Marion Caroline Kekwick

Precolumb Teacher 1878 – 1881

Uleybury  Teacher 1883-1887

Marion was born on 3^rd February 1865 at North Adelaide. Her parents were William Darton Kekwick and Marion Caroline Owen. Marion was born in October 1843 in Western Australia.  The couple married in 1864 at North Adelaide. William was born in London on 3^rd December 1822, the son of Daniel Kekwick and Mary Ann Darton. He arrived in Adelaide aboard the “Warrior” on 17^th April 1840 with his widowed father, two brothers and 5 sisters. His brother James was born on the 23 Dec 1835 and Daniel born in 1818.

For a time William was in business in Burra and then at the diggings in Victoria for three years He then assisted John McDouall Stuart in surveying.  He went on four expeditions with Stuart and was second in charge during the adventurous trips across Australia and took charge when Stuart was very ill. J.M.Stuart wrote of him “William Kekwick is everything I could wish a man to be.”

He later took up mining a reef in Echunga. In 1872 he set out on and expedition with W.C.Gosse but took ill at Beltana and died. He is buried at Blinman. He was an explorer, botanist, contractor and miner.

At first his widow and four young children were denied Government assistance but later were successful and were awarded a sum of money.  In order to make ends meet or improve the chances of children, Marion senior sought employment as a teacher.  Teaching must have been in the Kekwick blood as Williams younger brother James became a teacher. He taught at Golden Grove, Smithfield and the Grange school.

Marion senior was employed as Head Teacher at Uley school from 1 June 1885 and resigned on 31 December 1887.  

Marion began teaching at Precolumb, One Tree Hill as a Provisional Teacher in 1878 where she remained until she moved to Uley, One Tree Hill in 1882  and she was still teaching there in 1887.  Previous to this she was Provisional Teacher at Uley school from 1882 to 1885 and before this taught at Precolumb school from 1878. 

Inspector’s comments on 14^th November 82 are –

“The changes in connection with this school will, I trust lead to an improvement. But as yet the children do not fully appreciate the difference of method.”

April 4^th 1883

“The discipline maintained is very good and the teaching satisfactory. The records received careful attention, and the stock of materials is good.”

July 3^rd 1883

“Everything appeared to take a satisfactory form. Discipline is good, instruction intelligent, children attentive. The exercise books are properly corrected. Teaching documents good and records well kept.”

Oct. 8^th 1883

“A very great improvement has been made and the discipline is excellent.”

May 1^st 1884.

“The school is in excellent order and the work proceeding satisfactorily. The school prospers under Miss Kekwick’s management as it has never done before.”

March 4^th 1886

“Found attendance small. Diptheria keeping several away. The premises are in good condition everything bespeaking proper oversight. Order and discipline good.”

April 22 1887

“The records are in good order and the script work in general is neat and good.”

Marion had two brothers born in Mount Gambier – Walter Raleigh Kekwick 18.12. 1870 and William Owen Stuart Kekwick 14.12.1868. She also had a sister Adelaide Emily  1867 who also worked at Uley for one year.

She moved to Freemantle Western Australia with her mother and brother Walter. She married Harry Ellington Wilson in Freemantle in 1893. Harry was an auctioneer in 1910 and later became a farmer. In 1916 she was living in “Carima” Dallwalinu Irwin Dampier. In 1931 she was living at 3 Webster St. Nedlands, Freemantle with Harry who was farming and she remained as a housewife. Her mother died in 1914.