The oldest of five children born at Gordon to Walter Chapman and Helena Jane Gerry. Born 1890. Known as Lena.

 1913 ER living with her parents at Gordon. Father is a farmer. Mabel is listed as a sewing mistress.

 From the ODH committee report 9 February 1914 – Nurse M. Chapman had commenced her duties as probationer nurse.

 From the minutes of ODH board meeting 14 July, 1914 - The seal of the hospital was affixed to the … indentures of Nurse Chapman.

 Passed examinations on 21st and 22nd November, 1916.

 ... Nurse Chapman's indentured term does not expire till February next - Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 20 December 1916 page 2.

 Una Journal, December 1916, EXAMINATION RESULTS.

Following are the names of the successful candidates at the half-yearly examination held by the Royal Victorian Trained Nurses’ Association on 21st and 22nd November:— … Beechworth Hospital (Ovens District).—Jessie Elizabeth Cameron, Mabel Helena Chapman, Frances Lillian Mackay.

From the minutes of the ODH board meeting 16 January 1917 - The seal of the hospital was affixed to the nursing certificate of Nurse M.H. Chapman and the certificate presented to the nurse by the President in a few well chosen words of congratulations.

Date of Qualification – February 1917.

ER 1917 - 1919 ER nurse at 63 Rathdown Street, Carlton – Dr Stirling’s Private Hospital.

1920 – living at Bungaree, nurse.

1921-1922 ER at 152 Power Street, Hawthorn – a trained nurses’ home. 

1926 ER at Blackhill, Gordon, nurse. However, the Victorian Government Gazette under the heading Nurses' Board lists Lena as being at Abbington, Gordon.

1929 name removed from General Nurses’ Register.

On 19 June 1929, Lena aged thirty-nine married Scottish born auctioneer James Arthur Wilkie. James was a widower and had two children, Roland and Marjory. His first wife, Margaret died in 1928.

1931  - 1954  Lena & James are living at 1104 Dana Street, Ballarat. James' mother, Henrietta, a widow was living with Lena & James by 1937 if not before.

Lena and James Left Melbourne with a number of Olympians, 19 May 1936, on the Mongolia. They arrived in London on 29 June 1936.  The shipping record states that while in the UK the couple would be staying at Boner Road, Grangemouth, Scotland where James was born.

 Died 8 December 1961 at Ballarat aged 71. Buried at Ballarat Cemetery 11 December 1961.

©Anne Hanson, 2024                                                                                                     E-mail:  Anne Hanson