GLENREAGH treasure Elizabeth “Bessie” Webb has passed away at the age of 103.
The rural community is well-known for its active volunteering and common purpose, and Bessie epitomised that selfless ethic.
Local Honi Reifler has shared the story of Mrs Webb’s life with News Of The Area.
She said Bessie recalled being a three-year-old, sitting on her mother’s knee and listening to her father recite a poignant Banjo Patterson poem in the Glenreagh Hall.
Her father was Tom Holder, a wise man whose life was built around his two favourite adages: “You have to care for your neighbour”, and “The world has to be just a tiny bit better because you’ve been here”.
Bessie was born in 1922 and lived at Tallawudjah Creek, west of Glenreagh, until she was 16.
Her primary schooling was two days one week and three days the next as the teacher was shared between another small school.
She did not have any high schooling but went on to research local history, write many books, compose poetry, remind politicians of their duty, and ensure that all the organisations that she belonged to remained true to their purpose.
Love of her life
The Holders moved to a small farm at Southgate, near Grafton, in 1938.
Bessie met Les Webb in 1942 and they were married in 1944.
Over 100 of Bessie’s family filled the Grafton Cathedral for the wedding ceremony but Les was the only representative from the Webb side.
He was from a very small family and it was during the Second World War when travel was difficult.
The indomitable Bessie then left her family behind and headed for the south coast of NSW with the love of her life.
They turned their hand to farming, mainly dairying, in Unundera, Kangaroo Valley, Penrith and Llandilo.
Les was a fitter-and-turner so he worked on-and-off the farm until his retirement when they were running two school buses.
The four Webb children, Robyn (1945), Lyn (1949), Peter (1953) and Jen (1962) were born during this time, and Bessie was actively involved in all their schooling and recreation.
She was also a founding member of the Nepean Family History and an active member of the Anglican Church.
In 1981, Les and Bessie moved to Glenreagh where they were active in their retirement.
Bessie was involved in numerous projects.
That very long list includes: the establishment of the Glenreagh Memorial Museum; the beautification of Shannon Park; Glenreagh Bush Fire Brigade; the local Anglican Church; the Glenreagh Public School and P&C; the tennis club; the annual Charity Picnic Race Day; scripture teaching; Glenreagh Tidy Towns; the Progress Association and Hall Committee; Australia Day celebrations; Glenreagh Mountain Railway; The Creative Group; and she was a charter member of the Orara Valley Lions Club.
Bessie always held out the Digger’s hat at the breakfast in the hall after the Anzac Day Dawn Service, and nobody sidled past to ignore her intentions.
Trousseau treasures
A few years ago, at Glenreagh’s annual Cedar and Steam Art and Photography Exhibition, the organisers chose the humble but all-important apron to feature in their special section.
Bessie had some beautiful aprons from her trousseau that her mother had made in 1944.
“When I went around to photograph the aprons I was surprised… but not really… to find Bessie wearing one of the aprons while cooking a batch of jam drops,” Honi said.
“While the biscuits baked, Bessie modelled many of her aprons.
“Afterwards we enjoyed a cuppa and then Bessie packed away the remaining biscuits so she could take them up to the school canteen for the students.”
In the last few years of Bessie’s life, she was slowed down by minor strokes.
Although her speech was affected, she still ensured the museum maintained the integrity of her research.
Bessie remained in her own home, almost to the end, thanks to the caring rotational visits from her children.
Bessie and Les, who died in 1998, shared four children.
Honi said: “On the last day of her earthly life, Bessie read out the mindfulness card for the day: ‘I am loved for being uniquely me’.
“And truly, our unique Bessie was loved by all.
“We are all the better for having known a lady who left this world, not just a tiny bit better, but a lot better because she had been here.”
There will be a community celebration of the life of Elisabeth “Bessie” Webb at 11am on Thursday 19 March in the Glenreagh Hall.
By Andrea FERRARI and Honi REIFLER
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