Ross Smith (1941 - 2016)

The letter below was sent to ALP members when Ross Smith stood in 2011 for the NSW ALP Policy Forum. It outlines some of Ross's involvement and positions in the ALP and more broadly. It provides an insight into the ALP side of Ross's involvements.

It is with great sadness that we note the passing of Ross Smith - a tireless advocate for fairness in the housing system, and member of the Tenants' Union of NSW.

Below is the text of a sheet produced by Ross Smith for the 2016 "People's Precinct" Waterloo Neighbourhood Advisory Board elections.

Ross Smith SSH Distribution co-ordinator collapsed on Waterloo Green on October 4 as he was preparing to start distribution of the October issue of the paper. Sadly he could not be revived. Ross never spoke to anyone about his family and while he gave much of himself to others, he gave little away about himself. As yet police have been unable to locate any relatives. A public memorial celebration of Ross’s life will be held 9.30-10.45am on Friday November 18 at Alexandria Town Hall, 73 Garden Street (nearest cross street Henderson Road).

For more than 100 years, government funded public housing has been available to low income earners in NSW.

It is with great sadness that last month we lost our friend and comrade Ross Smith.

This is Ross Smiths's contribution to the RedWater Montage book on Volunteer. With his passing this sums up how many people in Redfern and Waterloo experienced Ross. This booklet was produced by the Factory Community Centre and South Sydney Community Aid in September 2012. It collects 39 stories of volunteers in the Redfern and Waterloo area and information about where they volunteer. These stories both show the importance and strength of volunteers and groups in our community.

This is a pdf of the had out for the Celebration of the Life of Ross Smith on 18th November 2016.

Friends and Colleagues of Ross Smith are invited to attend a Memorial Celebration for Ross Smith to be held on 18th November 2016 at 9.30am at Alexandria Town Hall 73 Garden Street Alexandria (Nearest cross street Henderson Road).

This is the video of Ross Smith talking about Waterloo that was shown at the Celebration of his Life on 18 November 2016.

Friends and Colleagues of Ross Smith are invited to attend a Memorial Celebration for Ross Smith to be held on 18th November 2016 at 9.30am at Alexandria Town Hall 73 Garden Street Alexandria (Nearest cross street Henderson Road). This is the poster to promote the Memorial Celebration.

This is the photo of Ross Smith used for the Memorial anouncement

Over the last 12 years Ross Smith has been active in REDWatch keeping an eye on what Government bodies do in Redfern, Eveleigh, Darlington and Waterloo – and trying to ensure that what happens works for our diverse communities and not just government. Ross’s encyclopaedic knowledge; his consistently taking it up to bureaucrats especially around public housing and redevelopment; and his desired to get them to play in our sandpit rather than us just play in their sandpit, found a natural fit in REDWatch.

Alexandria Town Hall was packed with tenants, friends, agency workers, bureaucrats and politicians for a celebration of Ross Smith’s contribution to his community on November 18 reported the South Sydney Herald of December 2016.

We have just been informed un-expectantly that despite previous advice that Ross’s remains would not be released till Feb 2018 that in fact someone has organised his cremation for next week. The details advised to us are below in an email from Mike Shreenan at the Factory.

The public housing sector mourns the loss of one of its most colourful characters, long-time Waterloo resident, advocate and activist.

This PDF contains the photos that were used at both the Community Celebration and the service for Ross Smith.

Ross Smith's funeral was held at short notice on 21 December and some of those who wished to attend could not. Here we have posted the service for those interested.