Although she was born in Dunedin, and has lived in the city all her life, she had never appeared in the paper.
So it will be with great delight today she will be able to tick that off her wish list. Mrs Tourell (nee Milburn) celebrated her 100th birthday last weekend with family and friends at the Little Sisters of the Poor, in Brockville.
Good health and a healthy lifestyle meant she had been able to live on her own in a one-bedroom flat in Forbury, until she was 93.
''I never smoked or drank. I've lived a good, clean life.''
When asked what it felt like to be 100, she replied with a steely gaze, ''I don't feel like I'm 100''.
''But then again, I don't feel like a teenager either. I felt it was an achievement. I never thought I would live this long.''
Among her most cherished gifts on Sunday was that most of her four children, 11 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren celebrated the milestone with her, and she had received ''lovely'' big bouquets of flowers, and birthday cards from the Prime Minister, the Governor-General and the Queen.
''It was very nice to have family here together all at once. That doesn't happen very often. It's pretty rare.''
Mrs Tourell had been a devout Catholic since marrying her husband Bernard in 1935, and had never missed Mass. Mr Tourell died in 1996
She said her faith was such, that even though she had a busy weekend celebrating her 100th birthday, she still went to Mass.
While she had enjoyed the attention at the celebrations, Mrs Tourell said she did not want to celebrate too many more birthdays like that, and she certainly had no plans to reach 110.
''I hope I don't live until I'm 110. It's too long.
''I'm ready for heaven - if I can get there,'' Mrs Tourell said.
