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Rose Emily Webster, age 92 years, doesn’t let age keep her from sharing her love of life and the beauties that surround her. She recently launched a book of 380 poems called, Home and Heartstrings, from her wheelchair in the Huon Valley of Tasmania.
More than eighty people were in attendance at the book launch held at Huon Regional Care where Rose spent much of the time signing books.
Of the event, Jack Parsons said, “She is rather feeble but her mind is as active as ever. She is a very talented lady who has served her family and community all of her life. She brings joy to all who meet her.”
Rose was born in the Huon Valley and has always had a love of literature. She feels she was born with the gift of writing and did well in English. Though she had to leave school at age fourteen to work, she continued to educate herself and began writing poetry as a teenager.
She later married Snowy Watson who subsequently died and also Harry Webster who also passed away. Their partings were the inspiration for many of Rose’s poems. She has thirty-nine grandchildren and currently seventy-four great grandchildren.
Her granddaughters Annabelle Watson and Rebecca Triffitt were instrumental in compiling Rose’s poems and getting the book published.
Annabelle reflects, “It was the content of her verses, the wisdom, inspiration, encouragement and guidance she offers that made me feel very strongly that her work must be shared.”
Granddaughter Rebecca Triffitt adds, “Home and Heartstrings conjures feelings of longing and yearning for a time now gone. It transports you to the hearth of yesteryear and connects you to your past.”
In addition to her poetry, Rose has written plays and musicals and is a historian of the Huon Valley. She has also been a lifelong journal keeper.
Rose, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has given many years of service to her community including serving as a volunteer missionary in Sydney in 1987.
Her love of the Saviour and His creations is reflected beautifully, not only in her poetry but in the life of Rose Emily Sylvester Watson Webster.
To read more of her story in the Huon News, click here.