Bob Rowland Smith
Encyclopedia
Robert Baron Rowland "Bob" Smith (born 15 October 1925) is a former Australia
n politician. He was a National Party
member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
from 1974 until 1999.
Born in Sydney
, Rowland Smith was educated at Knox Grammar School
, graduating in 1942. He served in the Royal Australian Navy
from 1943 to 1947 and in the Naval Volunteer Reserve 1947-60, with the rank of lieutenant
. After one year at the University of Sydney
he became a wool grower and processor, joining the Country Party
in 1956. He was Chairman of the Australian Merino
Wool Campaign Committee and the Wool Buyers' Association. He was also the founder of Canobolas Wool Topmaking Pty Ltd in Orange
.
In 1974, Rowland Smith was appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council
after Eben Vickery's death. He became Leader of the National Party in the Legislative Council in 1978 and Deputy Leader of the Government in 1988, when the Greiner
Coalition
won government. He was Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing until 1991. He remained in the Council until his retirement in 1999; he was granted retention of the title "The Honourable
" for life.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. He was a National Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
from 1974 until 1999.
Born in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Rowland Smith was educated at Knox Grammar School
Knox Grammar School
Knox Grammar School is an independent, Uniting Church, day and boarding school for boys, located in Wahroonga, an upper North Shore suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
, graduating in 1942. He served in the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
from 1943 to 1947 and in the Naval Volunteer Reserve 1947-60, with the rank of lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. After one year at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
he became a wool grower and processor, joining the Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
in 1956. He was Chairman of the Australian Merino
Merino
The Merino is an economically influential breed of sheep prized for its wool. Merinos are regarded as having some of the finest and softest wool of any sheep...
Wool Campaign Committee and the Wool Buyers' Association. He was also the founder of Canobolas Wool Topmaking Pty Ltd in Orange
Orange, New South Wales
Orange is a city in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is west of the state capital, Sydney, at an altitude of . Orange has an estimated population of 39,329 and the city is a major provincial centre....
.
In 1974, Rowland Smith was appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
after Eben Vickery's death. He became Leader of the National Party in the Legislative Council in 1978 and Deputy Leader of the Government in 1988, when the Greiner
Nick
Nick may refer to:*A short form for Nicholas or Nikhil*Nick , an element of DNA structure*Nickelodeon , a television network**Nickelodeon , for other versions of Nickelodeon and their sister channels around the globe....
Coalition
Coalition (Australia)
The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922...
won government. He was Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing until 1991. He remained in the Council until his retirement in 1999; he was granted retention of the title "The Honourable
The Honourable
The prefix The Honourable or The Honorable is a style used before the names of certain classes of persons. It is considered an honorific styling.-International diplomacy:...
" for life.