Bruarong via Yackandandah, 27th Sept 1920 Sir, I have the honour to state that the following is a faithful account of the treatment meted out to Maggie Devaney on the occasion referred to:- One very dull afternoon this girl entered school with a peculiar color on her cheeks. Feeling concerned, I asked what was wrong with her face. On receiving no reply, I repeated the question several time - she and a companion were then giggling. As the lighting is decidedly poor on such days I called her out to me though I, Now, knew that little was the matter. She came out but took up a defiant attitude refusing to answer when I asked what she had been doing. Annoyed by the persistent obstinacy which seemingly some girls fancy permissible since the inquiries to which both the previous teacher and I were subjected, I took her by the wrist, turning her sharply. To the surprise of both, she over balanced almost drawing me with her. She was not hurt, nor did I release my hold to as much as touch her legs let along to 'drag her and bump her head'. (Perhaps not altogether gently though without any injury after raising her I led her outside with instructions to come when she would answer, then do the lesson being missed. It was not raining but when a shower did come, I sent for her to come to the porch. I then called her to try again but meeting with no response, I sent her back. Instead she went outside. After school the mother came to me complaining that the child had been put in the cold. She said it would not have been so bad had she put on a coat. She had not thought I would do such a thing though a certain other teacher would send children from their lessons. (I assured her that is certainly was not a habit of mine.) She would rather I had given the girl a cut with the strap for she believed that the children should obey and hers were no better than others. I told her I was sorry that thoughtlessness (not utter heartlessness) had made me put her out for this was the punishment emphasized, in fact no other was mentioned. After talking matters over, I thanked Mrs Devaney for the reminder and for meeting me in her open manner. She voluntarily extended her hand desiring that to end the matter. On receiving your memorandum, containing Mr Cooper's gross exaggerations, I wrote to Mrs Devaney asking if such were as facts to her. Her reply states that she never mentioned such statements. It was on account of putting Maggie in the cold that she was cross. Further, she had not spoken to Mr Cooper since but any complaint she had to make, she believed in making to those concerned and not doing so behind their backs. The 'brutal assault' surely had a different aspect to the mother from what it had to a man who was last year fined for such an attack of an old man and whose wife and family have complained publicly of his other than paternal treatment of them. to be cont.

Thank you Rhonda quite interesting Kerry ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ronda Shambrook" <shambrookdr@dcsi.net.au> To: <AUS-VIC-HIGH-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 7:35 PM Subject: [HC] Alice Eileen Paull Bruarong via Yackandandah, 27th Sept 1920 Sir, I have the honour to state that the following is a faithful account of the treatment meted out to Maggie Devaney on the occasion referred to:- One very dull afternoon this girl entered school with a peculiar color on her cheeks. Feeling concerned, I asked what was wrong with her face. On receiving no reply, I repeated the question several time - she and a companion were then giggling. As the lighting is decidedly poor on such days I called her out to me though I, Now, knew that little was the matter. She came out but took up a defiant attitude refusing to answer when I asked what she had been doing. Annoyed by the persistent obstinacy which seemingly some girls fancy permissible since the inquiries to which both the previous teacher and I were subjected, I took her by the wrist, turning her sharply. To the surprise of both, she over balanced almost drawing me with her. She was not hurt, nor did I release my hold to as much as touch her legs let along to 'drag her and bump her head'. (Perhaps not altogether gently though without any injury after raising her I led her outside with instructions to come when she would answer, then do the lesson being missed. It was not raining but when a shower did come, I sent for her to come to the porch. I then called her to try again but meeting with no response, I sent her back. Instead she went outside. After school the mother came to me complaining that the child had been put in the cold. She said it would not have been so bad had she put on a coat. She had not thought I would do such a thing though a certain other teacher would send children from their lessons. (I assured her that is certainly was not a habit of mine.) She would rather I had given the girl a cut with the strap for she believed that the children should obey and hers were no better than others. I told her I was sorry that thoughtlessness (not utter heartlessness) had made me put her out for this was the punishment emphasized, in fact no other was mentioned. After talking matters over, I thanked Mrs Devaney for the reminder and for meeting me in her open manner. She voluntarily extended her hand desiring that to end the matter. On receiving your memorandum, containing Mr Cooper's gross exaggerations, I wrote to Mrs Devaney asking if such were as facts to her. Her reply states that she never mentioned such statements. It was on account of putting Maggie in the cold that she was cross. Further, she had not spoken to Mr Cooper since but any complaint she had to make, she believed in making to those concerned and not doing so behind their backs. The 'brutal assault' surely had a different aspect to the mother from what it had to a man who was last year fined for such an attack of an old man and whose wife and family have complained publicly of his other than paternal treatment of them. to be cont.