Biography

Willis J. Williams (1879 - 1956) was born at Essendon, Victoria. He was the son of Henry Plane Williams and Emma, formerly Hibbard. He received his education at Melbourne Grammar School. For a time Willis was employed at the Mount Gambier Freezing Works and became manager there. He conducted some of the first experiments in freezing fresh vegetables while there. During World War I he was employed as supervisor of the loading of foodstuffs for supply ships and transport vessels; for this work he was awarded the M.B.E. after the war.

From August 1934 to January 1950 he was college treasurer at Moore Theological College, Sydney, N.S.W., and during that time he was a lay-reader and lay-canon of St. Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney.

Willis was also a lay-reader in Tasmania, vice-president of the British & Foreign Bible Society for about eighteen years and honorary treasurer of the Commonwealth Council of the British & Foreign Bible Society for a number of years.

His other great interest was in the Masonic movement, and was a keen member and a Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New South Wales and Tasmania.

He had two brothers and one sister. He married twice and had children by the first marriage. He was married to Phillis Marie (nee Hart) (1897 - 2002). In Launceston he lived at 53 Talbot Road and attended St. John's Church.

Willis died in Launceston on 26^th September 1956 aged 77.

A brass memorial plaque has been erected in St. John's Church; the inscription reads:
WILLIS JOHN WILLIAMS M.B.E.
FORMER LAY-CANON OF
ST. ANDREWS CATHEDRAL SYDNEY, LAY-READER FOR SYDNEY AND TASMANIA, 15 YEARS HON. TREASURER MOORE THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE, SYDNEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE B.F.B.S.,
&  18 YEARS HON. TREASURER OF COMMONWEALTH COUNCIL,
PAST DEPUTY GRAND MASTER OF GRAND LODGES OF N.S.W. & TAS. 1879
A GRATEFUL CHRISTIAN 1956

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