A Time to Reflect at Mercy Place Mandurah

Give your all to life and you’ll get a lot back, according to 78-year-old Mercy Place Mandurah resident Yvonne Kimber. “Life really is up to you to make of it what you want, but I’ve found that if you put a lot in, you can get a lot back in return,” says the grandmother of six.

There are decades of experience behind those wise words from Yvonne who, by anyone’s standards has lived a full and interesting life.

Born in the world’s windiest city, Wellington in New Zealand, and adopted by devoted parents, Yvonne grew up on the Miramar Peninsula, south-east of the city centre, where she developed a passion for ballet, tap and Highland dancing, gaining many medals which she has kept to this day.

After leaving school at 15, Yvonne became a teenage mum when her son was born in February 1961 at a nearby ‘unmarried girls home’ in Gisborne.

“I was given the option to adopt him out but I decided to keep him, much against my mother’s wishes,” recalls Yvonne. “My mum actually wanted to take him herself and raise him as my brother, but then I married his father so was able to bring him up myself, and a few years later I gave birth to his brother Darren. 

After her marriage ended in 1974, Yvonne and her second husband Barry moved to Western Australia in 1974. Although they went back to New Zealand for a short stint, the couple spent many years travelling and working around WA and the Northern Territory, where Yvonne worked at Katherine Hospital for six years, before working as a lab assistant and then physio and rehab assistant.

“My life has been an incredible journey and I’ve many stories, from parachute accidents to encounters with snakes, but it’s been jam packed full and quite a ride, plus I’ve been grateful for everything I’ve done,” says Yvonne.

“As Mother’s Day approaches I’d say to any girls and young women to take all the opportunities on offer, try different things and just follow your passions.

“You’ll make mistakes. I certainly did, but that’s what life’s is all about - that and making sure you enjoy the ride and have lots of laughs along the way.”

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