Daughter of Dr Erson, Kathleen was a Licentiate of the Trinity College of Music, London. It is not known when she came to Australia, but she taught music at Bordertown 1906-1917, then moved to Adelaide. She continued her teaching of music at Pianola Chambers, in Rundle St, in 1920, then at Allan's Teaching Studio, also in Rundle St. She lived at 4 Bowen St, off East Parade, Kensington 1922-1926, then moved to Harriet St, Newstead (St Morris) 1927-1947, where she supported herself by giving singing and piano lessons, and she also sold almonds to her neighbours. In 1948 she moved to 23 Third Avenue, St Morris, Adelaide.
She is remembered by one of her students as being a tiny 'Edwardian lady', with silvery-grey hair and a 'polished' English accent. She was very deaf, and assisted her hearing with a hearing trumpet and later a hearing aid. In a letter to a friend (Mrs Pym) she admitted that she had had 'a not altogether easy life'. She wrote words for songs, and claimed she had had 200 poems published in 'Literary Pages'. Sir William Sowden of The Register classed her among 'the very best of living Australian poets' (Register 12 Oct 1923 p 11e)