A Remarkable Woman

When Mrs Agnes Dorsch retired from Concordia in 1943 at the age of 70, her fine personal qualities and unstinting service were highlighted in an article in the Brown and Gold the following year.

‘She was ever a model example of piety, humility, generosity and devotion to duty. Her faithful and energetic teaching, her sympathetic interest in the welfare of her pupils, her quiet persistence and patience, her friendly encouragements, her unassuming and kind disposition, have won for her the honour, respect and sincere friendship of all who have studied under her.’

Agnes Dorsch was the second woman to graduate in arts from the University of Adelaide in 1891. With a first class honours degree in both classics and mathematics, her academic background was outstanding.  During 1923 to 1925, and then from 1927 to 1943, she taught both secondary and seminary students in subjects ranging from English, German, Latin, Greek and French to Physiology and Mathematics.

It seems that her personal life placed unusual pressures on Mrs Dorsch. Her family was far from pleased when she married Caspar Dorsch in 1893. He was a widower with three children, 13 years older than Agnes, and the pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Flinders St.  His narrow mindset  and his belief that dancing, picture theatres and card games were signs of the devil, cast a heavy shadow over the household.

During 1898 Pastor Dorsch suffered a breakdown and was granted leave to visit his relatives in America. He left Agnes behind with three step children and three of her own to care for, so she returned to teaching to support the family. This was something her husband did not particularly like, but clearly had to accept. When he returned two years later, Pastor Dorsch remained a semi-invalid and was forced to retire from his parish.  Five more children were born and Mrs Dorsch worked to support them as well. She often gave private tuition until 9 or 10 in the evening.

Although at the end of 1941, she had reached the age of ‘honorable retirement’ she willingly agreed to the Board’s urgent request to continue her work.  After her retirement, she continued coaching at home, even after she suffered a stroke at the age of 74. She died in 1958 at the age of 87.