Kathy Northover was born during the Depression in the Collie District Hospital. Her mother was from Northam, but had been brought up in Perth's Swan Orphanage, and her father was Jack Mears, born in Roebourne, who worked as a drover.
Northover received an education due to the determination of her mother. Northover's older sister was not allowed to attend the local school because of prejudice, so their mother wrote to the Minister for Education and as a result the principal of the school visited their home to inform them of the change in policy. At home, Northover's father taught the children traditional language, laws, customs and songs to supplement the white education they were receiving.
Northover's older sister was sent to Moore River Settlement with her baby when she was sixteen but was only away for a couple of years before their father successfully lobbied for her return.
Northover, herself, was almost taken away and sent to Carrolup Mission but her father prevented it from happening. Northover was not so successful with her own children, who were all removed from her care when her marriage broke up. The courts reasoned that she was unable to look after the children on her income. Later, when she remarried, Northover's second husband took her eight children off the mission and brought them home.
