Page 8 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

3.

E DUC AT I 0 N

habits of mutual helpfullness arise, and creates
gratitude, that leads to regard. Men under these
circumstances often stand by one and other, through
thick and thin. These conditions promote a belief in
equality, and the habit of judging a man by his performance
to stand by one and other in anything. These people
become suspicious of the new-comer or intruder, who might
upset their monopoly of labour, or their way of life. Such
sentiments of 'mateship' tended to be re·served more for the
native-born. Ideals that were offsprings of loneliness and
isolation became in turn forces to strengthen their
Provincialism".

The Roman Catholic Institutional History does not begin until
the 1820's. Although in many of the first and early convict fleets
there were Catholics, no priest accompanied them. A number of Irish
priests were transported to Australia as convicts, for their involvement
in the Irish Rebellion. Such priests were not allowed to hold their
ministry. The preservation of the Catholic religion rested on dedicated
Lay people. In 1820, the British Government appointed two Irish chaplains
to Australia. Father John Joseph Therry to Sydney and Father P. Connolly
to Hobart. Father Therry had tremendous and aggressive energy, with
much vigour. He provided ministry for an estimated 10,000 catholics.
He began the building of the first Catholic church on the site of the
present St. Mary's Cathedral. He engaged in vigorous disputes to secure
greater religious freedom and equality for Roman Catholics.

In 1823, Lord Bathurst, British Secretary of State for the
Colonies, directed Thomas Hobbes Scott to investigate and advise him on
the future of EDUCATION in Australia. Scott, who also in 1823,
became the first Archdeacon of N.S.W., recommended a system whereby
that attached to every parish church there should be a school, where
children could be taught the "3 R's", Reading, Writing and Arithmetic,
plus the Catechism of the Church of England. In addition, Scott