Gregory Webb’s passion for life is so all consuming his wife has to “practically hit him over the head with a cricket bat” to get him to go to sleep at night.
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Better known as Webby, the 63-year-old Lake Conjola resident is the star of ‘The Webby Walks’ YouTube channel where he shares tips on everything from the region’s best walking tracks, to how to maintain a healthy diet and active lifestyle.
The video series came about recently when a friend suggested he share some of his thoughts while walking around Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve and pass on any tips or lessons that have served him well over the past 45 years.
Webby grew up in Sydney but regularly visited the family’s holiday home at Lake Conjola with his parents and three siblings.
He has a love of all things outdoors and has spent countless hours water-skiing, horse riding, bush walking, surfing and mountain bike riding. Webby credits his parents, particularly his father, with lighting the spark for his active lifestyle.
“Even at 83-years-old my father was walking 100 kilometres a week,” Webby said.
“Even six months before he passed away from lung cancer, he and I would walk for an hour and a half a day.”
Webby’s passion for living a full life and helping others achieve their own goals stems from personal tragedy.
His sister, brother, grandmother and sister-in-law were all lost to suicide.
Through tears, his mother told him never to leave her the way two of her children had.
“I said to her, ‘Mum, I've got way too much horse riding, surfing, and a lot more love making left in me yet.
“So if I can talk and help someone who’s struggling, then that’s my payback.
“I just find life incredibly exciting. I'm getting to the stage where I feel if someone can gather this information and take it on board, and helps them, that's what it's about.”
Webby films around three episodes a week. Each video is around a minute long and is followed up with a short podcast on the same topic. Webby has also started writing blogs about his walks.
He’s taken on tracks through Narrawallee, Conjola, Morton National Park and Fitzroy Falls but said Turpentine Forest is a personal stand-out.
Webby’s friend recently asked him if he thinks he’ll run out of content – it’s a scenario he can’t see happening anytime soon.
“I'm just so passionate about putting a message out there about health and fitness and I want to share that with everyone,” he said.
Find Webby at The Webby Walks on YouTube or thewebbywalks.com
If this story has raised issues for you and you would like to talk to someone, please contact Lifeline 13 11 14 or beyondblue 1300 224 636.
