• Entry type: Person
  • Entry ID: AWE4252

Egan, Kathleen Mary

(1890 – 1977)
  • Born 16 December, 1890, The Rock, Wagga Wagga District New South Wales Australia
  • Died 17 June, 1977, Waratah New South Wales Australia
  • Occupation Education reformer, Religious Sister, Teacher

Summary

Described as a ‘woman of great strength’, Kathleen Egan was a Dominican Sister and educationist with a commitment to improving educational opportunities for children with hearing disabilities.

In 1931, after teaching in Tamworth and Mayfield, both in New South Wales, she was appointed to the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb at Waratah, Newcastle, New South Wales. Believing that ‘the deaf child has tastes, dislikes, ambitions similar to those of her unhandicapped sister’, she introduced the State curriculum (using conventional textbooks where possible) and was, thus, responsible for considerable reforms of education for the deaf in New South Wales.

Published resources