Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Stella Louise BEAVAN was born on the 4th of January 1883 at Bowral, NSW (reg.14037, Berrima), – the daughter of John BEAVAN and Annie JENKINS, who married in 1879 in Wales, before migrating the same year to Australia, where they settled in Bowral, NSW.  Annie died on the 17/7/1893 at Bowral of Rheumatic Fever, aged 34.  John (a Builder, Alderman and Mayor) remarried the following year to Catherine – she died on the 13/12/1917 at Bowral, and he died on the 29/10/1928 also at Bowral.

Siblings:
1. Sarah Annie b.1879 Bowral (Berrima) – marr Reginald J HARGRAVE 20/4/1905 Summer Hill, NSW (Alstonville, NSW);
2. Benjamin John Ernest (Ernie) b.1881 Bowral (Berrima) – Boer War – marr Esther CANVIN 1906 – Served as Ernest WHITING, Pte 5223, 49th Bn – KIA 5/9/1916 France;
3. Leslie Evans b.1886 Bowral (Berrima) – WW1: Gnr 3138, 1st FAB;
4. Leonard Jenkins b.1892 Bowral – marr Dorothy M STEPHEN 9/10/1915 Redfern – WW1: Gnr 2593 / 2763, 1st DAC;
Half siblings: Dorothy (Dorrie) M b.1895 Bowral; Geoffrey O b.1897; Mollie Gwen b.1900; Kathleen

Religion: Church of England – a parishioner of the parish church of St Simon’s and St Jude’s, Bowral.
Educated at the District School, Bowral.
Employee of the NSW Public Service from the 16/12/1902.

Stella trained in nursing at Kenmore Asylum and the Coast Hospital, having been appointed to the position of Probationary Nurse at the Coast Hospital on the 1/7/1906 (receiving a salary of £20 in 1907 and £25 in 1908).  She passed her Australian Trained Nurses Association (ATNA) exam in general nursing in December 1909.

Nominated as 2nd choice for the position of Matron at the Queanbeyan Hospital in January 1910, the position being filled by Nurse M. McNamara.  She was however, appointed as Matron of the Murrurundi Hospital, and resigned from the Coast Hospital on the 15/2/1910 to accept her appointment.  Temporary Matron of Dongrayald Private Hospital, Lismore, NSW – filling in for Matron Margaret Gray whilst she was on leave [Margaret, who had also trained at the Coast Hospital, later served with the British Red Cross during WW1, and was the sister of FRC ‘Bluebird’, Lindsay Gray].  In 1913 Stella was nursing in Queensland – residing at the St George’s Nurses’ Home, Milton Heights.  Nursing at the Brisbane Children’s Hospital in 1915.

WW1 Service:
In 1915, following a request from the British War Office for Australian nurses to join Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Reserve (QAIMNSR), Stella was accepted into the contingent of 37 nurses being sent by the Commonwealth Government in May.  Together with the Queensland nurses, she embarked in Sydney on the 15th of May on the RMS Mooltan.  Intended originally for England they were instead disembarked in Egypt on the 15/6/1915.

She served in Egypt until the 11/6/1916, at which time she was transferred to the Mesopotamian Campaign, serving on the Hospital Ship Nevasa, on duty between Bombay and Basra.

Admitted to the Colaba Hospital, Bombay 12/9/1916 with cholera.
Medical Report, 1/11/1916:
“On 12-9-16 while patient was walking about Bombay shopping she suddenly vomited once about 5 p.m.  That night she had no dinner and about 7.30 p.m. was seized by severe abdominal pain, cramps in legs, and profuse diarrhoea and vomiting.  She was admitted to Coloba War Hospital at 11 p.m. that night with Tr 100 pulse 96.  That night she was very bad.  During the next few days she was given potassium permanganate to drink and stimulants and given hypertonic saline intravenously, once on 16-9-16 and second time on 17-9-16.  From 12-9-16 to 18-9-16 she had suppression of urine.  She has gradually improved but she is still very weak and runs a Tr of intermittent type.  She complains of no pain now and I consider her Tr to be due to her marked debility.  Specimen of stools showed cholera vibrios.  Three specimens of her stools at intervals have shewn no cholera vibrios.”

Medical Board, 7/2/1917:
“She states she tires easily, and her feet swell after walking – she has enlargement of right lobe of thyroid – no exophthalmos or cardiac symptoms.  The Board recommends she be allowed to proceed to Australia during her leave, for the benefit of her health.”

Granted sick leave until the 6/6/1917, and returned to Australia on the SS Remuera, departing London 27/2/1917 for Brisbane.  Reported to the Military Hospital at Brisbane on the 6/6/1917, and her appointment with the QAIMNSR was terminated 7/6/1917.  Returned to Sydney in November 1917, where she was medically examined and told she was not fit for active service, but was offered Home Service, AIF – which she declined.

Matron at Tulagi Hospital, British Solomon Islands December 1919.  Staying with her sister at Alstonville in March 1920.

Married Arthur Edwin OSBORNE in the Solomon Islands.
Arthur was born in 1891 at Sth Lambeth, England – the son of Edwin and Agnes Osborne. He was a Government radio officer at Tulagi, Solomon Islands (1915) / later listed as a Seaman – he died on the 6/6/1968.

Child (1): John Edwin b.26/12/1924 Bowral, NSW (Clerk) – WW2: Flying Officer, RAAF, 1943-1946 – marr Roberta BELL – d.10/3/1951 Nth Sydney

Solomon Islands 1928, 1933.  Returned to Australia shortly before the Japanese invasion.

Stella died on the 30th of December 1947 at her residence 389 Alfred St, North Sydney, NSW.  She was cremated at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium and her ashes interred in the Beavan family grave in Bowral Cemetery

Arthur remarried to Maude Olive between 1948 and 1963.  Still residing at 389 Alfred St, Nth Sydney, he died on the 6/6/1968, and was privately cremated.

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Government Gazette of NSW, Wed 21 Nov 1906 (p.6279):
APPOINTMENTS
CHIEF SECRETARY’S DEPARTMENT
His Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, and upon the recommendation of the Public Service Board, has approved of STELLA LOUISA BEAVAN being appointed, on probation, as Probationary Nurse at the Coast Hospital.

The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Thur 23 Dec 1909 (p.10): A.T.N.A. EXAMINATION RESULTS
The following is the pass list for general nurses for the examination held on December 7 and 8: – Ethel Andrews, Stella Beavan, ………

The Queanbeyan Observer (NSW), Tue 11 Jan 1910 (p.2): QUEANBEYAN HOSPITAL
A Special meeting of the committee of the local hospital was held last Friday afternoon, to consider applications for the position of matron. ………………
Mr C.T. Campbell moved, Mr Hayes seconded and it was carried, that Nurse Stella Beavan, of the Coast Hospital be the committee’s second choice.

The Scone Advocate (NSW), Tue 1 Feb 1910 (p.2):
Nurse Stella L Beavan, of The Coast Hospital, has been appointed as Matron of the Murrurundi Hospital, from four applicants.

South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus (NSW), Fri 18 Feb 1910 (p.9): Bulli Hospital
The first meeting of the newly-elected committee was held on Tuesday evening, February 15. …….
Corespondence was read as follows:
Inward: ………; from Nurse S.L. Beavan stating that she could not accept appointment; ………

Government Gazette of NSW, Wed 16 Feb 1910 (p.1077): RESIGNATIONS
CHIEF SECRETARY’S DEPARTMENT
His Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, has accepted the resignations of the undermentioned Probationary Nurses of the Coast Hospital, from the Public Service: –
Stella Louisa Beavan – as from the 15th February, 1910.

Clarence and Richmond Examiner (Grafton, NSW), Tue 11 May 1915 (p.4): SUMMARY
Among the nurses leaving for the front is Sister Bevan [sic], who was among others farewelled at the Brisbane Children’s Hospital. She is a sister of Mrs Hargraves, Commercial Bank, Alstonville, and during Matron Gray’s travels abroad filled the position of matron of Dongraynald, and has many friends on the Richmond.

Robertson Advocate (NSW), Fri 29 Sept 1916 (p.2): Personal
Information was received in Bowral yesterday (Thursday) that Nurse Stella Beavan, daughter of Ald. J. Beavan, is dangerously ill at Colaba, Bombay, and that cholera is suspected. Nurse Beavan has been engaged for some time on transport duty. Her many friends in this district sincerely hope that more re-assuring news as to her condition may soon come to hand.

Robertson Advocate (NSW), Fri 20 Apr 1917 (p.2): The District School ROLL OF HONOR
The principal and staff of the District School, Bowral, are engaged in the preparation of an ex-pupils’ Roll of Honor, which is to be hung in the school. …………
The names of the ex-pupils so far known who have enlisted are: – Sister S. Beavan, ………

The Scrutineer and Berrima District Press (NSW), Wed 9 May 1917 (p.2): Local and General
Nurse Stella Beavan, daughter of Alderman J. Beavan, Bowral, after about two years’ duty on war service, arrived home on leave on Friday evening, and is proceeding to Queensland (where she volunteered) for examination by a special medical board as to her fitness for further duty. Nurse Beavan has not long recovered from a severe attack of cholera, for which she was treated in a hospital at Bombay. Her many Bowral friends will be glad to know that she is now looking well.

Robertson Advocate (NSW), Tue 12 Jun 1917 (p.2): Heroes at the Front
Bowral’s honor roll of those who have made the supreme sacrifice for their country has been further added to, the sad information having been officially received yesterday (Monday) that Pte B.J.E. (Ernie) Beavan, eldest son of Alderman J. Beavan, who was previously reported missing, was killed in action in France on 5th September, 1916. The deceased, who was 36 years of age, sailed from Australia about fifteen months ago. He had previously served in the Boer war, and prior to enlisting was conducting a hair-dressing saloon at Bowral, where his death will be deplored by many friends. Two of his brothers, Privates Les and Len Beavan, are at the front, and a sister, Sister Stella Beavan, was recently invalided home.

The Southern Mail (Bowral, NSW), Fri 5 Nov 1920 (p.2):
St Jude’s Church, Bowral
WAR MEMORIALS
On Monday evening the parish church of St Simon’s and St Jude’s, Bowral, was crowded for the long anticipated event of the dedication of the Memorial Gates and the unveiling of the Honour Board, erected by those who desired to perpetuate the deeds and names of those thus remembered. ……… The share taken by our nurses in the conflict was evidenced by the inclusion of two of this noble profession on the roll – Sister S. Beavan and Sister Bruce Smith. …………

Cairns Post (Qld), Sat 12 Feb 1938 (p.3): TOWN AND COUNTRY
Mrs A.E. Osborne, wife of the Government radio officer at Tulagi, the centre of the Solomon Islands administration, who has been spending a holiday in Sydney, returned by the Malaita yesterday.

The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Wed 31 Dec 1947 (p.16): DEATHS
OSBORNE, Stella – December 30, 1947, at her residence 389 Alfred Street, North Sydney, dearly loved wife of Arthur E. Osborne and loving mother of John.
OSBORNE, Stella – December 30, 1947, at her residence 389 Alfred Street, North Sydney, daughter of the late John and Anne Beavan, of Bowral, loved sister of Len, Dorrie, Geoff, and Gwen

FUNERALS
OSBORNE – The Relatives and Friends of Mr Arthur E. Osborne and John are kindly invited to attend the Funeral of his beloved Wife and his Mother, STELLA LOUISE, to leave our Funeral Home, corner Miller and Falcon Streets, North Sydney, This (Wednesday) Afternoon at 1.45 o’clock, for Crematorium, Northern Suburbs.

The Southern Mail (Bowral, NSW), Fri 9 Jan 1948 (p.1): DEATH OF MRS A. E. OSBORNE
The death occurred at North Sydney on 30th December of Mrs Stella Osborne, wife of Mr A.E. Osborne and daughter of the late John and Anne Beaven of Bowral.
Entering the nursing profession, the late Mrs Osborne was on service overseas during World War 1 and was attached to the Queen Alexandra Imperial Nursing Service Reserve. Returning to Australia, she became Matron at Tulagi Hospital, British Solomon Islands, where she subsequently married and resided until shortly before the Japanese invasion.
The funeral took place at Northern Suburbs Crematorium on 31st December.
Surviving Mrs Osborne are her husband and son John, and the Misses Dorrie and Gwen Beavan (sisters) and Messrs Len and Geoff Beavan (brothers).