Emily Edith Mews (1862-1946)

Emily was born on 4 May 1862 in Perth to parents John Charles and Elizabeth Mews (reference; reference). The Mews family went through terrible losses, with many of their children dying in infancy. Emily's siblings were Mary Elizabeth (1848-), John Charles (1849-1849), Sarah Jane (1850-1916), William Frederick (1854-1855), Eliza Anne (1856-1935), Martha Rosa (1857-1929), John Charles (1859-1945), Walter Andrew (1861-1933), Arthur William (1863-1864), Agnes Matilda (1865-1943), twins who died in infancy (1866-1866), another child who died in infancy and William Thomas (1871-1871) (reference; reference). 

The Mews family are descendants of Peter Mews, the Bishop of Bath and Wells in 1672 and occupied the See of Winchester in 1684. He was 'one of the foremost men of his time, a leader of the Royalist Party, and a personal adviser to King Charles the First (reference). Emily's grandfather arrived in Western Australia on the Rockingham in 1830 as part of Thomas Peel’s failed settlement scheme (reference). 

On 22 December 1876, when Emily was fourteen years old, she sat an exam at the Perth Government Girls' School (reference). On that same day, she helped conduct the Infants' School's exams (reference). Emily was presented with a high-class award for her examination results (reference). The following year Emily, along with other students, signed the following on behalf of their classmates (reference):

“To Lady W. C. F. Robinson,

We the children attending the Government and Assisted Schools in the city of Perth, avail ourselves of the opportunity of your ladyship's laying the foundation stone of the Perth Government Girls' and Infants' Schools, to thank you most heartily for the deep interest your ladyship has taken in the various schools which have been established in this city. Auspicious the day is, we deeply regret to learn that your ladyship and family will, at an early date, take your departure from amongst us; but we feel assured that the good wishes and kindly feelings of so many little ones representing different religious denominations present here today, will afford your ladyship some consolation at being so unexpectedly severed from us. May we ask your ladyship to accept our united children's prayer for the future welfare, prosperity, and happiness of His Excellency, your ladyship, and family. We earnestly pray that God may preserve your ladyship and family safely during your voyage, and grant you peace and all other blessings a kind and ever-watchful Providence can bestow in your new home.

Signed on behalf of the children attending the Government and Assisted Schools in the city of Perth (reference)."

Around Emily's seventeenth birthday in 1879, she was awarded a prize in the advanced standard class for her work at the Perth Government Girls' School (reference). At the ceremony, Emily and her classmates presented the headteacher, Mrs Ann Veal, with an album with their photographs and an address (reference):  

Dear Mrs Veal

In presenting you with this small token of our esteem and respect for you as our mistress and teacher, we trust you will kindly receive it from us as a proof of appreciation of the great pains you have taken in aiding our researches for that knowledge which is so desirable in afterlife. You have at all times been kind, yet firm and anxious for our welfare, by urging us to diligence and perseverance. In conclusion, we pray that God will reward you with health and happiness for many years to come. We subscribe ourselves, your most affectionate pupils, E. Mews, E. Hope, A. Backshell, M. Pether, M. Windridge, M. Farmer, B. Jewell, J. Douglas, F. Tichbon (reference)."  

In 1879 Emily attended the Jubilee Procession at Perth with the Government Girls' School (reference).  

In October 1884, Emily was appointed the teacher at the Wanneroo school (reference). Just two months after her appointment, progress had been made, with higher attendance and academic achievements (reference).

Emily continued her teaching career by transferring to the Bunbury Government Girls' School by 1886 or 1887, where she was headmistress (reference; reference; reference). The newspaper reported her to be doing a good job: "Miss Mews is giving general satisfaction. Urbanity of manners and love of children are specially adapted to win confidence and inspire affection. Miss Mews evidently relishes the work of teaching the young idea how to shoot (reference)." 

In March 1888, Emily had her students help fundraise for the Greenough Relief Fund - an initiative to help support those living in Greenough after a large flood (reference). Her students contributed by donating coppers and threepences (reference). 

By December 1892, the Government Girls' School had moved to temporary accommodation at the Good Templars' Lodge Room as their old school building had been condemned (reference; reference). The school remained in temporary housing until at least July 1893 (reference). They had to move as their school was in "utterly inadequate and unsuitable conditions' for many months (reference)." However, the temporary school was not suitable as it had no playground, not enough toilets and was very cold during the winter due to a lack of fireplace and frigid winter in 1893 (reference). The room was also used by the Salvation Army, the Good Templars', Rechabites and a debating society during the evenings (reference). These groups were dissembling the classroom every evening, so it had to be reassembled in the morning, which took away from learning time (reference). 

In December 1892, a Christmas prize occasion was organised for the children (reference). Emily and the assistant teachers were credited with the childrens' good behaviour (reference). Emily was also highly praised for all the work she had done in the past six years at the Bunbury Girls' school and that "the parents could consider themselves fortunate in that their children were being trained by such an able and efficient teacher (reference)." 

In 1898 Emily was appointed the headteacher of the Infants' School in Bunbury by the Education Department (reference). In March 1901, at the Infants' School, an awards afternoon was held (reference). The large classroom was decorated for the occasion and was full of the happy faces of the children, the members of the school board, other visitors and a big table with prizes (reference). The children sang songs before Emily read her report on the advancements the children made during the year. Some of the awards given to the children included medals, books and dolls (reference).

According to the Electoral Rolls and Post Office Directory, Emily remained the headmistress until at least 1908. During this time, she moved house, living on Victoria Street in 1903 and Spencer Road in 1906 (reference; reference; reference). In 1910 she was listed as living in Roelands, completing house duties (reference).

In 1911 Emily was married to Eli Allen of Gelorup (reference). At this time, Emily was still residing in Bunbury (reference). The wedding took place at Reverend Andrew Buchanan’s South Bunbury residence called Hallcraig on 1 May 1911 (reference). Emily was given away at the wedding by Sergeant Evans (reference). Her wedding dress was described as a 'dainty costume of creme silk, with a slight train, the front panel and overskirt being prettily trimmed with piped embossed insertion. The short-waisted corsage had a beautiful yoke of silk insertion, finished with ornaments, and was finely tucked into the waist. The three-quarter sleeve was made of net and silk embossed applique. An attractive hat of creme satin straw, draped with net and finished with a large ribbon bow, completed her dress (reference). Her bridesmaids were her sister Agnes and friend, Mary Buchanan. Eli's brother, John, known as Jack, was the best man (reference).

Her reception was held at her sister Matilda and her brother-in-law Frank Lawrence's house. The sister and another sister, Martha Randell, were helping (reference). The newlyweds left the reception in a shower of rice and confetti (reference). The newspaper article lists what each guest got her for the wedding (reference).

After the wedding, Emily moved in with her husband. Emily remained at Allenville in Gelorup for the rest of her life (reference; reference; reference; reference; reference; reference). Her husband Eli was a vigneron by trade, working on his farm, Allenville Vineyard and Orangery, established in 1904. The property was first listed as being South Bunbury before it was Gelorup.

In 1919 the couple went through troubling times as Eli's wine cellars were completely destroyed by a bushfire (reference; reference). Fortunately, their house was saved along with the fruit packing shed and other buildings. He also had it insured for £1,000 (reference). 

Emily died in 1946 in Bunbury (reference). Eli passed away four years later, at the age of 77, after a prolonged illness on Sunday, 28 May 1950 (reference). His funeral took place at the Church of England portion of the Bunbury cemetery (reference). 

Many thanks to Val Schier, great grand nice of Eli Allen, for the family photographs which were taken by Jack Allen.