AN AFFECTIONATE tribute to his late parents has recently been paid by retired Millicent businessman Roger Smith.
The full lives of Millicent couple Alan and Gladys Smith OAM were the subject of an hour-long talk at the monthly gathering in Millicent on Thursday of the South East Family History Group.
The couple were prominent in Millicent’s business and civic affairs for much of the 20th century.
Among the gathering were two local women Joyce Soule and Mary Van Schaik who had previously worked in the Smith family businesses in George Street, Millicent.
Ms Smith had a record-setting career in local government in Millicent from her election as a councillor in 1964 until her death from breast cancer in 1980, aged 66.
With Ms Smith at the helm for 13 of those years as either council chairman or mayor, the major town projects accomplished in this period were the Millicent War Memorial Civic and Arts Centre, Millicent Saleyards, Gladys Smith Child Care Centre and the Millicent Swimming Lake.
According to Roger Smith, the project which gave his mother the most personal satisfaction was her successful lobbying of governments to secure funds to erect the child care centre.
He spoke of the remarkable feat of his mother to walk the 35km from Beachport to Millicent as a fundraising stunt.
The couple had moved from Clare to Millicent in 1937 when Mr Smith took over the management of the council-owned powerhouse.
He later established electrical contracting and retail businesses and operated two family-owned vehicle businesses in George Street: Alan A. Smith Motors and Pinus Motors.
They were franchises for Morris and Chrysler vehicles.
At the conclusion of his talk, Mr Smith announced he would donate his mother’s full-length fur coat to the Millicent National Trust Museum.
The collection already has her mayoral robes and chain of offices.
