CHARLES ALLEN WEBB BORN 1880 Emmaville NSW.
His father was known as the Tin King as he was always interested in mining and the family owned tin mines at Emmaville SW and later in Western Australia at Kalgoorlie. The family later turned their interest to grazing and farming. The family lived for a while in Beaudesert and with the well known Day family they carried on a building business where a fair number of dwellings still stand today.
Always interested in local affairs he became active on a number of committees including the School Committee and the Methodist Church. The family moved to Monto in 1924 and here he became really tied up in public life. His building knowledge became very useful in this pioneer town and he also operated the only ambulance in the district transporting many a pregnant mother to the nearest hospital which was at Eidsvold. On one occasion he had to deliver a baby on the back seat of his new Buick car which was always remained a sore point.
He was elected to the local council and served in this capacity over many years finally becoming the Chairman of the Shire. In 1944 he resigned from this position to retire (ha ha) to Redcliffe. He bought a sizeable piece of ground at Oyster Point Esplanade and thought he would grow vegetables and go fishing. He bought a two berth cabin boat and spent many happy hours on Moreton Bay. However it wasn't long before the public life caught up with him once again and he was persuaded to stand for Local Government. He was duly elected (almost topping the poll) and soon became Deputy Mayor, a position he held for nine years until his death. The C. A. Webb Memorial Hall was built in his memory by The Redcliffe City Council on the show grounds.
He was always interested in the exhibiting side of the Show business and had been President of the Monto Show before coming to Redcliffe, together with Mayor Bradley they formed the Redcliffe Show Society in 1949 and the first show was held in 1950. He was elected the first president and held office until his death in 1957. His family are still heavily involved in the Redcliffe Show particularly Mrs Lorraine Fisher BEM and Mrs Barbara Mapp (Secretary), Mrs Carmel McGowan and Mr Brad McGowan (Show President), Mr David Fisher, Mrs Marjorie Stack. The show has grown to become one of the most successful in Queensland and local businesses benefit to the extent of some $200,000 in trade from Side-Show people alone. Local charities and service clubs benefit to the extent of some $6,000.
School entries in 1999 numbered 6 000. Art Entries numbered 500. Needlework 500. Cooking Entries numbered 400. Horticulture 450. Horse entries come from all over southern Queensland. Surely this is an enterprise which deserves the full support of the district and is one which the founders -
the late Alderman C A Webb and Bob Bradley would be proud .
