Naughton, Frances
Frances Naughton was born in 1856 near Crookwell, one of eight children to farmer Edward Naughton and his second wife Ann nee Broderick, both from Galway. In 1874, aged eighteen, Frances completed three months training at Goulburn Public School (the first of three Naughton siblings to pursue teaching) and was appointed to Middle Arm Provisional near Goulburn. When the local inspector visited shortly after her arrival he reported, 'government is cheerful and vigilant, and the general discipline very fair.' The following year he noted Frances' instruction was 'properly regulated and systematically and intelligently carried on'.
While Frances settled ably to teaching at Middle Arm, she found her lodgings uncomfortable – a common issue for female teachers in remote locations – and intimated that the people with whom she boarded were inhospitable. This likely prompted her transfer request, which led to appointment at Ginninderra Provisional in June 1876. Unfortunately, Frances made a poor impression on the local inspector who, when visiting a week after her commencement, found the pupils still awaiting her appearance an hour past school opening time. The inspector did not accept her excuse of a faulty watch, nor her claim that incomplete school records were caused by ill health, and she received an official caution.
Fortunately, Frances overcame her problematic start at Ginninderra. By late 1877, with enrolment up to 33, it was converted to a Public School and Frances was recommended to retain charge, conditional on classification within the year. In mid 1878, however, she took appointment at Cuttycuttygang Provisional, which brought her closer to her family home and her recently widowed mother. Around this time, her sister Eliza also began teaching relatively nearby. Frances' departure from Ginninderra elicited recognition of her as a 'painstaking and conscientious' teacher, who would take with her 'the best wishes of the people both young and old' ['Queanbeyan Age', 19 June 1878].
Soon after Frances began at Cuttycuttygang, the school's name was changed to 'Golspie' in response to residents' wishes to reflect common usage and align it with the nearest post office. Frances remained at Golspie two years, then in May 1880, having completed six years teaching service, she resigned and shortly after married Goulburn auctioneer Charles McAlister. Her departure from Golspie prompted a poetic tribute that concluded:
'Where'er you go,
We fully know,
Your goodness will befriend you,
Where'er you stay,
Though far away,
May happiness attend you'.
A Farewell to Miss F. Naughton, by Flora E. Cameron
['Goulburn Herald and Chronicle', 29 May 1880, p.5]
After marriage, Frances settled in the Taralga area. She had three children, the youngest of whom also became a Departmental teacher. Frances died in Goulburn in 1921, aged 65.
[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
- Ginninderra School
05/1876 - 06/1878