Francis Webb (1922-1973) grew up in North Sydney and attended St Pius X College and Christian Brothers' College Lewisham before joining the RAAF and publishing his first poems in 'The Bulletin' to lasting acclaim. He was the youngest of the legendary postwar generation of Australian poets and, for many, among the best of them. Gwen Harwood mused 'sometimes I think Webb is unmatched' for his 'grandeur and passion', while Les Murray declared 'Frank Webb's has been the gold standard by which complex poetic language has been judged ... a master of last lines, of last stanzas and final phrases.'
Webb was among the first Australian poets to be deeply influenced by postwar American poets like Robert Lowell and Sylvia Plath. He was also the first canonical Australian poet to write at length about the experience of mental illness and institutionalisation after he was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his 30s. A quintessential 'poet's poet', Webb has deeply affected generations of poets and poetry lovers while rarely being known to the wider public.
Since 2012, this annual free event has celebrated Webb's prodigious talent and keen sense of social justice. Webb's personal book and art collection, held at the library, will also be on display.
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