18 November 1868 Launceston Tasmania Australia 1. Ethel May Spurling; 2. Katherine Frances Healey; 3. Sarah Jane Shaw 2. William Gilbert; 3. Jack Shaw

William Joshua Gilbert (Bert) Pybus was born on 18 Nov 1868, the eldest son of William Bruni Pybus (1839-1914) and Fanny Tilley. William junior married 20-year-old Ethel May Spurling at Zeehan on 23 Feb 1899. She died there aged 24 on 22 Aug 1902. The inquest into Ethel's death states that she 'met her death from carbolic acid poisoning, self-administered while suffering from a heart complaint'.

William married Katherine Frances Healey in Launceston on 24 Oct 1904, six days after the birth of their son William Gilbert (Bill) on 18th Oct. Katherine died on 23 May 1905 at Zeehan. William married a third time on 9 Jun 1906 to Sarah Jane Shaw. Their son Jack Shaw was born at Zeehan on 22 Oct 1909.

William was an auctioneer at Zeehan for many years before becoming a reporter. He was a member of the Poultry Society, the Zeehan Racing Club, the Zeehan Tourist Association and the ANA. He enjoyed playing cricket and was a keen angler. His elder son Bill died aged 33 on 5 Jul 1937 and was buried at the Queenstown General Cemetery. William died aged 76 at the Zeehan District Hospital on 21 Jan 1945. He was buried at the Zeehan Cemetery. Sarah had pre-deceased him and Jack was living at Rossarden.

William's brother Harry is also in the Launceston Family Album.

Marion Sargent Dec 2012