Braggett, Henrietta ('Hettie')
As the extract above outlines, Henrietta (Hettie) Braggett taught for less than a year at Weetangera School before resigning due to ill health. She was born in Cassilis, NSW, in 1868 - sixth of at least nine children to hotelkeeper William Braggett and Annie Maria nee Mack. Her father died when she was eight years old, and her mother took over the hotel management, likely supported by extended family who operated nearby hotels. Henrietta's initial education was at Cassilis Public School, then at age 14 she commenced at Olive Bank Ladies College, Newcastle. She returned home nine months later when her mother became ill but continued private study with a local teacher.
In May 1886, Henrietta's mother completed an application for her daughter to be accepted as a pupil teacher, enclosing relevant character testimonials and a certificate of medical fitness. Henrietta, then 16 ½, signed the application and in July attended an examination to assess her academic ability. A week later her mother died after 'a long and severe illness'. Henrietta presumably found a home with family until October 1887 when she was appointed pupil teacher at Chatswood.
Henrietta's move to Chatswood necessitated her boarding, only returning home during vacations. In January 1888, writing from Cassilis, she applied for sick leave supported by a doctor's certificate. The district inspector, however, was not satisfied, declaring it looked like an attempt 'to obtain 3 weeks further stay in the Country'. He recommended her leave be denied but his superiors suggested obtaining further explanation. Henrietta provided a second certificate (diagnosing bronchitis) adding that she would have returned to duty at Chatswood except that she could 'procure neither home comforts nor nourishment' in her lodgings. The inspector, evidently still sceptical, investigated her lodgings, eventually concluding that although respectably kept they 'would not be a comfortable place for a young girl just recovering from illness' so finally recommended the leave. A concurrent report from Henrietta's supervising teacher, noting her punctuality, diligence, obedience, attention to duty, and good health to date, may have also helped.
On returning to duty after her illness Henrietta was transferred to the Infants department of Blackfriars Public school in inner Sydney, now signing as 'Hettie' Braggett. A few months later she failed a classification exam and after being told she must wait 12 months to resit the test, applied for a position at a small school. This request was favourably considered given her difficult economic circumstances and a shortage of applicants at the time, and she was appointed to Weetangera Provisional, collecting vouchers to cover her travelling expenses on 14 May 1889.
In December 1889, after six months at Weetangera, Henrietta returned to Cassilis for the Christmas vacation. At the end of the break, she requested three weeks leave being 'unable to undertake the long journey to Weetangerra through illness' and providing a doctor's certificate for pneumonia. Thomas Kelly, a local man with one month's training, was instructed to take temporary charge of the school pending Henrietta's return, however she subsequently applied for removal to a school closer to home. The Department considered her resigned and informed her that when her health was restored 'an application...for reemployment will receive consideration'. Although Henrietta's health did improve, she did not return to teaching. In 1899 she married publican James Epstein, and they settled in the eastern suburbs of Sydney where they had three children and James managed several landmark hotels. Henrietta died in 1936.
[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].
Margaret Clough, 'Spilt Milk – A History of Weetangera School', pp 18 – 21:
Henrietta Braggett was a teacher at the Weetangera School from 1889 to 1890.She was first employed on probation as a Pupil Teacher at Chatswood in 1886, when she was sixteen, and shortly after at Blackfriars.
Weetangera School was closed from 1885 but when numbers of local children increased, the building was repaired. It was re-opened in April 1889, when Miss Braggett, a nineteen year old, who had completed eighteen months pupil-teacher training at Blackfriars School in Sydney, was appointed. As her parents had died, she had to provide for herself financially and, as she was unable to pay for board and lodgings in Sydney on her salary, was in need of a country posting.
Miss Henrietta Braggett arrived in Weetangera on 10 May 1889 but became seriously ill with pneumonia on 10 December the same year and was unable to resume her position because of continued ill health. Her record card states:"Considered as having left service from 8th February1890".
Braggett Street, Gungahlin, is named after her.
Schools
- Weetangera School
05/1889 - 01/1890