BILL Smith has been perfecting his lawn bowling technique since 1977.
“The key to lawn bowls is practice, practice, practice,” Mr Smith, a long-time parishioner at St James Church, Coorparoo, said.
“And I’ve had plenty of time for that.”
The Queensland Taxi Bowls Club member was recently awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for outstanding service to the community.
“I had a real sense of excitement when I got the letter from the Governor General,” Mr Smith said.
The 89-year-old’s passion for community service began in 1970 with the Royal Blind Society of Queensland – now known as Vision Australia.
Mr Smith served as honorary treasurer of the society for 33 years and served as Life Governor in 2008.
During this period, he met Ian Stewart.
“I met Ian, a blind man, who happened to live near me,” he said.
“We connected and he invited me to Rostrum, a local public speaking club.
“We pretty much became life-long friends after that.”
Mr Smith worked as the Rostrum Australia Queensland Zone state secretary for 10 years and also co-ordinated the Rostrum Voice of Youth Program.
He later served as the treasurer and secretary for the Queensland Taxi Bowls Club and the Queensland White Cane Committee.
Mr Smith laughed when asked how he managed his hectic schedule.
“ I definitely get a kick out of being busy,” he said.
“ I especially enjoy helping people.”
Mr Smith’s contribution to Brisbane’s vision-impaired community was honoured in the annual Hazel and Louis Sanders White Cane award
“ I am very proud of helping create the White Cane User Award which recognises people who use the cane to participate in all aspects of life,” he said.
Despite his numerous community accolades, Mr Smith cited his book, Brief History of Rostrum Queensland 1937- 2020, as one of his biggest accomplishments.
“I’d probably say I’m very proud of my writing and finishing that book,” he said.
“The whole thing is almost 250 pages and took me three to four years to finish.
“It’s been placed online and now everyone from around the world can read it.”
Mr Smith has worshipped at St James Coorparoo for seven decades and was grateful for his community’s support.
“ I really want to thank the Church, the community, my family, and my faith for all their assistance over these years,” he said.
He credited his faith for helping him meet and marry the love of his life, Genevieve.
“We met in Mitchell in 1956 and got married in 1957 on a Sunday morning,” he said
“Sixty-five years later, faith continues to sustain our marriage and help me in all the community work I do.”
