Biography

Merle Ann White (nee Hawkey) (1911 - 1982) was born on 22^nd October, 1911, only daughter of three children of Harry and Annie Hawkey of Beaconsfield. Harry arrived in Tasmania from Cornwall in 1888 aged 6 years, and eventually worked in the gold mine in Beaconsfield. Merle was educated at the Beaconsfield School and later the Charles Street State School in Launceston. She undertook a commercial course at Miss Darcey's establishment and her first employment was with R. L. Mayhead, shipping agents, in Charles Street, in a secretarial capacity; she later worked at Mrs Woods' hairdressing salon.

In March 1939 she married Thomas Peter White of Launceston. They had a family of three children. All attended St. John's Church where Merle was very involved with the women's groups, particularly the Women's Guild.

She died on 22^nd December 1982 and in her memory the members of the Guild donated a beautiful blackwood flower pedestal. The inscription on it reads:
IN MEMORY OF MERLE ANN WHITE
D.22-12-82 LOVED BY ALL

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