AustLit

Merv Webster received an education to Junior level and then worked at various occupations such as a railway porter, bank clerk, and accountant. After marrying in Toowoomba, he worked as a shop assistant, slaughterman and electrical line worker, jobs which entailed travel throughout Queensland. In 1994 Webster moved to Bargara, where he began writing a book on his family's history. His first book of bush poetry was Tales of Uncle Jim (not traced).

Merv Webster began performing his bush verse in 1996 and has since produced several books of poetry and yarns. Described as a 'master of performance poetry', Webster has entertained audiences at country arts festivals throughout Queensland and New South Wales. Along with his family, he toured the show of bush poetry and yarns, 'Laughter and Tears from the Bush'. He has also written books inspired by Australia's pioneering past, and produced CDs with his wife, including Chris and The Grey, A Selection of Bush Verse.

Webster has been a finalist on four occasions at the Golden Gumleaf Bush Laureate Awards at Tamworth. For two years he was Co-ordinator for the Bundy Mob's Bush Poet's Muster, and spent another two years as Joint Co-ordinator of the Oasis Bush Poetry Competition at Tamworth as well as the Easter In the Country weekend at Roma. Webster has also coordinated the bush poetry at the Katherine Country Music Festival and the Far North Bush Poetry Festival.

In November 2004 Webster released his debut Bush Ballad CD, 'The Bushman & The Balladeer', a tribute to R. M. Williams and Slim Dusty, and has twice won the Lyrics Only section of the Katherine Country Music Muster's Northern Territory Song Writing Competition.

Webster has been bush poets representative for the Australian Bush Balladeers from 2003 to 2007 and has also written a column for the Country Roundup magazine.