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The Ebb Wren Story The Performer
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The Forbes Flood

The Ebb Wren Story

Contributed by Trevor Wren (Ebb's son)

 Ebb Wren was born on the 1st March, 1914 near Canowindra in the Central West of N.S.W. Ebb was the third of eight children born to Edith and Edward Wren. Esmond was his given name but a younger brother unable to pronounce Esmond properly called him Ebb, a name which stuck to him for the rest of his life.

From a very early age Ebb showed a keen interest in music, his father, some forty years older than he, played the violin to which he listened and learnt. Ebb was born into an age when live music and singing were still the main forms of local entertainment, a musician or singer being the life of a party. Ebb learnt the piano for a short period but soon found it easier to play by ear - the lessons were dropped. An act that Ebb was to regret later in life.

Ebb Wren at the piano

Having left school at the tender age of twelve, work became his first priority. He often remarked "I had my 13th birthday working for a cocky". Work in those days was tough, however he never let it stand in the way of learning a new tune, developing by this time a pretty good ear and could knock out a good tune on the piano, violin and accordion.

By 1936 at the height of the great depression he had met and married his wife Winifred - his life long companion. Work was scarce in the bush so they moved to the city, move following move, always chasing a job here and there and all the while picking up a new tune or two from old diggers who were still about. The outbreak of the 2nd World War finally saw Ebb with his 1st permanent job on the N.S.W railways as a cleaner, then a fireman and lastly as a driver.

All during these times his music still prevailed, playing for dances and Railway socials. After 13 years on the railway he left and moved back to the area where he had as a child grown up, near Canowindra by this stage now having four children.

After six years they went back to the city remained there a further six years. With the children now grown up, he and Win moved to Lord Howe Island for a further two years, however they found this a bit small. With the lure of the bush always there he moved back to Forbes where he was to remain the rest of his life.

His years in Forbes were perhaps the happiest of his life, taking to odd jobs as he could put his hand to almost anything. However the activity that occupied most of his time in his last years was the tuning and restoring of pianos, something he once said he should have been doing years before as it provided him the greatest job satisfaction he'd ever had.

Ebb died on the 1st May, 1992 after a long battle with emphysema brought about by years of smoking. He left behind little in material value but a wealth of memories of his music and songs.