Molly (O'Reilly) McCallum Teaching Service

Date: 1935 to 1976
Location: Queensland, Australia
Surname/tag: o_reilly, mccallum

This page, authored by Molly’s son Bruce McCallum addresses Elizabeth Mary (O'Reilly) McCallum (1917-2009) (Molly’s) teaching career. Further information is available on her wikitree profile.

Molly’s papers include her initial assessment documents from 1936-1940. These appear on the IMAGES tab on this page as well as other images and documents supporting this story.. Molly completes Junior at All Hallows’ School in 1933 at age 16. …….She receives a teachers’ college scholarship^[1].

Contents 1 1934-1935: Teacher Training 2 1936-1940: Indooroopilly State School (Brisbane) 3 1965-1975: Saint Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School (Scarborough, Queensland) 4 Honorary Positions 5 Sources

1934-1935: Teacher Training

As a junior she completes two years of teacher training 1934-35 at the Queensland Teachers’ Training College in Turbot Street Brisbane, established in 1921^[2], located at 348 Edward Street (NW corner; left-side) – site of the original Brisbane Trades Hall^[3]. Her city residential address is noted as Loreto, North Quay, Brisbane (a hostel for respectable Catholic girls) and alternatively the Commercial Hotel in Eumundi, Queensland with her parents. At the end of 1934 her overall examination result is 75% with good progress in studies, nil absences, teaching ability showing good promise, a satisfactory power of control and a Principal's estimate as highly promising. She is appointed to Indooroopilly State School on 11 October 1935 and noted as an outstanding trainee with a delightful manner, very enthusiastic and a good teacher^[4].

Here she meets her future husband Colin, who completed Senior at Brisbane State High School in 1933 and undertook one year of teacher training in 1934. It wasn’t all work, Molly kept a snap of her and Colin on a Teachers’ College picnic.

It is likely she completes some practical training at Brisbane Central State School, a prestigious practising school (it took student teachers)^[5]. She completes a horticultural course at Ascot State School as part of her training.

She is invited to attend the 50 year reunion of those who attended the Teachers’ Training College, the invitation letter with a list of former students headed as follows^[6].

The Training College in Turbot Street-

That’s where the brains of Queensland meet.

Of wit and learning, it is the seat-

The Training College in Turbot Street.

She attends the reunion in January 1985 and collects fellow student autographs.

1936-1940: Indooroopilly State School (Brisbane)

Teacher assessment records place Molly at Indooroopilly State School 1936-1940 classified as an Assistant Teacher^[7]. She is photographed by The Courier Mail with students in the school library^[8].

In September 1939 her engagement to Colin McCallum is announced^[9]. Teacher Regulations of 1934 stated as follows^[10].

A female teacher upon her marriage shall resign, otherwise she shall be deemed to have forfeited her office, and shall thereupon cease to perform her duties and to receive her salary.

Teachers who have resigned from the service are: .. Elizabeth M. O'Reilly, Indooroopilly. ^[11]bringing an end to her initial teaching service, and likely the reason she was not assessed in 1940. Molly and Colin marry on 4 August, 1940^[12].

1965-1975: Saint Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School (Scarborough, Queensland)

In 1965 Molly and family reside at Mein Street Scarborough on the Redcliffe Peninsula north of Brisbane, sharing house with her elderly mother Maud. This was one of several houses owned by her O’Reilly family. She had previously lived/holidayed at Scarborough during World War II and while living throughout Queensland with Colin and children. She is managing her family of six children at home and supporting Colin in his first year appointment to Kelvin Grove State High School in Brisbane.

Daughter Catherine recalls: there was a great exodus of teachers to Canada and St Bernadette's was so desperate they canvassed all the students to see if they knew of any retired teachers. She put Molly's name up and the rest is history^[13].

In Term ¾ she is approached to assist short term at Saint Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School. This becomes her permanent workplace, teaching grade 2, likely retiring in the mid 1970's before Colin retired in 1979. One can only imagine the changes in curriculum and pedagogy she faced in her return to the classroom in 1965 after 25 years away, but obviously with success and to the satisfaction of the Brigidine sisters, who remained lifelong friends.

In 1965 son Bruce recalls the building of the new classroom block which would house her Grade 2 class from 1966 ^[14].

In 1966 her son Colin has the honour of having his mum as his Grade 2 teacher. On one occasion in the years 1976-77 her son Bruce visits the classroom to play the trombone^[14].

Daughter Elizabeth recalls taking her mum's Grade 2 class for a day in the late 1960's, around the time Molly's mother passed away.

Son John recounts: he and wife Kay's friend Gerard and his family have a big family Christmas every year to which Kay and I are invited. In 2014 Kay and I were at the Christmas party and Gerard's mother, Margaret, brought her sister, Dorothea, who was Brigidine nun. She was a very able person, and she headed up the Order for many years. Sister Dorothea was looking at me intently from the start of the evening and eventually asked “Are you a McCallum”. To which of course I said yes and why do you ask”. She then asked “Was your father Colin McCallum”. Which, obviously, I answered in the positive. Sister Dorothea then went on to say what a great man Dad was and how much she had depended on him as she was a new Principal of large and very successful college. When she had any difficult issue, she would ask Dad for advice which she found always wise and helpful. Then she said “I also employed your mother, Mollie”. I remember mum being hesitant about being asked to go back to teaching for obvious reasons. Sister Dorothea says she told her “If you raised 11 children you’ll have no trouble teaching Grade 2”. She went on to say what an excellent teacher she turned out to be and how well she managed the class. She also was sad to see her leave at the end of Mum’s time.^[15]

In 1994 she attends the commemorative dinner for St Bernadette’s, no longer to exist from 1995, becoming part of the Southern Cross Catholic College^[16].

Monsignor Bartholmew (Bart) Frawley played a major role in developing the Catholic school system on the Redcliffe Peninsula and was Scarborough Parish Priest from 1946 - 1983. Molly and her children Br P. Maurice McCallum CFC, Anne Jones and Gregory McCallum were attendees at his first mass and joined in the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary^[17].

Honorary Positions

Molly held a position on the Queensland Catholic Education Commission in the 1970’s. Establishing her bonafides as a teacher proved vexing due to limited knowledge at that time of the Turbot Street Teacher’s College^[14].

Sources

1. ↑ All Hallows' School Archive, advised to Bruce McCallum
2. ↑ Kelvin Grove Teachers College - Wikipedia accessed 1 August 2022
3. ↑ Turbot Street - Wikipedia accessed 1 August 2022
4. ↑ QSA S21086 Teachers' Training College Student Cards, ITM2927365
5. ↑ Clarke, E., Female Teachers in Queensland State Schools, A History 1860-1983, Historical Perspectives on Contemporary Issues in Queensland Education No. 3, Department of Education, Queensland, 1985, P 31, https://education.qld.gov.au/about-us/history/chronology-of-education-in-queensland/female-teachers accessed 4 August 2022
6. ↑ Invitation letter and student list, in the collection of Bruce McCallum
7. ↑ Teacher Assessment Records 1936-1939, in the collection of Bruce McCallum
8. ↑ undated newspaper article, The Courier Mail, in the collection of Bruce McCallum
9. ↑ The Courier-Mail, Wed 27 Sep 1939, P 12
10. ↑ Clarke, E., Female Teachers in Queensland State Schools, A History 1860-1983, Historical Perspectives on Contemporary Issues in Queensland Education No. 3, Department of Education, Queensland, 1985, P 23, https://education.qld.gov.au/about-us/history/chronology-of-education-in-queensland/female-teachers accessed 4 August 2022
11. ↑ The Courier-Mail, Mon 3 June 1940, P 17
12. ↑ Truth, Sun 4 Aug 1940, P 34
13. ↑ email to family 28 August 2022
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2} recollection of Bruce McCallum
15. ↑ email to family members 27 August 2022
16. ↑ original article, likely from The Redcliffe Herald, in the collection of Bruce McCallum
17. ↑ Original article, likely from the Redcliffe Herald 1996, in the collection of Bruce McCallum