It ha
s been said that “Merv has an opinion on everything”. It’s probably true. You see, he left school early to keep what little self-esteem he had in case he needed it someday. Having missed out on being told what to think, he had to make up his own mind on things. A slow learner, hopeless at sport, a loner who made stuff. And read a lot. Now, more than seven decades later, he is still making things, and still reading. And writing. And travelling. He left school under the mantra “He is good with his hands”, which is teacher code for a bit thick. So he used his hands; to build houses, yachts, sports cars and an aeroplane.
He taught his trade, then took on all the kids that many thought were a bit thick. They weren’t. They earned money by making stuff and teaching teachers about online learning, enough to travel interstate, internationally, on the ski slopes, and yacht charters. Schools should have loved this type of success, but they didn’t. Merv decided to prepare for a life post-teaching so he went to Uni, and later to the UK to study psychotherapy. After a few years in private pra
ctice, he retired to focus on training health professionals in emotional health, and consultancy work to reduce domestic violence in indigenous communities. He calls himself a ‘non-practicing retiree’. He lives with Robyn, his best friend and companion for over fifty years and they have two adult sons.
Still a bit thick – but one who has made up his own mind.
Merv can be contacted at merv@humangivens.com.au