1980 flashback: teacher Rob Smith with his first class at Batemans Bay Public School. Former students are invited to help celebrate his 80th birthday on 22 August. One of the party organisers, Sharon Holland, is pictured second from left in the front row. Photo: Supplied.
It might have been more than 40 years ago, but when Sharon Holland sees her former primary school teacher Rob Smith around town, she wouldn’t dream of calling him by his first name.
He was, and will remain to her, Mr Smith.
“He was the best teacher in the world,” Sharon said. “Anyone who had him as their teacher will tell you the same thing.
“But even after all these years, I couldn’t call him Rob,” she laughed.
Her memories of him are clear, especially the times during a hot Batemans Bay summer when Mr Smith would send her and another student across the road to buy enough ice blocks for the whole class.
“You couldn’t do something like that these days,” she said. “But that’s the sort of person he was.”
Sharon said Mr Smith had a big impact on her life, making learning fun. “I never didn’t want to go to school,” she said.
“I remember just before we finished primary school he told us we could be whatever we wanted to be.
“He was wonderful with all of us,” she said. “I remember one fellow in our class in particular. His name was Dave Ferrante and he’s a musician now – and I think he owes that to Mr Smith who always encouraged him.
“He’s in a band called Reset now and he told me he felt he owed the fact he was now a professional musician to Mr Smith. He encouraged him to play, I think it was the piano accordion, in front of the whole school.”
Canadian-born Sammy Pickett, of Tura Beach, is also a fan of the former teacher, even though she wasn’t one of his students.
“Rob is like a father to me,” she said, adding that Mr Smith’s late wife Carol was also Canadian and that her husband and Mr Smith’s son were best friends.
“I’ve known him for about 20 years, they were like my Australian parents so when we knew it was coming up to his 80th birthday, we wanted to do something special to celebrate it.”
The women are organising a special get-together on 22 August at the Steampacket Hotel, Nelligen to mark the day – and they are keen for as many of Mr Smith’s former students to attend.
The women said their plan was simple: just to do something special for the man who gave them, and many others, so much.
Mr Smith said he was delighted with the 80th birthday plan, paying tribute to both the women for organising it.
“After all, I got Sammy and her husband together,” he joked.
When reminded about supplying his class with ice blocks, he replied, “Well, it was hot.”
Popular former Batemans Bay school teacher Rob Smith will celebrate his 80th birthday with a special party organised by his former students. Photo: Supplied.
A teacher at Batemans Bay Public School from 1980 to 2000, Mr Smith was a graduate of Sydney Teachers College and although he took up his first post in Sydney, he said he always had a passion for country life.
He was later to work in schools across the state, with much time spent in the Riverina, before taking off overseas where he tried his hand at everything from bartending to driving taxis before returning to his beloved teaching, taking up the post at Batemans Bay.
“Working with kids is just the best job,” he said.
Former students are invited to attend the celebration to honour Rob Smith from lunchtime at the Steampacket Hotel, Nelligen on Saturday 22 August.
Original Article published by Sally Hopman on About Regional.
