DEATH OF JOSEPH PORTER GILSENAN, AGED 8, IN 1855
No death record on Victorian BDM.
No death notice.
The master at the Pascoe Vale School(s?)and father of Joseph,could not have been Richard Edward Gilsenan who died at the age of 76 in 1920 according to his obituary, which would indicate that he was born in about 1844.Was Joseph the younger brother of Richard?


GILSENAN
Richard Edwd, Death
mother; Cath nee DAVIES, father: Gilsenan Elizah
place of death:Eltham, 74, 1920, 10006/1920

It is possible that Richard's father was actually named Elijah and that he moved to Maryborough. This is the obituary for Elijah's brother, Alfred.

Death of Richard's mother in 1871.

GILSENAN Catherine, Death
mother: Catherine father: Davies Richard
place of birth: LOND
name of spouse at death: GILSENAN, Elijah
47, 1871,4795/1871

And I regard Catherine's death notice as being sufficient proof that Elijah had succeeded John Hinkins as the teacher of the school at the end of Government Rd (Melway 28 J-K 2) by 1855, whose number passed to Essendon Primary School.

GILSENAN.—On the 15th June, in the forty-seventh year of her age, Catharine, the beloved wife of E.Gilsenan, Common School, Percydale, late of Maryborough. (P.2, The Age, 20-6-1871.)

In case you haven't found the Dictionary History of Bulla journal, here's the GILSENAN entry. I didn't really need to prove that Richard's father was a teacher, just that his name was Elijah.
GILSENAN.
(From page G.28, DHOTAMA. Biography from Alexander Sutherland's VICTORIA AND ITS METROPOLIS: PAST AND PRESENT.)
Richard Edward Gilsenan was born in Lancashire, England and came to the colony with his parents in 1853 at the age of 6. His father taught school in Lancashire and in the colony at Moonee Ponds, Avoca and Murchison. Mr R.E.Gilsenan took charge of his first school at Nattie Yallock about 14 years ago and has since taught in various districts , being appointed to Bulla about three years ago. He was married to Miss Harriet Wilkins of Avoca in 1876 and has a family of three sons and three daughters. (V&I.M. 1888.)

R.E.Gilsenan is shown as the purchaser,from the Crown,of crown allotment 10 of section 11 in the township of Bulla. Section 11 is bounded by Greene St (now the end of Somerton Rd), Bourke St, Rawdon St and High St (Bulla Rd)with c/a 10 fronting the west side of Rawdon St with (probably) a 20 metre frontage to High and Bourke Sts.

In 1914, Harold Davis Gilsenan,also a teacher, was assessed as the owner and occupier.

TROVE. No results for GILSENAN,BULLA.
Richard Edward Gilsenan had moved to the Eltham area and by 1917 was a justice of the peace in the shire of Eltham.(Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser and Diamond Creek Valley Advocate (Vic. : 1917 - 1922) Friday 12 October 1917 Edition: MORNING. p 4 Article.)

GILSENAN-CORNALL -On the 31st March at St. Andrew's Church, Middle Brighton by the Rev. Canon Hancock, M.A.,
Frederick Henry, youngest son of the late Richard Edward Gilsenan and Mrs. Gilsenan late of "Rosebank", Eltham to Margaret May (Maude) eldest daughter of Mr. James Cornall, 24 Loller street, Middle Brighton (late of Korumburra) and of the late Mrs. James Cornall. Present address, "Brynteg", Lower Plenty.
(P.11, Argus,5-5-1923.)

One of R.E.'s schools after Bulla was Trentham. He had probably been near Eltham when he bought "Rosebank." I wonder if he and Harriet were travelling home to Eltham every weekend in 1904,which was a very busy year. In 1901, R.Gilsenan was playing cricket for Trentham so some weekends were obviously spent at Trentham.

BAKERGILSENAN.On the 11th June, at the residence of the bride's parents, "Rosebank," Eltham, Christopher John Baker, of Glenferrie, to Harriet May Gilsenan, second daughter of R.E. Gilsenan, state school, Trentham.
(P.9,Argus, 16-9-1904.)

The family obviously lived at Trentham during R.E.'s time there. The Watsons had a very original name for their Trentham farm!

WATSONGILSENAN.On the 16th March, 1904, at the residence of the bride's parents, "Rosebank," Eltham, by the Rev. W. H. Cooper, M.A., Alexander, youngest son of Mrs. D. Watson, sen., "The Farm," Trentham to Catherine Emma, (Katie) eldest daughter of Richard E. Gilsenan, head teacher state school, Trentham.
(P.9, Argus,16-4-1904.) (See also Evelyn Observer and Bourke East Record (Vic. : 1902 - 1917) Friday 25 March 1904 Edition: MORNING. p 2 Family Notices for article about the wedding.)

BROWN.- On the 4th May, at Brunswick, Jessie Martha, the dearly beloved wife of John L. Brown, A.I.F., and loving daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Gilsenan, "Rosebank," Eltham, aged 27 years.
(P.1,Argus, 6-6-1916.)

BLACKMAN-GILSENAN.
St. John's Church of England, Heidelberg was prettily decorated on April 2, when Mr. H. Blackman, son
of Mr. and Mrs. Blackman, of Malvern, was united in the bonds of holy matrimony to Miss Ruth E. Gilsenan, a daughter of the late Richard Gilsenan and Mrs. Gilsenan, of Trentham, and formerly of Eltham. The bride, who
was given away by her brother-in law, Mr. Alex. Watson, of Trentham, looked charming in a gown of white
georgette and lace, uneven hemline. She wore a wreath and veil and carried a bouquet of white cactus dahlias
and pale pink carnations. The bridesmaids were Miss Ina Watson and Miss Nessie Baker (nieces of the bride), and were both attired in lemon lace with uneven hemline, large bows of lemon tulle in hair, and carried bouquets of lemon gladioli and delphiniums.

Little Joan Tilley (niece of the bride) looked pretty as a flower girl in pink. Mr. Arnold Blackman (brother of the, bridegroom) and Mr.George Gilsenan (nephew of the bride) acted as groomsmen. About seventy guests attended the breakfast and reception at Goodall St., Hawthorn, where the customary toasts were honored and the best of
wishes extended to the happy couple, who left on a honeymoon tour of three weeks. They intend to settle in Glen Iris. (P.4,Advertiser (Hurstbridge), 9-5-1930.)

Richard Edward had transferred to Trentham State School by 1893, when he was playing cricket for Trentham. George Gilsenan also played for Trentham and was involved in an un-named organisation which held half-yearly elections.

R.E.'s father had taught at Avoca,which explains how Richard had met Harriet Wilkins. It might also explain why the name Gilsenan was associated with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade*.
(*The Argus, Saturday 22 September 1917 p 13 Family Notices
GILSENAN. -On the 5th September, at North Fitzroy Fire Station, to Mr. and Mrs. G. R. Gilsenan.)

Mr George Wilkins, of Homebush Lower, eldest brother of Mr J. T.Wilkins, former chief officer of the
Metropolitan Fire Brigade, is 85 today, and when Mr Harry Wilkins, of Avoca, the third brother, turns
81 shortly, the three will have an aggregate of 240 years. Mr J. T.Wilkins, who is 74, lives in Melbourne.
(P.2, Argus,4-5-1942.)

The above three brothers were probably siblings of Harriet as shown by the wedding report below which also indicates a relationship between R.E.Gilsenan and J.Gilsenan of Gippsland (and therefore another teacher in the Gilsenan family who died in Gippsland.)

Evelyn Observer and Bourke East Record (Vic. : 1902 - 1917) Friday 25 March 1904 Edition: MORNING. p 2 Family Notices. (the marriage of Miss Catherine Emma Gilsenan, oldest daughter of Mr. Richard E. Gilsenan,
head teacher, State school, Trentham,with Mr. Alexander Watson, youngest son of Mrs. D, Watson, of "The Farm," Trentham.)

In conclusion,a full list of Richard and Harriet's children.
BAKER.On May 26, at Heidelberg, Harriet May, second daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Gilsenan,formerly of Eltham, and loved sister of Catherine (Mrs. Watson), George(deceased), Harold* (deceased), Jessie(deceased), Ruth (Mrs. Blackman),Fred (deceased), and Grace (Mrs.Tilley). (P.14, Argus,28-5-1949.)
*As a reminder that this journal is actually about Bulla, Harold was probably the Harold Davis* Gilsenan who was assessed on the half acre block at Bulla granted to Richard Edward Gilsenan. (*Harold Davies Gilsenan.)

I'd forgotten to try Google. See the website:
Jessie Martha Gilsenan profile - Mundia.

I think the journalist wasn't sure which school was the venue for the inquest and took an each way bet by writing that it was conducted at the Pascoe Vale schools. According to the history of St Monica's school, Moonee Ponds, the Roman Catholic school did not commence until 1856.

"The history of St. Monica’s School dates back to 1856 when the first chapel-school was opened in Glass St, Essendon to cater for the growing number of Catholic families in the locality.

The original building, constructed of iron, and called the “iron pot” was relocated to Robinson St. Moonee Ponds in 1880 where it continued to be used as a church and school till 1884 when the ‘new’ St. Monica’s Church was blessed and opened."

SEE THE TWO SCHOOLS.