Mary, known as Addie, was born 13 April 1877 at Beechworth. The third of 9 children born to James Clemens and Cath Nicholls.

Attended Beechworth Primary School.

Addie was 20 when her father died in 1897.

Death of an Old Colonist. — The decease of many of the pioneers of the golden era have lately been lamentably frequent in our midst, and it is with deep regret that we have once more note the loss of an old identity of this district, Mr. James Clemens, who expired of consumption at his residence at Spring Creek, near Beechworth, on Wednesday morning, [24 August 1897] at the age of 64. The deceased was the third son of Mr. William Clemens, of St. Just, Cornwall, and arrived in this district in the early years of its discovery as a gold field, and has resided here for about 45 years, being engaged in mining the greater part of that period. He was also a director of the Rocky Mountain Sluicing Co., in the affairs of which he took an active interest, and his suggestions as a practical miner conduced greatly to the advantageous working of that property.

He leaves a wife and family, most of whom, however, are grown up, two sons being engaged in the Postal Department, and another at Mr. Barnes’s store in Camp-street. The funeral will take place this afternoon (Thursday) at half past 3 o'clock, and the brethren of the local Oddfellows' lodge, of which he was an esteemed member, will join the cortege as it leaves his late residence under the direction of Mr. D. Wilson, the undertaker.

Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 28 August 1897.

1903 ER Addie is at Billson St., Beechworth with her mother Catherine and brother Thomas Henry.

From the ODH House Committee report 25 July 1906 - … the next probationer on the list had been engaged viz Miss Clemens. [Was 29 when she commenced her training.]

From the ODH House Committee report 12 November 1906 – Nurse Clemens had passed the medical officer’s examination as to physical fitness for training and her indentures were ready for signing.

UNA Journal – October 1906 - OVENS DISTRICT HOSPITAL. … Nurses Clemens, Rockett and Hartigan having completed three months’ probation, have entered on a three years’ course of training. M. WINNING, Matron.

From the ODH House Committee report 19 August 1907 – … the Junior Nurses Examinations in Anatomy and Physiology was held on 12th inst. Nurse Hartigan passed with credit and Nurses Milne, Clemens and Rockett passed.

From 1909 June Una Journal - Royal Victorian Trained Nurses’ Association. FINAL EXAMINATIONS. The following candidates were successful at the examinations held on the 8th and 9th June:— …  Clemens, Hartigan, Kerr, Rockett (Ovens District Hospital)

From the ODH House Committee report 21 June 1909 – that Nurses Clemens and Kerr at the conclusion of their probation be retained as staff nurses.

From the ODH House Committee report 30 August 1909 – … and the nursing certificates of Nurses Kerr, Clemens & Rockett were ready for signature and sealing.

... Turning to Nurse Clemens, he [James Ingram] said he had equal pleasure in presenting her nurse's certificate, and hoped her career would be a very useful and noble one, ... Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 18 September 1909.

Date of qualification September 1909.

From the minutes of ODH House Committee report 10 October 1910 – The matron was granted one month’s holiday from the 15th inst., the same arrangements to be made regarding the acting matron as last year. It was decided to pay Nurses Kerr and Clemens £1 each extra for the extra work they do as acting matrons.

From the minutes of ODH House Committee report 14 November 1910 – The resignation of Nurse Clemens was received.

1912 & 1913 ER Addie is living with her eldest brother, William James Clemens and family, at ‘Willina’, Kooyong Road, Caufield.

From the ODH House Committee 29 November 1915 – That Sister Clemens was acting Matron during Miss Winning’s absence on holidays (Salary £2 a week).

January & February 1916, Acting Matron at ODH.

It appears that Addie returned to the Clemens family home at Beechworth when Mary Kerr married a local Cressy grazier in 1916. The house itself was substantial, consisting of a lounge room, dining room, four bedrooms, two kitchens, two bathrooms, a pantry and a wash house. There was also a wood shed and fowl pens along with two small paddocks at the rear of the house. 

There was great grief in Beechworth on Friday morning when the sad news was spread that Mrs. James Clemens, of Billson street, Beechworth, had been informed that her son, Percy, formerly employed on the Statistical branch of the Commonwealth Service, had died of wounds on April 23. He was a splendid young fellow, only 25 years of age and brother of William, Thomas Henry, John, Samuel, Harold, Gordon and Nurse Clemens and of Mrs. Fenton Orton, Murmungee. Mr. William Clemens came from Melbourne to break the news to his mother for whom the greatest sympathy is expressed. For many years Mrs. Clemens has brought comfort and strength to the sick and bereaved. Her help was always forthcoming and in the most valued and quiet way when any neighbour was in trouble. Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 4 May 1918.

Tragedy struck again less than a month later when Addie was called on to assist with the care of Sister Lizzie Rothery who Addied had trained with at the ODH. Lizzie, a WW1 nurse, while on leave in Beechworth with her friend Sarah Wilson, suddenly became ill. She died a week later from appendicitis and septic peritonitis.

Little is known of Addie's remaining years in Beechworth of which there were many. 

On 19 May 1952 she was admitted to the ODH and died, aged seventy-five, two days later at the Wangaratta hospital.

OBITUARY  - MISS M. A. CLEMENS.

The last member of an old Beechworth family still resident in the town, Miss Mary Adelaide Clemens, passed away at the Wangaratta Base Hospital on Wednesday, 21st May following a fall which she had had at her home in Billson, Street, Beechworth, six weeks previously.

The late Miss Clemens was the elder daughter of 'the later James and Catherine Clemens, and was born at Beechworth on 18th April, 1877. 

She was one of the early trainees at the old Ovens District Hospital under Matron Winning, and after completing her training at times acted as matron of that institution. She was also on the staff of the Royal Melbourne Hospital for a time, and in association with Nurse Kerr she conducted a private hospital at Cressy for some years.

Apart from that period when she was away practicing her profession, she spent the whole of her life in Beechworth.

The possessor of an excellent soprano voice, her, services were in great demand at entertainments held throughout the district, and as an ardent member of the Methodist Church she rendered consistent service in; the Sunday school, church choir and all other church activities.

Brothers and sister are Sir William J. (deceased), John (East London, South Africa), Harry 'Fairfield, Vic.), Nicholas Samuel (Highett, Vic.), Harold R. (Myrtleford), Gordon E. (Mosman, N.S.W.) Amy (Mrs. F. Orton, Gapsted), and Percy, (deceased 1st A.I.F.).

As a result of a fall, the late Miss Clemens was treated successfully at the Ovens District Hospital for a broken bone in the leg, and was removed to Wangaratta a few days before her death for an operation to the leg, which was again successful, but other complications caused her death unexpectedly.

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