Muriel came into the world on 9 July 1941. She was born under a gum tree with all of her aunties delivering her.

"I was a bush baby. I call myself a bush baby because my mum wasn't allowed in the hospital in those days."

One of ten children, Aunty Muriel had a happy childhood living on Ballardong country. Her mother and father worked clearing farms around York and Beverley. 

She reflects on why they spent so much time in the bush, living on the outskirts of town.

"I think they had us in the bush all the time so we didn't come in contact with welfare... cause Mum and Dad knew the welfare van would just just pull in, chuck kids in the van and off they go. They'd end up in New Norcia or Mogumber.

"One minute your cousins are there and the next they're down at Roelands Mission."

While other families were being torn apart by the Department of Native Welfare's policy of child removal, Aunty Muriel's family stayed under the radar, and thus stayed together.

It was later in life she came to realise just how fortunate a life she'd had.

Muriel completed a counselling qualification at TAFE and became a welfare worker at a women's refuge in Perth. Many of the Aboriginal women seeking help were of the Stolen Generations. They'd been taken from their families and placed in missions or orphanages.

"It had a big impact on me because they never knew their mother. And I had a mother and a father. It's terrible to think that you don't even know your mother or father or brother or sister. Here I was lucky with four brothers and five sisters. It inspired me to make a difference because I would think how could they take babies away from their mother and father?"

Muriel did make a difference. She spent decades working in welfare, helping Aboriginal women get back on their feet, helping them to reconnect with family.

She was one of the founding members of Yorgum, a healing service that still serves the community today. 

Even in retirement, she continues to serve. She is an Elder researcher for the Telethon Kids Institute, an advisor to the City of Perth and a representative on many community groups.

Despite all she has achieved, Muriel says her grandchildren are her proudest legacy. 

Having left school at 12, Muriel went back to study in her late thirties so she could help her own children with their school work. 

Her message to the next generation is clear and strong: "Get educated. Get into parliament. We need more Aboriginal people in parliament if we're going to make lasting change. The next generation could have Australia's first Aboriginal Prime Minister."

Written by Michelle White 

Produced by Community Arts Network during the Ngaluk Waangkiny project. 

can.org.au/ngaluk-waangkiny