Rebecca Medwell (née Moore) was born in Rupunyup, Victoria in 1874. Her parents, James and Rebecca (née Hamilton) were Irish immigrants who had met aboard ship on their voyage to Australia. They were married in 1866 at Kyneton, Victoria before heading to reside at Skipton for a few years and later moved on to Rupunyup. Rebecca had only been married to William James Medwell for a month before he suddenly passed away on 26 June 1897 at Learmonth, Victoria.
When 39-year-old Trained Nurse, Rebecca Medwell enlisted with the Australian Army Nursing Staff on 28 November 1916, she had already been nursing at the Ballarat Camp Clearing Hospital for eighteen months. Embarking from Melbourne, Victoria on 6 December 1916 aboard Orsova, Nurse Medwell arrived at Plymouth, England on 17 February 1917. A week later she was on her way to France and upon arrival, was posted to the 11th General Hospital at Rouen. Two months later she was transferred to 26th General Hospital and in July 1917, she was attached to the 3rd General Hospital. In April 1918, a severe bout of appendicitis necessitated her being invalided to England. Once fit for duty, Nurse Medwell was attached to No.1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, London, England. She commenced her return to Australia on board Karmala on 1 January 1919, disembarked at Melbourne on 15 February 1919 and was discharged on 20 June 1919. Nurse Rebecca Medwell died on 14 April 1958 at St. Kilda, Victoria and is remembered at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery where her cremated remains were scattered.