Rosa Elizabeth Kate Quarterman was born in Toorak, Victoria on 30 July, 1872 to parents John and Martha Quarterman née Moodie.
Rosa was trained at the Melbourne Hospital in general medical and surgical work, and had experience in the treatment of infectious diseases. Her midwifery training was obtained at the Women's Hospital, Melbourne and she held the position Matron of the Zeehan Hospital, Tasmania for some six years.
In 1912 the Victorian Bush Nursing Association appointed Rosa to the vacant position of bush nurse at Meeniyan, South Gippsland. By 1914, she had relocated and had been appointed Matron of the Ballarat Hospital. On 11 November 1914 the Ballarat Hospital Committee "granted Rosa six months' leave of absence to enable her to proceed to the European war as nurse with the second Australian Expeditionary Force."
Nurse Quarterman enlisted on 28 November 1914 and embarked at Melbourne aboard Kyarra on 5 December 1914. She was detailed for duty with the 1st Australian General Hospital. Rosa spent the next 5 years travelling back and forth to Australia aboard Hospital Ships nursing wounded and invalided soldiers and nurses.
On 30 October 1918, Matron Quarterman became dangerously ill suffering from pneumonia and it was two months later before she had begun to recover. However, it was deemed that she would return to Australia on 30 January 1919 aboard Orontes and she was discharged as medically unfit on 23 April 1920.
The London Gazette dated 19 December 1919 and the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette dated 25 March 1920, announced that Matron Quarterman had received the Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class "in recognition of her valuable nursing services in connection with the war."
Rosa Quarterman died on 10 October 1940 and was cremated at the Springvale Crematorium with her ashes scattered within the cemetery.