People Australia

Mary Veronica (Ronnie) Henlen (1921-1993) nurse and trade union leader 

Birth: 22 September 1921 in Marrickville, Sydney, New South Wales, daughter of native-born parents Frederick George Henlen (1938-1977), merchandise manager, later auctioneer, and his first wife Lydia Veronica, née Edwards (1887-1934). Marriage: 30 October 1943 at St Stephen’s Presbyterian Church, Sydney, to Edward Henry Chown, a wood machinist. Divorced 27 November 1950. Death: 14 August 1993 in Belrose, NSW. 

• Completed general nursing and midwifery training St George Hospital, Kogarah.
• Worked as district nurse, ward sister, operating theatre sister, nurse educator, deputy matron and matron in rural NSW and Sydney.
• 1947-49 worked as nurse in New Guinea and later in the United Kingdom
• From 1962 to 1968 was council member of the NSW Nurses Association.
• 1968-1982 general secretary treasurer of Nurses Association, negotiating wage rises and equal pay.

Sources
The Lamp, June 1968, September 1968, June 1970, October 1973; Labor Year Book, 1973; retirement and photo, Sydney Morning Herald, 28 July 1982 p 1; Vale Mary (Ronnie) Henlen. The Lamp, September 1993, p. 5.