Mervyn McKell, 93, may not have a high school education, but his knowledge of the land and of the Redlands is unsurpassed.
So says his son Lyle, 68, of Capalaba, who reminisced about farming and the early Redland days on the 73rd wedding anniversary of his parents Mervyn and Lorna, 94 on April 8.
The couple met at Wellington Point at a trophy presentation night for the Wellington Point sailing club.
Lyle said his parents courted using bicycles, trains and the farm truck as transport. Activities included playing tennis at the McKell tennis court and local dances.
The couple’s home still overlooks what was once their family farm and is now the site of the Wellington Point High School.
Lyle said the farm was sold 25 years ago after the government claimed the property for the school.
“Some blokes came around and asked Dad if he had heard about the future of the farm,” Lyle said.
“He had no idea. In the end, he was paid per acre and also for the price of the crops growing per acre.”
At the time, the 25-acre farm was used to grow cucumbers, lettuce and small crops and at one time flowers.
As a primary producer, it was also used to provide food for the army.
Lyle describes a time where the landscape of the Redlands was considerably different with local farmers including the Day family of Wellington Point, the Lippi family who grew grapes at Birkdale, the Oskburgers growing grapes and bananas at Birkdale, Herb Kaye, John Woodgate at Birkdale and the Patrick dairy farm.
Lyle said his was a childhood where he worked at the farm before attending school (Birkdale State then Cleveland high) and he and his grandparents built bricks every day in order to extend their house.
“Actually, the house was supposed to stay heritage and be the school office, but it got knocked down by mistake,” he said.
His grandparents were Ralph and Edie McKell and they lived on the farm while Mervyn and Lorna lived in their current location over the road.
“When the farm was sold, Dad sent his resume to the education department,” Lyle said.
“He and Graham Day became groundsmen for the Alexandra Hills TAFE and worked there for 15 years.
“His knowledge is incredible. I am still learning from my father.”
Lyle said his father was also a skilled sailor and built a number of skiffs.
Mervyn sailed 10-foot, 16 foot and 18-foot skiffs, representing Queensland in many Australian and World Championships.
Lyle works as a plumber, gaining his own profession after being called to a meeting on water reticulation for the area by the then chairman Dick Wood.
“True as I sit here, he called me to the meeting and introduced me as the apprentice to the new plumber working on the project. That’s how it all started,” he said.
Son Ralph lives at Birkdale. There are four grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
