James Richard Webber (28 August 1940 – 4 November 2024) was an Australian politician.
Jim Webber | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of the City of Rockhampton | |
| In office 1982–1991 | |
| Preceded by | Rex Pilbeam |
| Succeeded by | Lea Taylor |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 August 1940 Leonora, Western Australia, Australia |
| Died | 4 November 2024 (aged 84) |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
Webber is perhaps best known for ending Rex Pilbeam's record 30-year reign as the mayor of the Queensland city of Rockhampton.[1]
He was also known for helping coordinate an unorthodox rescue mission in 1986 to prevent two male chimpanzees from being euthanised.[2]
Life and career
editEarly life
editWebber was born on 28 August 1940 in Leonora, Western Australia, and relocated to Queensland with his family as a young boy.[3]
At the age of 17, Webber moved north to Mackay where he worked at a Goodyear outlet retreading tyres.[3] Webber claimed he was sacked from the job after losing his temper at his boss for hitting him with a whip, which Webber alleged he did to all employees "jokingly".[3]
Despite already purchasing a block of land to build a house in Mackay, Webber relocated to Rockhampton with his fiancee in 1961 in what was meant to be a three-month stay.[3]
However, after Webber took up a position with Hardy Rubber, he married Stella Gray in 1962, after which they settled in Rockhampton and raised a family of four children.[3]
After working as a salesman at a local Chandler's store, Webber established his own local electrical goods retailer with his brother in 1968 called Rockhampton Electrical Centre, before the business became part of Retravision in 1970.[3][4]
Political career
editAt the age of 29, Webber was elected as an alderman to Rockhampton City Council in 1970.[3]
After defeating long serving mayor Rex Pilbeam for the mayoralty in 1982, Webber served three consecutive terms as mayor until 1991 when he was succeeded by Lea Taylor.[3]
Webber remained on the council for an additional 11 years, serving as deputy mayor in Rockhampton City Council's final four years of existence before its amalgamation with three neighbouring local government areas in 2008 to become Rockhampton Regional Council.[3]
Until amalgamation, Webber remained heavily involved in council, frequently debating local issues and council decisions.[5][6][7][8][9]
Through his time at Rockhampton City Council, Webber is credited with overseeing the development of Kershaw Gardens, the Rockhampton Music Bowl and for being instrumental in having Rockhampton City Council acquire the Rockhampton Airport.[10][11]
Webber also led Rockhampton through the 1991 floods caused by Cyclone Joy, which ultimately became the third highest recorded flood in the city's history.[12]
Along with Tom Wyatt, Webber is also credited with devising a plan to save two male chimpanzees called Cassius and Octavius from being euthanised at Tweed Heads in 1986, circumventing the Queensland and New South Wales state government's refusal to sign permits to allow the chimpanzees to cross the border.[2]
Webber and Wyatt drove down to retrieve the chimpanzees, persuading a truck driver to assist them in transporting the sedated chimpazees back to Rockhampton, so they could be housed at the Rockhampton Zoo.[2]
Webber and Wyatt reunited with Cassius at the Rockhampton Zoo a month before the chimp's 50th birthday in 2021. [2] Recounting the rescue mission, Webber stated: "At about nine o'clock at night, we got in the car and went down to the coast to save them... I was a fast driver and Tom was so scared."[2]
Health
editWebber had a cancerous lymph node surgically removed from his bowel in 1998 and received chemotherapy treatment for six months.[10]
In 2014, Webber was diagnosed with lymphoma on the brain and received chemotherapy treatment at Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital in Brisbane.[10][13]
Death
editWebber died on 4 November 2024, at the age of 84.[14]
After his death, Rockhampton mayor Tony Williams praised Webber as "someone who cared, led and delivered for Rockhampton in what was a critical time in the city's history".[14][15] Former mayor Margaret Strelow and Member for Rockhampton Donna Kirkland also paid tribute to Webber.[14]
Webber's funeral was held at the Cathedral of Praise in the Rockhampton suburb of Kawana on 8 November 2024 prior to his burial in the North Rockhampton Cemetery.[14][16]
Legacy
editIn 2019, the Reception Room at Rockhampton's City Hall which had recently been restored was named the "Jim Webber Reception Room" in Webber's honour. An official opening was held at City Hall on 10 April 2019.[11]
References
edit- ^ "Qld loses colourful mayor in council elections". The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 March 1982. p. 3. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Stünzner, Inga (16 September 2021). "Cassius, saved from death row in a daring midnight run, reunites with rescuers 35 years later". ABC News. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Fox, Sean (19 April 2019). "How a temporary move turned into a lifelong journey". The Morning Bulletin.
- ^ Schalch, John (3 March 2005). "Webber's pulls plug on Plaza". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
Jim Webber and brother Colin opened Rockhampton Electrical Centre in 1968 and joined Retravision in 1970. Jim left the business in 1982 to successfully run for city mayor, and Colin exited in 1987. Jim Webber and his current partners re-entered the Retravision business in 1992-93.
- ^ "Debate continues over Rockhampton Music Bowl". ABC News. 21 October 2003. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
Jim Webber passionately supports the venue saying like fashion and real estate, bands will come back into vogue and will need a suitable facility...
- ^ "Moves to attract more doctors to Rockhampton". ABC News. 10 November 2003. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
Chairman of the economic development committee, Councillor Jim Webber, says the central west, central highlands and western Queensland rely on Rockhampton for medical treatment, and the ill need to be close to their families...
- ^ "Nerimbera gets town water". ABC News. 20 August 2004. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
Rockhampton's acting Mayor Jim Webber says it has been a long time coming...
- ^ "Rockhampton rejection of Barracks 'short-sighted'". ABC News. 28 November 2006. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
Acting Mayor Jim Webber says the decision could see Rockhampton lose a valuable asset and has rejected the concern of most councillors...
- ^ "Parking at Rockhampton Airport to double". ABC News. 27 February 2007. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
chairman of the airport management committee, Jim Webber, says a doubling of passenger numbers over the past two years has caused major parking and traffic problems...
- ^ a b c McKay, Pam (27 May 2014). "Former Rockhampton mayor Jim Webber battling cancer". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
During his mayoral reign, he oversaw the creation of Kershaw Gardens and the opening of the million-dollar Music Bowl.
- ^ a b Gately, Michelle (5 April 2019). "Jim Webber to be honoured with City Hall ceremony". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
im Webber also brought our city airport into the 21st century by supporting its growth from a small airport centre to that which we see today...
- ^ Riley, Mark (14 January 1991). "Mayor faces a flood of questions". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 5. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ Benoit, Lisa (8 October 2014). "Ex-mayor winning the battle against lymphoma on the brain". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d Mesner, Kerri-Anne (6 November 2024). "Former Rockhampton mayor, businessman Jim Webber dies peacefully in home". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ "Vale Jim Webber, former mayor". Rockhampton Regional Council. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ "WEBBER, James Richard (Jim)". Harts Family Funerals. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.