McClurg, Alice
Family background
Alice McClurg was born 1851 in County Down, Ireland, one of nine children to Thomas McClurg and Jane nee Wallace. By the time she was nineteen Alice was qualified to teach in an Irish National School but left Ireland after four years of employment, due to poor health. She arrived in Melbourne in 1877 with two brothers, then travelled to the Albury area to join an older brother who had settled there a decade earlier. After passing a theoretical and practical teaching examination, she commenced a thirty-six-year career, predominantly in small schools.
Welaregang Provisional School
In November 1877 Alice was appointed to Welaregang, a remote locality on the Murray River at the western edge of the Snowy Mountains, arriving after an arduous week-long journey from Albury. Her lodgings were three miles from the school, which compelled a daily walk 'through the bush, without even a track, encountering mobs of cattle on the way'. There was a creek enroute which often 'had to be negotiated by crawling (on) all fours over the top of a fallen tree ... having previously tied my umbrella & other belongings to my back'. After a year she asked for removal, but failing to get a response, travelled to Albury in the Christmas break to speak to the inspector. As a result, she was given unpaid leave pending another position, while Welaregang closed due to low enrolments.
Collengullie Provisional School
In March 1879 Alice was appointed to Collengullie (formerly Cross Roads) near Wagga Wagga, where she had 'no alternative but to board at a Public House which is most objectionable'. Her dissatisfaction with lodgings aside, she settled to her duty and after two years Collengullie was raised to a Public School. Alice remained in charge and soon after achieved a classification by examination. Her results were so exemplary she gained admission to the teacher training school in Sydney and as she left Collengullie at the end of 1881, she was presented with 'a very handsome testimonial and purse containing 25 sovereigns' ['Wagga Wagga Advertiser', 31 December 1881, p. 2].
Fort Street Training School
In January 1882 Alice commenced six months training at Fort Street, Sydney, at the end of which she was awarded an improved classification. She then entered a year of practical training in large schools, working initially at Crown Street, then Wallsend near Newcastle, then Gardners Road in Botany. After this she returned to teaching in small schools, perhaps preferring the greater autonomy and community these appointments offered.
Carrawabity Public School
In Aug 1884 Alice took charge at Carrawabity near Forbes, but after a year requested a coastal situation with a residence, her appeal underpinned by the desire to offer a home to a sister in poor health, still in Ireland. The local inspector, in recommending Alice's application, described her as a 'zealous and fairly successful teacher, and a good disciplinarian'.
Kowen Public School
In January 1886 she was appointed to Kowen, north-west of Queanbeyan. Although this situation was more coastal than her prior, it lacked a residence so after six months she renewed her earlier request. Rather than following the usual protocol of directing correspondence through the local inspector, she addressed her appeal directly to the Departmental Under Secretary, reminding him of 'a promise you made me concerning a residence a few years ago'. Shortly after this she was removed from Kowen.
Burkeville Public School
In September 1886, after taking leave to go to Sydney to meet her recently arrived sister, Alice commenced at Burkeville, between Bathurst and Cowra, where she soon received permission to repaper the walls and whitewash the ceilings of the residence. The school's enrolments were then rising due to railway workers' children, but the peripatetic nature of railway employment often engendered unreliable fee payments. In some cases, the debts were struck off the school records but in others, legal action was recommended. Alice remained at Burkeville seven years, until recurring bouts of illness prompted her to request a situation with a milder climate. In April 1893 she was advised to resign temporarily, on the understanding she would be reemployed when restored to health.
Wallaby Hill Public School
Six months later Alice was assigned to Wallaby Hill near Robertson and soon received a promotion for 'Good Service'. The prevalence of fog, however, caused her ill health, so she requested a change, but in the absence of a vacancy, continued at Wallaby Hill for three years, 'struggling on though thoroughly broken in both health and spirits' until she needed three months leave for general debility.
Budjong Vale Public School
Alice was next appointed to Budjong Vale, inland from Nowra, where she immediately encountered issues as she had to cross three creeks to get to school that became impassable in wet weather. Also, the slab walls and floors of her lodgings were 'open at every seam' so after two months applied for removal for health reasons, the local inspector, describing her as 'practically an invalid'.
Colo Vale Public School
In January 1897 Alice was appointed to Colo Vale near Mittagong, where she would remain until retirement sixteen years later. The school did not have a residence but she was able to rent a conveniently located furnished cottage. She seems to have developed a positive relationship with the community as shown in 1907 when a group of parents, fearing Alice was to be removed, sent a petition to the Department asking she be retained, and expressing 'entire confidence in her ability, kindness and consideration for the children under her charge'. The following year she received a 'handsomely designed silver cake dish, and a silver bread fork ... exemplification of the regard of the scholars for their instructress, and the high esteem in which Miss McClurg is held by the parents' ['Wollondilly Press', 26 December 1908, p. 4].
Despite her local rapport, Alice nonetheless experienced the typical challenges associated with teaching in small schools including inferior buildings, fluctuating enrolments, and illness, the latter necessitating six months leave in 1904. In 1911, as she approached her 60th birthday, her capacity for continuing employment was endorsed and later that year, at an opening ceremony for the new Colo Vale school building, the Assistant Chief Inspector 'testified his high respect for her conscientious discharge of duty' ['Wollondilly Press', 30 August 1911, p. 4]. When she retired two years later, having completed 36 years' service in NSW, Alice was presented with a silver brush and comb by her pupils ['Wollondilly Press', 25 June 1913, p. 4].
Later life
After retirement Alice appears to have lived in Sydney, where she died in 1934, aged 83, and was buried in Woronora Cemetery. Amongst her few possessions at time of death were items reflecting her Irish heritage, such as a silver shamrock pin and gold harp brooch.
[Biography prepared by Joanne Toohey, 2025. Sources consulted include NSW school teachers' rolls 1868-1908, NSW school and related records 1876-1979, probate packets, historic newspapers, NSW births, deaths and marriages index, and 'Early Education and Schools in the Canberra Region', (1999) by Lyall Gillespie.]
Schools
- Kowen School
01/1886 - 08/1886