Ninth child of school teacher, Thomas Henry McPaul and Annie Louisa Bennett; born 24 January 1900 at Bega, New South Wales.

Nurse Irene McPaul, of the Coast. Hospital, daughter of Mr T. H. McPaul, of Freshwater, Manly, is down in Bega for a holiday and is the guest of Mr and Mrs G. Guthrey, of 'Elmgrove.' Nurse McPaul intends visiting relatives at 'Glenall,' Wolumla, and Pambula before returning to duty.

Southern Record and Advertiser, 7 October 1922.

Gained qualification from Coast Hospital, August 1924. See 1933 May Register General Nurses.

ER 1925 nurse Queen Victoria Hospital, Lt. Lonsdale St. Did midwifery training at Queen Victoria Hospital, Melbourne

5 Aug 1926 Nurses’ Registration NSW – Manly.

Registered in Victoria as a Midwife 12 March 1926 – address Town Hall, South Melbourne.

1927 - registered as a general nurse - living at Tanja, Wyuna Ave, Harbord.

1928 & some of 1929 – Nurse at Benambra

1929 Jan Reg Midwives states she is in Werrimull (outback Victoria, Sunraysia).

Nov 1929 at Pakenham Bush Nursing Hospital – see Weekly Times, 16 Nov 1929 – resigned March 1930, see The Age, 26 March 1930.

ER 1931 – 1936 Queenscliff Nurse “Cottage by the Sea” (Ministering Children’s League)

Still at Cottage by the Sea – July 1936 – see The Herald 21 July 1936.

Sister Irene McPaul matron of the Ministering Children's League "Cottage- by-the-Sea," Queenscliff, left by train yesterday for Cairns, to spend a holiday there while the cottage is closed, as usual, during July. The cottage has just completed n record year. 534 children having had holiday visits there during the twelve months. This is a hundred more than the number usually passing

The Herald, 1 July 1932

SICK CHILDREN'S TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE.

Home by the Sea Damaged by Storm.

Destitute sick children being cared for at the Cottage by the Sea, Queenscliff, had a most terrifying experience during the height of the storms of last week end. At the monthly meeting of the Ministering Children's League in Melbourne Town Hall yesterday the president, Mrs. F. Scarlett, introduced the matron of the home to the members of the committee, and explained the reason for the matron's visit to the city.

When placing the appalling state of affairs before the meeting, the matron, Miss Irene McPaul, said the buildings and the grounds of the home faced "the Rip," and throughout the duration of the storm the buildings were battered by terrific seas and winds blowing almost a hurricane. The seas did not reach the cottage, but the spray made conditions very miserable. The fencing, trees and gardens were blown to the ground, and the roofing soon became loose, and allowed the rain and spray to penetrate the dormitories and other rooms. The thirty-six children had to be removed, and for two nights they were obliged to sleep in the dining room. Most parts of the building were saturated, and the winds threatened to demolish the building itself. At one stage, the matron said, assistance was nearly asked for from friends at Queenscliff to take the children from the home, but fortunately the weather abated sufficiently to allow them to remain. For two days the house was practically isolated from outside communication. Trees in the grounds were uprooted, and most of the windows facing the sea were broken. Miss McPaul explained that the weatherboard dwelling was not sufficient for the large number of requests received from destitute people desiring to give their ailing children an opportunity to recover their health. The meeting was most sympathetic to the report of the matron, and mention was made regarding the necessary improvements to accommodate the large numbers asking for assistance. It was expected that early next year an appeal would be made for public assistance, so that, the present premises may be improved and increased accommodation be placed at the disposal of the matron.

Age, 7 December 1934.

1937 ER Nurse Royal Hospital Sydney

Jan. 1939 appears to be a meat inspector with the NSW Government – see Sydney Morning Herald, 10 January 1939.

Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales, Friday 19 July 1940

CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS.

Department of Public Health.

HIS Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, and upon the recommendation of the Public Service Board, has approved of the confirmation of the following appointments:—

Miss Irene Mary McPaul, Nurse, Office of the Director General of Public Health (confirmation) ….

Department of Public Health. Miss Irene Mary McPaul, to be Nurse, Office of the Director-General of Public Health, on probation for - six months,—from 1st September, 1939. NSW Gov’t Gazette, 22 Sep 1939.

1941 ER living at ‘Tanja’, Wyuna Avenue, Harbord, Sydney.

HIS Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, and upon the recommendation of the Public Service Board, in pursuance of the provisions of section 49 of the Public Service Act, 1902, has approved of the following appointments:— Miss Irene Mary McPaul, Nurse, Department of Public Health (General Division), as Inspector, Child Welfare Act, and School Attendance Officer, Child Welfare Departments. NSW Gov’t Gazette, 26 June 1942.

28 February 1942 to August 1944 – Matron Ovens District Hospital.

OVENS DISTRICT HOSPITAL, BEECHWORTH (Training School for Nurses). -MATRON required, to commence duties on or about 30th August. Good salary and conditions. New hospital and nurses' home. Applications for the position, accompanied by references, should reach the undersigned by 15th inst., from whom all particulars may be obtained. Secretary, as above.

The Argus, 5 August 1944

1949 ER 360 Bourke Street, East Sydney – civil servant.

1954 ER 18 Spencer Road, Killara, nurse.

1958 ER Mary is living with her two of her older brother’s (Sydney Desmond McPaul) children, Joan & Page at 7/28 Eastern Road, Turramurra, Sydney.

May 1964 Irene had a ten day holiday at Norfolk Island. 

1980 ER Mary is living with Page & Catherine McPaul 3/1A Harrington Ave Turramurra.

From Bega District News

 June 21 2001

Aboriginal artefacts returned

ONE hundred and seventeen years to the day that Mr Thomas Henry McPaul was appointed to be the schoolmaster of Tanja School his family has returned the Aboriginal artefacts he received as a farewell gift from the local Aboriginal community.

The presentation to the Bega Family Museum was made by Mrs Bek Jelbart and her family, who said that “When my three sisters and my brother and I were children, we went to live with our grandparents McPaul during the last years of their lives.

“They had built a cottage in the outer Sydney seaside suburb of Harbord.

“They named their house “Tanja” after the small township of Tanja in the Bega Valley.

“Our grandfather, Thomas Henry McPaul, was appointed the schoolmaster at Tanja in 1885.

“When he left the school in 1889, some Aborigines in the area presented him with these artefacts. He found a special place in his home for them.

“We grew up with them and respected them greatly. In fact, we were very proud of them.

“After our grandparents died, our aunt, Irene Mary McPaul, who looked after her parents and us, cared for the artefacts.

“Some years before she died, she entrusted them to my care and I have looked after them ever since.

“However, my brother Page and I feel the time has come for these artefacts to return to their home territory.

“We thought too that their presence in the Museum would be a lasting memorial to Thomas Henry McPaul and would enable all his descendants and all the Aborigines in the Bega Valley District to share them with us.

“Therefore, it is with great pleasure, that Page and I, on behalf of all the grandchildren of Thomas Henry McPaul, present these artefacts to the Bega Family Museum for their keeping.”

The artefacts included boomerangs, nullas and shields, some decorated with carvings.

©  Anne Hanson 2023