Paterson [nee Brennan], Mrs Bridget
Bridget Mary Brennan was born in Tuggeranong in 1862, sixth of eleven children to Irish immigrants, John Brennan and Mary nee Cunningham. In 1870 Bridget's father was one of several farmers who successfully applied for a Provisional school at Tuggeranong. Bridget and six siblings were among the inaugural pupils under the instruction of Joseph Kelly.
In 1879, aged seventeen, Bridget was examined for eligibility to teach a small school and the next year was appointed to Merrill Creek Public near Gunning. She experienced some initial delay in salary payments but otherwise seems to have settled to her duties and by March 1881 had gained a Class IIIC qualification by examination. In December that year she closed the school for three days to go home after the death of her mother. Returning to Merrill Creek, she had a school inspection which rated her skill and usefulness as 'moderate'.
By October 1882, movement of families from the district had downgraded Merrill Creek school and reduced Bridget's salary. Not surprisingly, she requested a better remunerating position but was told her previous inspection report was not strong enough so she should renew her application after the next inspection. Unfortunately, the district was without an inspector for much of 1882 so Bridget was left in limbo, although she received promotion to IIIB by examination. In 1883, as she continued to await inspection, a change came about in dramatic fashion:
'The school premises at Merrill Creek, near Gunning, were burned to the ground on Thursday night last. The teacher (Miss Brennan) resides about two miles from the school, which was all right when she left it on Thursday evening (and) although there were a few cinders in the fireplace, the young lady did not apprehend any danger from them. The fire was no doubt caused accidentally, but, as senior constable Mara has reported the matter to the district coroner, an inquiry will probably be held ['Yass Courier', 31 July 1883, p.3.]
The subsequent inquest concluded the fire was accidental, likely attributable to the school having a bark chimney, and the entire structure being highly flammable. All furniture and materials were destroyed along with the building and while Bridget was prepared to order replacement books and seek an alternate building, she was appointed to Berebangalo Public She found her new school in a 'disorderly state' – a situation at odds with a claim that Berebangalo possessed a much better school than her previous location ['Queanbeyan Age', 14 August 1883, p.2]. Bridget arranged cleaning and repairs only to have her reimbursement claim definitively rebuffed by the district inspector who viewed her spending as unauthorised and supposed the school in good repair. He did however relent when he visited the site six months later, agreeing the maintenance was necessary and recommending reimbursement.
Bridget taught at Berebangalo for two years, the only apparent issue being a difficulty with procuring adequate allowance to cover her rental and board. In August 1885, after five years' service, Bridget resigned to marry George Cameron Paterson, assistant butcher in Gunning and later pound keeper at Murrumburrah. They had seven children, five surviving to adulthood, three of whom became teachers. At one point Bridget's husband deserted her and a warrant was issued for his arrest. In later years she and her husband separated, and she moved to Sydney, living with her adult daughters until her death in 1935, aged 73.
[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
- Berebangalo
07/1883 - 08/1885