, broken glass replaced, and a gate put on the verandah to discourage tramps from camping. While the improvements implied a positive future for the school, six months later low attendances due to whooping cough and children kept home to water stock, prompted consideration of the school's closure. Perhaps in view of this threat, attendances improved but in 1896 Amy was presented with a very different problem. She initially tried to deal with the issue herself but eventually sought help from the school inspector, reporting that the head of the house in which she boarded, (on recommendation from the inspector), wanted to make her his 'second wife' (mistress). She had 'opposed his designs' and quickly found other lodgings, but the situation escalated as her former landlord 'concocted untruths and began to condemn my character'. In her appeal to the inspector Amy wrote, 'I leave it to you sir to judge how unpleasant my surroundings are and desire to know ... if there is any possibility of me getting a removal at once.' Although the inspector was supportive, describing Amy as 'a modest, well-conducted girl' and her former landlord as a 'peculiar man', she waited two months for a transfer.
Kikiamah Provisional School
On 1 October 1896 Amy was appointed to Kikiamah Provisional, between Young and Grenfell. Although no doubt relieved to have left Marina, she was immediately compelled to close Kikiamah school to travel to Sydney to give evidence in 'The Dictionary Conspiracy Case', whereby travelling salesmen sold books to teachers that they falsely claimed were endorsed by the Department of Public Instruction. A week later, Amy returned to school via Grenfell, where she collected the luggage and horse she had left with her brother in her hasty departure for Sydney. She then rode to Kikiamah to assume duty, incurring a caution for taking longer than necessary to reopen the school, but stayed less than a year, resigning on 31 May 1897 due to ill health.
Later life
After resigning Amy returned to her family home in Wollongong where several siblings still lived, two younger sisters being fortunate to secure local teaching positions. In September 1899 she married Engle Henry Gravenmaker, a miner from Grenfell, the marriage register listing her occupation as 'in service', indicating how she supported herself after teaching. From this point she reverted to her christened name, 'Caroline'. For the first years of marriage Amy/Caroline lived in Tasmania where her husband worked in the mines near Strahan, and their first three children were born. The births of five more children indicate a move back to NSW around 1904, with eventual settlement in Grenfell, her husband's hometown, where Amy/Caroline lived until her death in 1951, aged 80.
[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.]
Schools
- Canberra School
03/1890 - 03/1891