AustLit

Mervyn Winmar was born on an Aboriginal reserve about five or six miles out from Kellerberrin. His parents were Harry and Hazel Winmar (nee Humphries). Mervyn's mother was born around 1913 in the Quairading area; her parents were Ernie and Gertie Humphries (nee Bennell). At a young age Mervyn lived on the reserve and went to school across the road at Djurin Mission and he travelled with his family from farm to farm for work. Mervyn met his wife Emily Michael in Quairading and they had six children. He was employed for a while by the government on a railway gang, he later went back to farming and then returned to the railways in 1972. After the closure of the railway gang in Quairding Mervyn was transferred to York and in 1993 he retired from the railways. On many occasions Mervyn takes students on cultural education tours and shows them the significant sites around his area.