Jenny - first one in my database that you don't appear to have:
You'll see I tend to gather a lot of info that I'll leave you to sort through, to find the bits you might want.
[sorry I've been slack & haven't linked or referenced anything - I do keep telling myself off for that

]
Cheers, Frev
ABELL, Lydia (RRC) Staff Nurse, Stationary Hospital / QAIMNSR
[British Medal Card & Service Record available NA]
Born 1872 Wallsend, NSW daughter of Elijah ABELL & Margaret BROWN who married in Newcastle in 1859 Elijah d.1913 Wallsend, age 81 (Mayor of Wallsend 1882, 1886 & 1894 for the 4th time)
Siblings: Ann b.1860 marr Cummings d.1920; Thomas b.1862 d.1947; Susan b.1864 marr Bower d.1917; Alexander b.1867 d.1939; Elizabeth b.1869 marr Edward Lockley 1914; John William b.1875 d.1928 NSW, age 53; Sarah Jane b.1878 (nurse) d.1958 Chatswood
Trained Newcastle Hospital, NSW passed her final (or 3rd year) exam in Aug 1898
Phillip St Nurses Home
Travelled to England (with Nurse Ellen Lowe, age 43) by the RMS Arabia, embarking Sydney 18th September 1915 and arriving Tilbury 1/11/1915, to join the QAIMNSR
Served England and France first at Talence, near Bordeaux then 32nd Stationary Hosp, Boulogne hospital barges on one of the canals 14th Gen Stat Hosp at Bolougne casualty clearing stations, including No. 2 CCS in 1918 when she won her RRC
Received her RRC from the King 15/5/1919
RTA on the Katoomba, embarking 7/8/1919, and arriving Sydney 25/9/1919
[Brit MC: Ellen Lowe possibly Ellen Lowe, FRC, now Mrs E Mathews]
Worked at the Repatriation Departments Lady Davidson Home at Turramurra from her return to Australia until retiring from the institution in 1933
1936 Electoral Roll: Burbank, Wentworth Falls, NSW nursing sister
1937 ER: Red Cross Farm, Exeter, NSW - nurse
1943 ER: 123 Prince Edward St, Malabar, NSW home duties
1949 ER: 29 Ridge St, Gordon nursing sister (also with her was Sarah Jane nurse)
1954 ER: 79 Boundary St, Roseville no occupation
Died 21/7/1959 at the Lady Gowie Home, Gordon, NSW, age 87 (reg. Chatswood, NSW)
The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 18 Sept 1915:
PERSONAL
Nurse L Abell, of Newcastle and Sydney, one of the first members of the Australian Trained Nurses Association, and Nurse Ellen Lowe, matron of the State Hospital at Barren Jack, leave Sydney to-day, by the P and O Companys RMS Arabia, to volunteer their services, for work with the military hospitals in France.
The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 17 Jul 1918:
A NURSE ON SHIRKERS
THEY WILL BE SORRY SOME DAY.
Staff-Nurse L. Abell, of Sydney, who three years ago proceeded to France to offer her services to the military authorities, and who is attached to Queen Alexandras Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve, writing to a friend from a casualty clearing station behind the lines, says: - Much as I would like to come home, I do not wish to leave the boys or my work. I went with the other nurses to one of the camps this morning, and the boys were delighted to see us, and made us very welcome. Most of them are from New South Wales, and I am going again to-morrow, because they will not be here long. They are dear brave boys, and I am proud of them. Those who could have come and didnt will be sorry some day.
The Sydney Morning Herald, Thur 8 Aug 1918:
SYDNEY NURSE HONOURED
[Photo]
SISTER LYDIA ABELL
Awarded the Royal Red Cross
Advices just received describe the hasty removal of an important casualty clearing station immediately behind the lines on the Western front owing to the Allied army being pressed back by the oncoming German forces during a recent offensive. Less than half an hours warning was given to the staff to prepare to leave with the wounded patients and to pack as best they could all the surgical appliances and stores. Doctors and nurses worked heroically, and while hospitals in the vicinity were being deliberately bombed by German aircraft, succeeded in re-establishing the station in a sager quarter. Sister Abell, who has now been honoured with the Royal Red Cross, was one of the heroic band of nurses.
Sister Abell, who is a native of Wallsend, was trained at the Newcastle Hospital, and eventually became a charge nurse at that institution. Matron Greaves, of the Australian Voluntary Hospital, and Matron Veenman, of the Randwick Military Hospital, both of whom were some time ago decorated with the Royal Red Cross, were among her colleagues at Newcastle. For some years Sister Abell continued the practice of her profession in Sydney, and was attached to the Phillip-street Nurses Home. Her services were secured by the Government on two occasions when special staffs of nurses were engaged to cope with serious epidemics at Coonamble and at Newcastle. Sister Abell is one of the foundation members of the Australasian Trained Nurses Association.
Desiring to assist in war work, Sister Abell in September 1915, proceeded at her own expense to London and France to volunteer her services to the military authorities, and was at once attached to Queen Alexandras Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve. She was appointed to a military hospital at Talence, near Boreaux, then transferred to the 32nd Stationary Hospital at Boulogne, and afterwards was chosen for hospital barge work on one of the canals, and was frequently under fire. Subsequently she received an appointment to the 14th General Stationary Hospital at Boulogne, and later was selected for duty at casualty clearing stations in the danger zone.
Sister Abell is at present the only Australian nurse on the staff of the No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station somewhere in France.
The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 11 Jul 1919:
[photo very dark]
SISTER L. ABELL, R.R.C.
Advices have just been received from London, stating that on May 15 Sister L. Abell, of Sydney, was decorated at Buckingham Palace by his Majesty the King with the Royal Red Cross. Sister Abell, who is a native of Wallsend, was trained at the Newcastle Hospital, and eventually became a charge nurse at that institution. For some years she continued the practice of her profession in Sydney, and was attached to the Phillip-street Nurses Home. Desiring to assist in war work, Sister Abell in September 1915, proceeded at her own expense to London and France to volunteer her services to the military authorities, and was at once attached to Queen Alexandras Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve.
The Sydney Morning Herald, Fri 26 Sept 1919:
PERSONAL
Sister L Abell, who was recently decorated by the King at Buckingham Palace with the Royal Red Cross and subsequently entertained by Queen Alexandra at Marlborough House, returned yesterday by the transport Katoomba.
.
The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 14 Jun 1933:
SISTER L ABELL
Royal Red Cross Nurse Retires
Sister L Abell, who has been on the staff of the Lady Davidson Home, at Turramurra for the past 12 years, has retired from the service of the Repatriation Department.
[Photo]
Sister Abell, who is a native of Wallsend, was trained at the Newcastle Hospital, and later continued to practise her profession in Sydney. She is one of the foundation members of the Australasian Trained Nurses Association. In September 1915, desiring to assist in war work, Sister Abell proceeded to London at her own expense to volunteer her services, and was immediately attached to Queen Alexandras Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve. She was appointed to a military hospital at Talence, near Boreaux, then transferred to the 32nd Stationary Hospital at Boulogne, and afterwards was chosen for hospital barge work on one of the canals, being frequently under fire. Subsequently she received an appointment to the 14th General Stationary Hospital at Boulogne, and still later was selected for duty at casualty clearing stations in the danger zone. On May 15, 1919, Sister Abell was decorated with the Royal Red Cross by his Majesty the King at Buckingham Palace.
A farewell party was tendered Sister Abell at the Lady Davidson Home on Monday night. Dr F.R. Featherstone, medical superintendent, on behalf of the patients and staff, presented Sister Abell with a travelling clock and a wallet of notes. He eulogised her splendid war services, and said she had given 18 years of life serving the interests of the Digger. He had never heard her say a word to the detriment of the Australian soldier, and he viewed her going as a personal loss.
The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed 10 Mar 1920:
THE LADY DAVIDSON RED CROSS HOME
With the consent of the president of the New South Wales division of the Red Cross (Dame Margaret Davidson, D.B.E.), and with the approval of the Defence Department, it has been decided to name the new sanatorium for consumptives The Lady Davidson Red Cross Home.
The home is about six miles from Turramurra railway station, near the entrance to Kuringal Chase.
The executive committee of the New South Wales division of the Red Cross Society desired that the name of Lady Davidson should be permanently associated with a prominent Red Cross institution in this State, as a token of their appreciation of the great interest taken by her in all the activities of the Red Cross during the war period and since the conclusion of peace.
There is at present accommodation for 75 T.B. patients in The Lady Davidson Red Cross Home, but this will subsequently be increased to make adequate provision for at least 100 patients.
The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 21 Apr 1928:
MR J.W. ABELL
Mr John William Abell, who for more than30 years had been an officer of the Department of Education of New South Wales, died suddenly on Thursday at his home in Durham-street, Stanmore.
Joining the department in 1895, Mr Abell was appointed
Mr Abell, who is 53 years of age,
Sister L Abell, RRC, of the Lady Davidson Home, Nurse Jane Abell, and Mrs Lockley, of Gordon, are sisters.
The funeral took place yesterday at the Rookwood Crematorium.