People Australia

Charles Webb, 1971

National Archives of Australia, A1200:L95463

Charles Harry Webb (1908-2000) locomotive engineman, trade union official and parliamentarian

Birth: 2 February 1908 at Oldham, Lancashire, England, son of William Henry Webb (1883-1951), a tram conductor, later businessman, born at Leichhardt, Sydney, New South Wales, who had migrated to England by 1904, and Alice, née Cawood (1881-1962). Marriages: (1) December 1932 at the Sacred Heart Church, Highgate, Perth, Western Australia, to Margaret (Marge) Flaherty. They had one daughter and one son. After five years separation, the marriage ended in divorce in September 1950. (2) 1953 to Rose Elaine Duncan (1916-2005). Death: 15 November 2000 at Perth. Religion: Anglican. 

• Arrived in Australia in 1913. Family lived at Mount Lawley, Perth, Western Australia. Charles was educated at state schools and Stott’s Business College.
• Worked as a locomotive engineman. Elected secretary of the WA branch of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen [AFULE] in 1943. Was also secretary of the Aerated Waters Union, Hospital Salaried Officers Association, and Professional Accountants Union. Member, Interstate executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
• At an early age he became a member of the Australian Labor Party. Was president of the WA branch of the ALP from 1946-1955.
• Elected to the Australian House of Representatives for seat of Swan on 29 May 1954. Represented the new seat of Stirling from 10 December 1955 until defeated on 22 November 1958, and from 9 December 1961 to 2 December 1972, when he was defeated. Member Parliamentary Labor Party executive.
• Member Industrial Arbitration Court, WA. President Trade Union Industrial Council WA; consumers representative on Metropolitan Market Trust. Member Federal Executive. Delegate to International Labor Organization conference, Geneva, 1959.
• Secretary of the Professional Accountants Association. He was administrator of Christmas Island from March 1974 until he resigned due to illness in October 1975.

Sources
Joan Rydon (ed), A biographical register of the Commonwealth Parliament 1901-1972 (ANU Press, 1975); Locomotive Journal, 9 November 1961; papers, MN2726, State Library of Western Australia.