Nothing further is known of her early life until she emigrated to South Australia in 1886 aboard the steam ship Austral,[1] and on 2 April 1891 she enrolled as a probationary nurse at the Adelaide Hospital.

This they endorsed on the grounds that Gordon's selection was on her leadership potential, not her nursing ability (an analogy with officers and "men" was made).

[2] Under pressure, five of the nurses withdrew their support for Hawkins, but Graham refused to retract and was urged by her superior, Matron McLeod, to resign, and Dr. Way suggested she take a position at the Port Adelaide Hospital.

The medical superintendent Dr. Robert H. Perks, who had originally recommended Gordon's promotion to Way, resigned in September 1895 after Graham's return.

Professional rivalry between surgeons (such as Leith Napier and Thomas Wilson Corbin)[7] was so intense that the welfare of patients suffered.

[9] When the Duchess of Cornwall, married to the future George V, visited the Adelaide Hospital on 10 July 1901, Graham served as her guide, showing her over Albert, Victoria, Alexandra, Alfred, Hope, and Flinders wards.

[9] Graham returned to Melbourne on duty aboard hospital transport ship Euripides, leaving Suez on 22 January 1917.

2 Australian General Hospital in England, before in January 1918 reporting to the medical offices at AIF Headquarters, London.

[9] She was a few months in the Glen Almond Convalescent Home for Sisters,[17] then returned to Australia, embarking on the steamer Marathon (aka Transport A74) 15 April 1918, admitted to No.