In October 1866 the Empire reported ‘a catechist Mr. Thomas McNaught,1The Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), Monday 15 October 1866, p 5 was appointed six months ago to the town of Araluen where there is a population of above 3000, there being, at the date of Mr. McNaught’s appointment, not a single resident minister of any de-nomination.‘
Araluen is an outpost of the congregation of Braidwood, and that much of McNaught’s success, as a catechist and teacher, is owing to the Rev Mr Johnston. In 1866, the Rev Mr Johnson, Presbyterian minister2Goulburn Herald and Chronicle (NSW : 1864-1881), Saturday 20 January 1866, p 2 was the ‘subject of a robbery on the mail coach returning to Braidwood, for which the robbers apologised. The Rev. Mr. Johnson, however, a young, robust, and somewhat muscular disciple of Christianity, angrily resented the apology, much to the discomfort of his companion.‘
In March 1885, Thomas McNaught was farewelled after 19 years teaching in the Valley. He left for a teaching role at Broughton Creek.3Shoalhaven Telegraph (NSW : 1881-1937), Thursday 28 May 1885, p 2