NAA: A1, 1915/22313
Mathese, Louise Johanna
Digital copy - 33938
| Occupation as written | lecturer, teaching and University coach, modern languages, Oxford Chambers, Bourke St, Melbourne |
| Standardised occupation | PP13: Public services and Professionals - Education |
| Application received | 17 Nov 1915 |
| Application status |
Denied |
| Official | |
| Date of approval or denial | 10 Dec 1915 |
| If rejected, why? | enemy alien (military suspicion) |
| Birthplace as written | German crossed out; French written |
| Modern country | Germany |
| Age on application | 48 |
| Age on arrival in Australia | 30 |
| Port of Departure | London |
| Port of Arrival | Melbourne |
| Date of arrival | 24 Mar 1897 |
| Name of ship | Australia |
| Voyage | Australia (1897-03-24) |
| Address in Australia | Melbourne |
| Address State | Victoria |
| Time at address | |
| Name of reference | Miss Charlotta Marguerita Hoola van Nooten |
| Occupation of reference | Teacher of State High School, Victoria |
| Marginalia description | p.1 'German' typed and then crossed out with 'French' handwritten above. |
| Police report attached | Yes |
| Link to other applicant | |
| Literate | Yes |
| Reason | N/A |
| Other information | |
German originally written, but crossed out and ‘French’ written on p.2 where Hunt typed that application not proceeded w, 10/12/15. R E Williams, a/Commandant, 3rd Military District, writes to Hunt, 8 Dec 1915, saying ‘I do not feel disposed to recommend’ her for nat. (p.3) – no further explanation. She was ‘lecturer, teaching and University coach of modern languages, of Oxford Chambers, Bourke Street, Melbourne’ (Hunt to Dept of Defence, 7 Dec 1915), p.4.
Police Report, Melbourne, 28 Nov 1915 (p.5-6): migrated via London for health, as had bronchitis. Since arrival ‘resided at respectable quarters… unmarried and ages about 48 yrs… engaged as tutor of the German language at Trinity, Gomond and Queens Colleges, also at the Torking mens College, Presbuterian Ladies College, East Melbourne, and at a Toorak College. She also instructs private pupils in her room… She appears to be a pure German and has been heard conversing with the night watchman of the building in the German language, who is of her own nationality. There are other Germans residing at the Chambers but it is not known whether she converses with them, as she is very cute and reserved at the building. The majority of her pupils are British, but from what I can gather she has no love for the British nation or the Allies, and her object for naturalization is for protection in her calling. No Germans, as far as I can learn, have been seen to visit her room, but after making careful inquiries I am of the opinion that she is not a fit and proper person’
All of this ignores what she wrote on her original application (p.9), that father was French and mother German, and she was b in Germany – normally this would be investigated more