History of Item
Florence and Charles John Joseph Webb lived on the corner of Smollett Street, in a small house where Officeworks currently stands. Charles was a Porter at the Albury Railway Station, and his granddaughter Beverley has fond memories of taking Pop’s morning tea across the road to him in a blue enamel billy can. Florence Webb was an active member of the Albury community, with interests including involvement with the Australian Girl Guides spanning more than 50 years and a love of croquet. Coral Rebecca was born in June 1915, and her sister Vera Louise born about 18 months later. Their brother Charles William Andrew Webb (known as Mickey) was born in 1922.
Coral Webb used to tell stories of her parents during World War II. Soldiers travelling between Sydney and Melbourne would jump from the train as it slowed to approach Albury Railway Station, run to the Webb family home, leave messages for their loved ones, then run back to rejoin their train as it departed Albury. Charles Webb was the Head Porter in May 1943, and following the crash between a bus transporting soldiers from Bonegilla and a steam locomotive Mr Webb would meet ladies who travelled from around the country at the Railway Station and take them to the cemetery on Waugh Road and personally show them to the graves of their sons and husbands. Beverley recalls that for many years after the incident, which took 25 lives, people would wire money to the Webb family who would in turn purchase flowers and take them to the grave sites.
Florence was involved in the creation of the Albury Croquet Club as well as an early member or supporter of the Girl Guides in Albury. The LibraryMuseum holds Flo's croquet club badge as well as her Thanks Badge, given for her service to Guides.
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