Obituaries Australia

Kenneth Smith, n.d.

from Pastoral Review and Graziers' Record, August 1956

Another link with the pioneering of stud sheep breeding in Australia was severed with the death on 13th June of Mr. Kenneth Wallace Arabin Smith, of Orange, N.S.W., aged 70 years. He was a grandson of the late The Hon. John Smith, of Llanarth, Bathurst, and Gamboola, Molong.

It was at Gamboola that one of the historic stud flocks of Merino sheep had been carried on from the Reverend Samuel Marsden's enterprise, and developed by The Hon. John Smith so successfully. At least two of the present day large Merino establishments in New South Wales owe their prosperity to the foundation Merino breeders obtained from Gamboola.

The late Ken Smith was one of a family of two sons and four daughters of the late Wallace Arabin Smith, who was the youngest son of the Hon. John Smith. All were born at Gamboola—Mrs. Cecil Smith, of Mirridong; Mrs. Norman Holmes, of Bathurst; Mrs. Lees, of Sydney; and Mrs. P. A. Rutherford, of Collaroy—whilst Kenneth and his brother, Dudley, were twins. Dudley Smith, who died a few years ago, held the position of judge with the Australian Jockey Club for a long period.

After attending school at Felstead, Essex, England, Kenneth came back to Australia and started his long and gainful pastoral life as a jackeroo on Gamboola. Later on he went to one of the Murray Prior's stations in Queensland, where he developed a great affection for that part of Australia and this was to continue all his life. He became the owner of Gamboola for a time, then when his brother-in-law, Mr. Cecil Smith, died, he managed his property, Mirridong, for his sister, whose husband was a brother of the late Mr. Mac Smith, of Boree Cabonne. When tragic circumstances deprived him of his wife and young daughter Ken Smith made his home at Manildra, and undertook the important work of classing the Boonoke stud sheep with Mr. Otway Falkiner. He was engaged in this profession until his death, and was responsible for the advancement of a number of big studs, especially in Queensland.

Four years ago he married Miss May Winning, from Melbourne, and it is sad that these last few completely happy years of his life were cut so short. Kenneth Smith was ever a kindly and courteous gentleman, considerate to all, and possessed a very strong character that earned him the love of many friends all over Australia. His jovial and friendly nature never gave even the slightest hint of his life's tragedies; on the contrary, he exuded good fellowship and an energetic, progressive, and purposeful spirit both in his work and companionship. He will be missed sadly by many and remembered as a true and worthy friend.