Miss Emma Tuersley, formerly Matron of the Women's Department at Sunnyside Asylum, was born in Christchurch, and educated at the private schools of Messrs Donally and Clark. Miss Tuersley was trained at the Wellington Hospital as a nurse, and after serving three years and a half, was appointed matron at Sunnyside Asylum on the 10th of March, 1891. She was afterwards transferred to a similar position at Porirua Asylum, near Wellington.