Veteran newspaperman Geoffrey Webster died today at 79. He had recently had major surgery.
Of Mr Webster’s 50 years in fulltime journalism, 47 were spent with the Auckland Star and kindred newspapers.
He was variously chief reporter, literary editor, senior leader writer and film critic of the Auckland Star. After retirement in 1969 he continued as film critic until 1973.
Born in Napier 80 years ago, Mr Webster began in daily journalism in 1918 on the Timaru Herald. He was briefly on the Manawatu Evening Standard before joining the Auckland Star as a junior reporter in 1922. In 1925 he was promoted to political correspondent for the Auckland Star and was in the Parliamentary Press Gallery for five sessions.
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In 1930 he was appointed news editor of the Christchurch Star and the now defunct Lyttelton Times, both newspapers being published in the one office. In 1935 he returned to Auckland as chief reporter.
In 1946 Mr Webster was a member of the New Zealand delegation to the Commonwealth Press Conference in London. He acted as honorary secretary to the delegation.
About 25 years ago, in association with Mr D. Nathan and two others, he founded the Friends of the Deaf Inc, which today has property in Balmoral Rd, and assets worth more than $2 million.
A graceful writer and Catholic convert of formidable compassion, he wrote for many years the Star’s Christmas Cheer Fund stories.
Such was the flow of donations these generated that surpluses provided founding funds for the Old People’s Centre in Newton.
Mr Webster used to boast he had never played a game in his life. His trade was his recreation.
A warm, scholarly man of distinctive appearance, Mr Webster was a gifted raconteur, rich in memories of the first Labour Governments.
