The bush artisan saving craftmanship one stockwhip at a time

Sunlight streams through the memorial hall in rural north Queensland, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air as five women meticulously follow Bill Webb's practiced movements. They are learning to craft one of Australia's most iconic bush tools: the stockwhip.

Webb, a master leather plaiter, is dedicated to keeping the art form alive through these workshops. He moves quietly among his students, offering gentle corrections on hand positions and tightening braids. His advice, to "lean on it with your body", underscores the patience required for working with leather.

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My mission in life is to try and keep the art form of leather plaiting alive. That was RM's dream and I'm trying to do the same.

Though perhaps not a household name, Webb is highly regarded within the leather plaiting community. His own journey began as a teenager on cattle properties, where he spent school holidays learning from the legendary bushman Reginald Murray Williams, famously known as RM Williams. Williams, who affectionately nicknamed him "Boy," generously shared his knowledge, a legacy Webb now carries forward.

Webb's whips, crafted from kangaroo skin for its strength and durability, have earned him multiple Dame Mary Durack Awards for Outback Crafts, an honor he likens to the "Melbourne Cup" of leatherwork. However, Webb emphasizes that his proudest achievement is teaching, fulfilling what he describes as RM's dream to keep the art of leather plaiting from fading into history.

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He was such a generous man. If you were fair dinkum, he'd give you the world.