Rev. Fred Webber

04/03/1929 – 13/04/2024

Past staff

Reverend Alfred D Webber (B.A, B.D, Dip. Ed. Dip. R.E. Dip. L.S.) served as Wesley College Chaplain for 25 years, making him the longest serving Chaplain in the history of the College.

‘Fred’ as he was known to colleagues and friends, was born in Brisbane in 1929 to Richard (from Cornwell) and Annie (from Yorkshire). His parents were both Methodists but came separately to Australia to start a new life. The Cornwell Methodists were famous for singing hymns, and it is said that even the fishermen at sea could hear their singing.

Life was not easy for the family when Fred was a child. The 1930s were the Great Depression and being frugal and careful with money became a guiding principle for him.

He was the eldest of three brothers, a book lover and a scholar. He completed his undergraduate studies in Theology and the Arts at King’s College in Brisbane, and was ordained in 1953. Married to Della, he was a father to four children, Robert, Christine, Rosemary and Kent.

Fred’s wish was to be a minister and a teacher - something he was unable to combine in Queensland, so the family moved to Victoria and in 1967, he commenced a long stint as Chaplain at Wesley’s senior campus in Prahran.

Both Robert (OW1970) and Kent (OW1978) attended Wesley College, whilst Christine and Rosemary attended MLC Cato (now the Elsternwick Campus).

Reverend Webber graciously navigated the radical changes that swept the religious and social landscape of Australia between 1967-1991. In his time as Chaplain, he was instrumental in leading Wesley’s cultural evolution from traditional Methodist boys’ school to a coeducational college in association with the Uniting Church in Australia.

Many Wesley alumni from his time as Chaplain have memories of Reverend Webber attending their Bar Mitzvahs, Greek Orthodox Easter Services and cultural celebrations of importance to the increasingly diverse Wesley community.

In an article published in the October 1991 edition of the Lion Magazine, David Prest, Principal of Wesley College from 1972-1991, wrote, ‘Perhaps one of Fred’s greatest contributions to education was his pride in a multicultural Wesley, a school where tolerance, understanding, equal opportunity, reconciliation and consideration of others are part of his legacy. He saw Wesley as a microcosm of what a true society could be, and his often brilliant services and sermons fostered respect for various religions and cultures without denying his own.’

Described as a teacher of energy, care, determination, clarity and effectiveness, Reverend Webber taught HSC Biblical Studies with a liberal syllabus, eliciting consistently outstanding results from students. In contrast to many other schools, Webber’s Biblical Studies classes were a popular elective and well-attended by students who identified as Christian, atheist or adherents to other faiths.

Fred was a trail blazer. He respected and introduced the Aboriginal Dreamtime into the Victorian religious education curriculum back in the 70s. He respected people with conflicting opinions, accepted family issues that were not in the Christian doctrine and saw the good in everyone.

Many alumni from the era credit his pastoral care and encouragement to the sense of pride in tradition that fostered their feeling of belonging to Wesley College. John Wesley, who created the faith community that Fred was baptised into, had a motto which captures the essence of the man we honour and remember:

‘Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can’

Contributions from Robert Webber (OW1970), Kent Webber (OW1978), Prof. Graeme Samuel AC (OW1963) and Kaylea Fearn, current Chaplain, St Kilda Road Campus

Remembering Rev. Fred Webber

If you would like to share a special memory or post a tribute to Rev. Fred Webber, please email owca@wesleycollege.edu.au and we will share it below.

Tributes