Rosa known as Rose was born at Richmond, Victoria, 28 February 1876 to Joseph Hildreth Rockett from Yorkshire and Tasmanian born Frances Loftus Jones. Third of five children. Joseph was a medical practitioner. The family lived in Longford, Tasmania where Joseph died aged 43 on 10 October 1883. Frances died in 11 November 1917 in New South Wales. 

LONGFORD - (From our own Correspondent)

The house occupied by Dr Rockett at the bottom of Wellington Street near the railway station had a narrow escape of being burnt down last night about 7 o’clock. The fire was first uncovered by a servant girl who had been in an upstairs bedroom a short time previously with a candle to put the youngest child to bed in a cot. A bedstead and hangings were close by the cot, and it is supposed that the girl in leaning over it with the candle accidentally set the hangings on fire, which, however, she was not aware of until she entered the room a second time to put another of the children to bed. Dr Rockett fortunately was at home when the alarm was given and he and a neighbour, who saw the reflection of the fire from the street, managed to put it out with a few buckets of water; several of the articles of furniture were damaged and most of the large bed and bedding. The oldest of the two children, a little boy, was waiting to be put to bed ran out of the room, and the baby was rescued by the servant so that they both escaped unhurt. The doctor has only recently come to reside here, and this would have been a serious loss to him had the fire not have been seen in time, and would have probably been attended with loss of life. Launceston Examiner, 7 May 1879.

In May 1881, the stable at the rear of the house was burnt down.

Dr Rockett, respected townsman and skilful practitioner, died at 9 o’clock last night [11 October]. He had been a great sufferer for three years from acute spinal disorder. The Mercury, 12 October 1883. Rosa was seven when her father died.

Funeral Notices - The funeral of the late Dr. Rockett will be at St. Andrew’s Church, Westbury, this day at 3 o’clock. Launceston Examiner, 13 October 1883.

From the ODH House Committee report 3 September 1906 – The Superintendent reported that Miss Rocquet [sic] of Launceston had filled the vacancy for probationer nurse …

From the ODH House Committee report 10 December 1906 - ... that Nurse Rockett had been examined by the medical officers after her three months on trial and was physically fit to undergo training, her agreement is ready for sealing.

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 Inpatient Register 1906-1925 admitted as a patient with pneumonia on 19 January 1908. 9 February 1908 discharged to her mother, Mrs. R. Rockett, 2 Stewart Street, Launceston.

From the ODH House Committee report 30 August 1909 – that Nurse Rockett, having finished her training had left. … and the nursing certificates of Nurses Kerr, Clemens & Rockett were ready for signature and sealing.

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).

Date of qualification 1 September 1909.

From 1909 December Una Journal - Royal Victorian Trained Nurses’ Association. General Register …  Rockett, Rosa Jessie Henty, “Lonsdale House,” Lonsdale Street, Melbourne—Cert. Ovens District Hospital, 1909.

Rose resigned from the ODH to work at Lonsdale House, 472 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, a private hospital run by Miss Samsing, formerly of Melbourne Hospital & Women’s Hospital.

From Una Journal , November 1910 – December 1911, Rose is at The Melbourne Trained Nurses’ Home, 384 Albert Street, East Melbourne.

 Married Harold Thomas Butler, Sydney, May 1912.

BUTLER-ROCKETT – On the 4th May at Sydney, by the Rev. Mr. Whilton, Harold Thomas, third son of George Butler Esq., of Hamilton, Victoria to Rose Jessie Henty, eldest daughter of the late Dr. Hildreth Rockett, of Longford, Tasmania. The Australasian, 1 June 1912.

1913 – 1921 ER Rose & Harold are at Glenormiston Station in Queensland’s north west channel country. Their three children, Thomas, Harold and Frances Kathleen were born on Glenormiston.

BUTLER.—On the 3rd April, 1916, at Nurse McArdle's, Sturt-street, Townsville, to Mr and Mrs Harold Butler, Glenormiston Station, Boulia—a son. Townsville Daily Bulletin, 10 April 1916.

Deaths. BUTLER. — On the 20th July 1918, at Glenormiston Station, Boulia, Queensland, Frances Kathleen, infant daughter of Harold and Rosa Butler, aged 6 months. Examiner, Launceston, 15 August 1918.

Cannot ascertain why the Butlers do not appear on the ER between 1922 and 1935.

1936 – 1937 ER Harold is listed as farm hand at Lomos about 170km east south east of Perth. The property is owned by a F.R. Overheu

Died 29 May 1942 at Manjimup, Western Australia. Buried Manjimup Old Cemetery.

BUTLER.-On May 29. at Manjimup Hospital, Rose, dearly loved wife of Harold Thomas Butler, mother of Thomas Rockett (AIF, abroad) and Harold John, of Manjimup. West Australian, 18 June 1942.

From the 1943 ER it seems Harold had taken up farming in the Manjimup district sometime after 1937.

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