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George William Smith (1909–1985)

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George William Francis Smith (1909-1985) lawyer, trade union official 

Birth: 14 November 1909 at Stanmore, Sydney, New South Wales, son of Nicholas Smith (1868-1949), railway official, born at Eldon, Durham, England, and native-born Catherine Ella, née Lee (1889-1965). Marriage: 7 April 1937 at Burwood, Sydney, to native-born Ella Grace (Ellie) Garstang (1911-2003). Death: 9 May 1985 in hospital at Hornsby, NSW; usual residence Lorne Avenue, Killara. 

  • Educated at Fort Street High School in Sydney. Graduated LLB, University of Sydney, in 1937 and admitted as Barrister of Supreme Court of NSW.
  • Junior clerk in NSW Public Trust Office 1926. Legal Officer in NSW Public Trust Office.
  • Council and executive member with Professional Division of Public Service Association of NSW; vice-president from about 1943 to about 1947.
  • Honorary secretary of a Sectional Committee of Administrative and Clerical Officers’ Association, delegate to annual conference of the association.
  • General secretary of the Administrative and Clerical Officers’ Association from 1947 until he retired in 1963.
  • Editor of Federal Public Service Journal from 1947.
  • Participated in six margin cases and a general classification. President, High Council of Commonwealth Public Service Organisations from 1949 to 1958 at least. Member of the Commonwealth Public Service Joint Council from 1947 and deputy chairman from 1954.
  • Appointed OBE in 1957.
  • His recreation was golf.
  • Cause of death: ischaemic heart disease and atherosclerosis.

Sources
Federal Public Service Journal, 31 July 1947, p 4, July 1957 p 4, September 1958 p 4, September 1963.

Citation details

'Smith, George William (1909–1985)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/smith-george-william-34162/text42860, accessed 27 April 2025.

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