by: David R Bamford OAM – 5th May 2025
Past President 1992-1993

Warren, Deborah and Andrew, ladies and gentlemen.

I am honoured to have been asked by the family to deliver this eulogy today on behalf of Rotary and I’d like to tell you about Bob Smith, my friend of nearly 46 years.

I begin with a quote by Winston Churchill that typifies Bob.

‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.’

As well as being a proud Rotarian, Bob Smith was a person you could turn to when you needed help and a person on whom you could always rely. Bob’s attitude was can-do and I’m here if you want help and I witnessed this quality and selfless attitude many times in his role as a Rotarian.

Bob wore his Rotary lapel pin with pride and exhibited Rotary’s Ideals and lived by its mottoes of ‘Service Above Self’ and it’s Four-Way Test that states:

1 Is it the TRUTH?
2 Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3 Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4 Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Robert Sidney Smith, Bob or ‘Angel Face’ as we affectionally knew him was inducted into the Rotary Club of Blacktown City on 15th May 1979 with the Classification of Meat Retailing by then President Drew Moffatt and he was our 162nd member.

I have tried to find out how Bob got the nickname ‘Angel Face’ and contacted 2 former Presidents of our Club who’d known him, once since 1951 when initially attending Westmead Tech and 1961 when they played cricket with Westmead Colts and Bob at that time held the batting and bowling averages for the Colts and the Colts later joined with Wentworthville Leagues. Neither were able to shed any light on how he got the nickname so I can only assume then that his nickname was bestowed on him by his mother when a young boy as when he was asleep, he looked like an Angel.

Others have offered their opinions he always had an Angelic look on his face.

As PolioPlus was the Club’s major project for the 1987 – 1988 year a fundraising committee was formed consisting of John Harris, Bob Smith and Bob Vincent. ‘The Princess of Blacktown Quest’, the brainchild of Bob Vincent, was born and it raised $22,196 and was distributed with 50% to Rotary’s PolioPlus Project, 25% to local charities and 25% to charities chosen by the entrants.

In 1990, our Club donated $5,376 to help the people in Nyngan who were affected by the flood that devastated the town.

Alan Jones of Radio 2UE wrote thanking President Bob Smith and members for their generosity.

RECOGNITION OF BOB’S SERVICE BY OUR CLUB

On 16th July 1993, Bob was presented with a Paul Harris Fellow recognition named after the founder of Rotary.

On 31st October 2000, Bob was made a Bronze Friend and on 19th July2007 a Silver Friend of Australian Rotary Health that provides funding for research grants, after our Club’s donations in his name.

At its Board Meeting on 22nd November 2023 our Club bestowed Bob with Honorary Membership that is offered to members who have distinguished themselves by meritorious service in the furtherance of Rotary ideals.

Honorary Membership is the highest distinction a Club may bestow and should be conferred only in exceptional cases.

RECOGNITION OF BOB SMITH BY BLACKTOWN CITY COUNCIL

On Australia Day 2010, Bob Smith was honoured by Blacktown City Council as the Blacktown Citizen of the Year.

BOB SMITH’S BOARD SERVICE, ROTARY CLUB OF BLACKTOWN CITY

1980 – 1981 Youth Service Director
1981 – 1982 Youth Service Director, when Director, Bob was involved with our Rotaract Club
1984 – 1985 International Service Director
1985 – 1986 Vocational Service Director
1986 – 1987 Assistant Treasurer
1987 – 1988 Community Service Director
1988 – 1989 President Elect and Club Service Director
1989 – 1990 President, and during Bob’s Presidential Year the then Rotary International President Hugh M Archer’s Theme was ‘Enjoy Rotary’ and this theme certainly exemplified ‘Angel Face’.
1990 – 1991 Immediate Past President
1993 – 1994 International Service Director
1998 – 1999 Community Service Director
1999 – 2000 Community Service Director
2004 – 2005 Community Service Director
2005 – 2006 Community Service Director
2011 – 2012 Community Service Director

Bob was a fanatical Eels’ supporter and would have been very pleased they finally had their first win of this season over the St George Illawarra Dragons 23-22, on Friday 4th April.

Past President Bob Smith, Paul Harris Fellow, aka ‘Angel Face’, rest in peace you are now re-united with your beloved Roselyn.

While looking for an appropriate quote to close with I could not choose between these two:

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln and

“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” – Albert Einstein

And finally, on behalf of the Boards and members of the Rotary Club of Blacktown City we sincerely thank you ‘Angel Face’ for your significant service and contributions to our Club, Rotary and the local community.