Inscriptions & markings
ROGER WEBBER
Born at Agra India, November, 1900, eldest of 6 sons of the Rev. and Mrs. P. Webber. In 1917 he came to Victoria, Australia to finish his schooling at Caulfield Grammar School.
His parents left India for Australia in 1919 and in 1921 Rev. Webber was appointed Minister to St. Pauls Church of England, Ringwood.
The family moved to the Vicarage then situated in Warrandyte Road (now part of Eastland Car Park).
Roger married Miss Ruth Danby of Oban Road North Ringwood in 1926 and settled in a house in Ringwood Street that was to be their home for over 40 years.
A keen athlete, he was captain of the Church cricket team and later East Ringwood Cricket Club winning the Premiership in 1933. Belonging to Croydon Golf Club and Ringwood Bowling Club, he won trophies in both sports. An active member of the Ringwood Horticulture Society, keenly growing first Dahlias and Tulips but later becoming well known for his Gladiolas winning many blue ribbons at flower shows throughout Victoria.
He was always very fond of painting and sketching so when ill-health forced early retirement from Rowntree-Murrays Pty. Limited he gave up some of his more active hobbies to be able to devote his time to his painting. A (foundation?) member of the Ringwood Arts Society he gave tuition and encouragement happily to other members. Painting mostly Australian landscapes, he and Mrs. Webber made many caravan trips into the country, often with other artists, where Roger twice won the Bright Award. Their favourite area was Bright one of the last landscapes he painted
In October 1969 he suffered a stroke which tragically left him paralysed but early in 1970 he won yet another Award, given by the Ringwood Council, with In May, 1970 Roger Webber passed away at Caulfield Hospital survived by his wife, 2 sons and a daughter, leaving a legacy of Australiana in oils.
Refer to Artists in the Ringwood Area book (Russ Haines OAM) for further details
