Quin (Mrs McAuley), Caroline ('Ella')
Caroline Rose Eleanor Quin, known throughout her life as Ella, was born in Sydney in 1874, the eldest of three daughters to English immigrants Francis Alfred Quin and Caroline Rose Eleanor nee Huffam. Ella's father, formerly a Hong Kong police inspector, began teacher training in Sydney in 1878 and although awarded a basic qualification, struggled to achieve further promotion. His career throughout Ella's childhood entailed a series of bush school placements including Wagra, Booligal, Nelanglo, Gocup, Beggan Beggan and Cunningar. Here Ella's mother taught needlework - without payment as expected - but also managed to give private music lessons, her income especially essential as Ella's father suffered serious ill-health and was eventually declared bankrupt.
While Ella's childhood doubtless gave her insight into the challenges of bush schools, she plainly developed the required skills to gain employment as a teacher, being appointed to Taradale (near Collector) in November 1896, aged 22. The school was at that point threatened with closure due to low enrolments, so her tenure was only envisaged as six-months. Enrolments increased however and she remained for three and a half years. During her time at Taradale, Ella experienced several periods of ill health, in common with many teachers in bush schools, one instance being a bout of measles that rendered her 'prostrated ... slightly delirious and in a very low condition' according to a visitor.
In 1900, Ella was deemed eligible to sit a classification examination due to her practical experience. She was awarded a IIIB certificate and this achievement, along with Taradale's conversion to half-time, gained her promotion to Kowen Public School. The Taradale community, who evidently held Ella in high regard, organised a farewell event:
"Miss Quinn (sic), the popular teacher at Taradale, ... was the recipient of no less than four presentations from her many friends at Taradale and Collector. First, a beautiful writing desk from parents and pupils at Taradale; next, a prayer-book and hymnal from the members of the All Saints Choir (C.E.); then a nice dressing-case from her friends at Collector; and, lastly, a lovely gold brooch from the members of the Wesleyan Church".
['Queanbeyan Observer', 10 July 1900, p. 3]
Ella's move to Kowen was short-lived as only three months later she secured a promotion to Pyrmont Public School. The concurrent death of her father brought her mother and sister to live in Sydney as well. Her mother gained employment as Needlework teacher at Marrickville West Public School, enabling the residual family to maintain a household. In 1902 Ella married Reginald Cecil Macauley, a tram conductor originally from Taradale and settled in Darlinghurst.
Unlike most women of her time, Ella did not resign after marriage but maintained a career as well as having children, teaching at Pyrmont, Banks Meadow, and Arncliffe in turn, until her retirement in 1935. Her youngest son subsequently pursued a teaching career, ultimately becoming Registrar at the University of NSW, two years before Ella's death in 1955.
[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
- Kowen School
06/1900 - 09/1900