Torrance's upbringing was heavily influenced by religion - her father was the chaplain at Dunedin's hospital, jail and asylum, a lay preacher and elder in the Presbyterian Church, and later worked for the Patients' and Prisoners' Aid Society.
St John Ambulance invited her to join their organisation, and she worked for them for 13 years, including during World War I.
[4] Shortly after the devastating 1918 influenza pandemic, Knox Church in Dunedin hired Torrance as a parish nurse; a bequest in 1915 by a local benefactor provided funds for such an appointment.
Torrance held a daily clinic in rooms at the Knox Sunday School in Great King Street, made visits to patients in their homes, dispensed medications and lent nursing equipment as needed.
[1][4] In addition, she tutored students of the church's Missionary Training Unit and nurses who wanted to become deaconesses.