People Australia

Graham Frank Smith (1924-1989) bank clerk, teacher, peace activist and Communist

Birth: 13 November 1924 at Port Lincoln, South Australia, son of native-born parents Frank Rupert Smith (1900-1984), railway clerical worker and soldier in World War 1, and Olive Edna, née Meldrum, late McPherson (1899-1966). Marriages: (1) 3 January 1948 in South Australia to Helen Sarah (Sally) Pugh (1922-2012). They had three daughters and two sons. (2) to Leonie Marlene Ebert (1937-?), a teacher and trade union activist, born in Ceylon. Death: 20 July 1989 at Adelaide, South Australia. Religion: Anglican (on service record). 

• Educated in public schools at Port Lincoln, Peterborough, Glencoe, Brighton, and Mount Gambier, South Australia.
• Was a bank clerk when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 28 May 1943. Served in New Guinea; formed a Communist Party of Australia (CPA) branch in the army – held weekly meetings and fortnightly study classes, prepared and presented papers for other soldiers.
• His activities in peace and solidarity started in Dutch East Indies in 1945 – while in the Army he helped others to support the Indonesian people against the Dutch colonialism. Joined the Army Education Unit and prepared Army newspapers, met Jim Cairns who was a staff sergeant. In war developed a commitment to work for peace and to eliminate war.
• Discharged 4 March 1946. Secretary, Australian Peace Council 1945–51. Helped to organise Australian tours of the Dean of Canterbury, the Rev. Hewlett Johnson and Paul Robeson for the International Peace Congress (two meetings were held in Adelaide), and brought Wilfred Burchett to Adelaide for the Peace Council to talk about his experiences as the first western correspondent to get into Hiroshima. In 1942 he spoke at Speakers Corner in the Botanic Gardens.
• At university in 1947 he was elected President of the Student Council beating Don Dunstan (later Premier of SA) by one vote. He was refused entry to the Education Department and the Commonwealth Bank because he was a member of the CPA so he wrote to H. C. Coombs, Governor of the Commonwealth Bank, and was then offered a job in the bank.
• Arrested and fined for giving out pamphlets to ban nuclear weapons. Worked in a factory, Perry’s Engineering, and as shop steward for Federated Ironworkers Association, led many deputations and campaigns, wrote for factory bulletin, worked for peace and disarmament. Worked with Allan Miller and sold the Tribune together.
• Became a teacher in 1956 and was elected to the South Australian Institute of Teachers (SAIT) Council in 1960; worked on the equal pay campaign for women; formed an informal group called “The Group” of progressive teachers who formed delegations to the Minister of Education.
• Opposed the draft and opposed the Vietnam War, active in Teachers Against the War and was a member of the Chalk Circle, a group of radical teachers. In 1968 he organised a march and rally to mobilise teachers and students with the slogan “Stop the country to stop the war” which led to an occupation of a city intersection — over 200 people were arrested.
• In 1969 he co-wrote ”Australia, A Social Study” which became a new textbook in the Education Dept. Represented SAIT at the United Trades and Labour Council of SA, the Australian Teachers Federation and World Conference of Teaching Professions. Life member of Union of Australian College Academics of SA for contribution to trade unionism. His solidarity work took him to Cuba, Philippines, Nicaragua, Indonesia and Vietnam.
• In 1983 he organised the first Palm Sunday rally in Adelaide, in 1985 he took part in the Roxby Downs blockade. Went to Cuba in 1984 with the first Australian work brigade. Life member of the Academic Staff Association.
• Cause of death: secondary carcinomatosis of the liver (5 months) and adenocarcinoma of transverse colon (10 months).
• In 1989 the Graham F Smith Peace Trust [Foundation] was established. His memoir, Speak up, reach out: a life to reckon with, was published in Adelaide in 2015.

Sources
Records provided by Leonie Ebert