While continuing with the digitisation of NRS 15051, Photographs collected by the History Department of the Department of School Education, we came across this photo which noted on the back that the older woman in centre was Miss McKenzie who worked at Canowindra School for an astounding 48 years!
Caption: Staff at Canowindra District Rural School – Miss McKenzie centre front taught at the school from 1902-1950
Digital ID: 15051_a047_002502.jpg
Date: year only 31/12/1950
A quick look at Miss McKenzie’s personal file revealed her full name to be Isabel Elithan Flora McKenzie. She began service as an Assistant Teacher at Canowindra School on 25th August 1902 at the age of 16 and remained at Canowindra until her retirement on 31st December 1950 at the age of 64. (NRS 4080 [10/37442] I. McKenzie)
Given her long service at the school it occurred to me Miss McKenzie could appear in other photos from Canowindra. Searching the photos I came across this image.
Caption: Canowindra Public School – pupils and staff
Digital ID: 15051_a047_002489.jpg
Date: c. 31/12/1900
No names of the people in the photo have been given and only a circa 1900 date has been noted on the photo.
Could Miss McKenzie appear in this photo?
The young woman seated on the right looks to be the right age (around 16) and may share some of the facial features of the older Miss McKenzie?
What do you think? Could we have found the young Miss McKenzie?
Follow this link to see all photos related to Canowindra School.
Julie says:
I love this sort of detective work.
Jeannette says:
Isabel (Isabella) appears in a McKenzie family history on
http://www.mundia.com/au/Person/847762/6120529631#.
Born 1887 Molong, died 1969 Canowindra, parents Hugh McKenzie and Flora Ann McRae.
I couldn’t find a newspaper death notice (few later newspapers yet digitised), an obituary or a cemetery record. A couple of mentions of teacher Miss McKenzie on Trove.
How little record of a long dedicated life. A warning that not all history is yet on-line.
Miss McKenzie caught my interest because my grandmother b. 1893 Yass also became a teacher around that time, but had to leave when she married.
Julie says:
Wonderful images on Mundia of Isabel and of her mother. The set of Isabel’s moth was pronounced even when she was a youngster.
Anna Gray says:
Thanks so much for the link Jeanette! You can certainly see the likeness of the child to the older woman!