Biography

William Genders (1864 - 1901) was born in Adelaide on 26th May, 1864, the sixth child of thirteen born to Joseph Charles Genders- and Albina Louisa, formerly Perry. The family came to Tasmania in 1881.

William was a partner in the firm of W. & G. Genders Pty. Ltd. In 1898 he was an alderman of Launceston and president of the Chamber of Commerce. He was also a churchwarden at St. John's Church, a lay representative at Synod, a lay-reader and Sunday School superintendent.

William Genders married Lily Louisa, formerly Westbrook, in 1889. She was born in Launceston, and was the daughter of Joshua Henry and Elizabeth Ann Westbrook, formerly Norman. Her father was a bank manager and the family lived at St. Leonards.

William and Lily had two daughters; one became a teacher at Broadland House Girls' Grammar School and the second became a deaconess in the Anglican Church and was awarded the M.B.E.

Lily Louisa Genders died in 1892 at Launceston, aged 33. William married again in 1896 to Katherine Mabel Brownrigg in St. John's Church. She was the daughter of the Revd Canon Marcus Blake Brownrigg" and Georgina, formerly Shapcote. They had no children.

William Genders died at Launceston on 9^th January 1901, and  Katherine Genders died at Launceston in 1957.

A marble plaque was erected in St. John's Church in memory of William, and the inscription reads:
ERECTED BY THE TEACHERS AND SCHOLARS
TO THE MEMORY OF W. J. GENDERS,
FOR 6 YEARS SUPERINTENDENT OF
ST. JOHN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL
DIED JANUARY 1901
'BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART
FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD'  MATT.:V.8
'FOR HE WAS A FAITHFUL MAN AND FEARED GOD ABOVE MANY' NEH.:Vl1.2

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