Caroline Chisholm (1808 - 1877)
Summary of her life:
"Caroline Chisholm was born on the
30th of May 1808 near Northampton, England. When she arrived in
Sydney in 1838, Caroline was shocked to find the situation of
immigrant girls. Most had come to Australia seeking a better life
but found themselves with no job, no food and living in shocking
conditions. She took some of them into her house and set about
establishing the Female Immigrant Home. She became known as 'the
emigrant's friend'. She earned this title for her work with poor
migrants to Australia last century.
She died on the 25th of March 1877 at home in England. By then she
was very poor and almost forgotten"
(Source:
Australian Bank Notes)
Introduction
"Caroline Chisholm began life
as Caroline Jones in the English country town of Northampton in 1808. Her
father was a landowner and a pig-dealer.
As a child, Caroline the youngest of a large family, was educated for some
of the time at least, by a governess. She spoke French, was good with
figures and became a fluent writer of English. She was encouraged by her
parents to take an interest in public questions of the day.
Caroline met and married Archibald Chisholm [in 1830] who was a Scottish
soldier in the East India Company’s Army. After their marriage, the
Chisholms lived for two years in England and then were posted to Madras,
India. It was here that their first two sons were born, and Caroline began
her first social work. Noticing that the daughters of soldiers were at
something of a loose end, Caroline Chisholm founded a school at which these
girls not only learnt the three R’s but also practical domestic skills as
well. The school was a great success, but in 1838 Archibald became ill and
had to take sick leave. The Chisholms decided that Australia’s healthier
climate would be best, and sailed for Australia."
(Source:
Caroline Chisholm Society)
(Source:
ABC Splash with National Portrait Gallery)
Experiences
& Opportunities:
"ARRIVAL IN AUSTRALIA
On reaching Australia in September 1838, the Chisholms found a very
class-conscious society in the process of change. The convict era was
nearing its end in New South Wales, and a period of prosperity was giving
way to the depression of the “hungry forties!” Boatloads of immigrants were
arriving in the colony and had to fend for themselves. Single men fared
best, whilst married men with families to be fed were at a strong
disadvantage. Most unfortunate were the single girls - no concern was shown
for their welfare either physical, material or moral.
Mrs Chisholm was now living at Windsor, and her third son Henry had been
born in 1839. In 1840, Archibald had to return to his regiment, and Caroline
decided to remain in Australia.
HER GREAT WORK
Observing that something had to be done to assist the young girls who were
starving, unemployed and ready prey for the unscrupulous, Caroline Chisholm
embarked upon a work for which she was eventually to become famous.
Grudgingly, the Governor allowed her to use a rat infested old barracks to
house these girls. She called it a “Home” which was also a Registry Office
and temporary shelter for girls. It was here that she could give motherly
protection tot he girls whilst arranging employment and suitable homes for
them to go to. (It is this work at the “Home” that was portrayed on old the
$5.00 note.) Employment was available in the country areas, and Caroline
Chisholm personally arranged employment and accompanied the girls to their
new-found positions, travelling with them by bullock-dray to distant
settlements. Many of these girls married and settled in the country areas.
During the years 1841-1844 Caroline Chisholm’s work assisted the amazing
total of 14,000 people. Over 11,000 of these were new comers, the rest being
“old hands” in the colony."
(Source:
Caroline Chisholm Society)
Did You Know?
Apart from appearing on this stamp she also has
the distinction of being the first non-royal woman to be depicted on
Australian banknotes!
(Source:
AKPhilately)
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"Next, she began the Family Colonsation Loan
Soviety to help families come to Australia to join their families who were
already here. She sailed to England and demanded and received support from
politicians and wealthy business people. She also received important support
from Charles Dickens who wrote about her work in his newspaper. She became
so well known that she received up to 300 letters a day...
Not only did she get free passage for people joining husbands and fathers in
Australia, she upgraded ships so they had decent accommodation for families
and good rations on the voyage to Australia.
She returned to Australia in 1854 ( her husband returning in 1850). She was
welcomed publicly and given money, which she immediately used to build
‘shelter sheds’ for people travelling to the gold fields; the sheds being
set one day’s walk apart."
(Source:
Australia4kids)
Caroline Chisholm's scorn for material reward and public position
contributed to the obscurity of her last years in Australia. Yet, although
almost unknown to the new population of gold seekers, she saw many of her
earlier aims accepted by the new society. In June 1866 the Chisholms left
for England. Granted a pension of £100, they lived first in Liverpool, then
in dingy lodgings at Highgate, London. Mrs Chisholm died on 25 March 1877.
Her husband died next August and was buried in the same grave at
Northampton; it bears a headstone inscribed 'The emigrant's friend'. They
were survived by three of their four sons and two daughters.
(Source:
Australian
Dictionary of Biography)
Links:
Caroline Chisholm - Australia's First Social Worker?
Primary
Middle
Secondary
Australian
Curriculum General Capability: ICT Capability
Australian
Curriculum General Capability: Literacy
1. Read the following article:
"To re-balance the ratio of males to females within the
colonies, young women were actively recruited with low priced
'bounty' tickets to Australia. Once in Sydney or Melbourne, though,
these women found themselves in a miserable situation.
Caroline Chisholm, the wife of a British soldier, arrived in Sydney
in September 1838 and there she saw the misery of unemployed
immigrant women who lived on the streets in the areas known as the
Rocks, not far from the wharves where the ships arrived.
Caroline began helping some of these women find work and took others
into her home. She taught them the basics of housekeeping and
cooking so they could be employed in the homes of the middle and
upper classes.
Caroline convinced Governor Gipps to let her use an old shed as a
welfare agency. She and her sons moved into the 45-foot long shed
that was home to thousands of rats. Within a short time, it was also
home to 100 women. Caroline worked hard to educate the women and get
them paid work. She expanded her welfare agency beyond Sydney,
setting up sixteen emigrant women's hostels around the colony.
She ended up helping over 11,000 women find jobs and accommodation while
raising her 9 children." (Source:
Australian Government: Women in Colonial Times)
2. After reading and viewing through the websites
(Links above), what do
you think? Is Caroline Chisholm Australia's first Social Worker?
3. Discuss
and debate this issue within your class by creating an
EduBlogs....
What
about unaccompanied minors today?
Middle
Secondary
Australian
Curriculum General Capability: Ethical Understanding
Australian
Curriculum General Capability:
Critical and creative thinking
Australian
Curriculum General Capability:
Personal and social capability
Cooperative
Learning Activity
1. In groups of 4 - 5 students,
read the following articles:
2. As a group, analyse the parallels with the
work of Caroline Chisholm.
3.
Should charities be the
"Caroline Chisholm" today to help them? Who is responsible? Is it you?
Discuss with your group what should be done with this situation.
4. Using
Moovly, create a video about the plight of young unaccompanied refugee
minors and show to the class.
Did You Know?
Caroline Chisholm has a suburb named after her in
Australia's Capital, Canberra.
To read more about this suburb, click
here.
Chisholm, ACT
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Material sourced from
Australia4kids
Australian Bank Notes
Australian
Dictionary of Biography
Caroline Chisholm Society
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