During the Second World War she trained as a nurse to the Voluntary Aid Detachment and from 1959 served on the Soldiers' Children Education Board for 20 years.

[1] In her early years she was educated in a private school in Clayfield before she was moved to Brisbane State High School for girls (which was attached to Somerville House) from between 1923 and 1927, where the Australian Dictionary of Biography observes "she was noted by the co-principals Constance Harker and Marjorie Jarrett 'for future use'.

[2][3] After being granted her extended scholarship in 1926 to the Teachers' Training College in Brisbane,[4] Ashburn qualified for University matriculation — she came third class in English, French, Greek, mathematics A and ancient history and second class in biology.

The Australian Dictionary of Biography describes her as "an energetic and dynamic teacher" who also "undertook all secretarial and administrative tasks in her early days at Clayfield College".

[1] After her only brother Colin died in World War II she trained as a nurse with the State Voluntary Aid Detachment and later served on the State branch of the Repatriation Department's Soldiers' Children Education Board.