Eulogy/Life Story
Keith and
Barb Smith had three sons. Tom was the eldest, Jeffery the youngest and Neil was
in the middle.
Neil
Keith, Noon, Neilie, Smithy, Dad, Uncle Neil, Uncle Noolie, Grandpa, Pa was born
in 1956 .
He spend
his younger years on the land at Cootawundi learning all the skills required for
outdoor life the main one being how to improvise. Noon attended school via
correspondence and the School of the Air until 1967 when he went to Paringa
Primary School in Adelaide boarding with his Aunty and Uncle. In 1968 he went to
Rostrevor College where he finished his schooling doing very well with his final
marks. Neil did his final year at the St Joseph School and graduated dux of the
year.
Neilie
then returned to Cootawundi where he stayed until he gained an apprenticeship in
Broken Hill.
All
through his younger years he always had a great love of horses and a little
terrier he called Barney.
He was a
good amateur jockey and rode at many country gymkhanas and Broken Hill at the
West Darling Races.
Noon spent
many hours fixing anything with a motor and his passion for this work soon
became his trade.
Neil was
mechanically minded, was analytical and logical in his approach and when faced
with a problem chewed on it until it was resolved. Neil worked in the Central
Power Station until it was closed and then started his career as an
auto-electrician. He was a very good auto-electrician and ensured not only
everything worked but any installations looked aesthetical and not out of place.
It was my observation that a great deal of his time in this career was spent
upside down and anyone that has tried to work under a car’s dashboard would
appreciate the associated difficulty.
Marriage
In 1978
Neil married Elizabeth Anne Burrowes. Murray Combe offered Neil $100 to jump the
back fence and do a runner but Neil declined the offer and elected to “bite the
bullet” so to speak. During the ceremony the Salvation Captain kept calling Neil
Keith. Neil replied “Neil” which the corresponding answer was “Not yet”.
Kids
To outdo Keith and Barb, Neil and Liz had four boys, Nathan Keith, Clinton Neil, Jonah Matthew and Harrison James. As the boys grew and their interests changed Neil had to change as well. Neil coached Nathan through Joey, Kanga and school cricket. Was a scout leader with the 3rd Broken Hill Sea Scouts and went to Dubbo for a mini jamboree. Neil went with Nathan and Clinton to a jamboree in Perth and was amazed the organization involved with managing so many kids. He later accompanied Jonah to Brisbane for another jamboree and Harrison to one in Sydney and being the good father he was managed to bring them all home again, something some very cruel people thought was most unfortunate.
Neil
taught his boys motorbike riding and repair and maintenance of bikes. Took them
camping and demonstrated the art of BBQ and Webber cooking and how not to cook
fish. Apparently it should not be wrapped it in foil and allowed to cook for
several hours.
Neilie was
a successful child doctor and his “magic”, and very special black band-aids
could fix anything. Uncle Neil was the only person to have these wondrous
things.
I think
Neil learnt his fishing skills at White Cliffs as it was in the rocks and clay
pans of Cootawundi he learnt his gardening skills. He couldn’t understand why
anyone would grow pumpkins. You grow them, have this dirty big plant taking up
about an acre and you pull them up and there is one pumpkin. It just didn’t make
sense. He was pleased when Liz decided the ornamental palm tree had to go as the
stupid thing did not produce even one coconut. Not one … His green thumb skills
have been handed down to Jonah and his ability to kill plants was second only to
those of Lizzie.
For a
while Neil and Liz didn’t have any grandchildren and then “whoosh” …. a
classroom of them. There was Nathan and Tanya with their three boys, Nicholas,
Joshua and John. Clinton and Natasha who broke the Smith mould by having not
only two boys but finally two girls, Emma, Alysia, Kayleb and Ethan and Harry
had Samuel.
Neil and
Liz also become foster parents and cared for many children on a short time basis
although some proved to be much longer and anticipated. One in particular was to
be two weeks but lasted twelve years. Michael Anthony is now firmly entrenched
into the Smith family and brought Neil much joy and happiness, robust debate and
plenty of reasons to shake his head.
Neil was
very proud of his boys and once indicated that he thought he hadn’t provided as
much for the family so went through the list. We couldn’t work out how many VCR
recorders were bought, how many TV’s, how many mobile phones or even how many
computers.
Neil and
Liz provided the resources for two of the boys to go to university. Nathan now
tours Australia with the Australian Defence Force with three stints in East
Timor. Clinton is an electronic and electrical engineer with RedArc and
travelled to Europe for RedArc. We weren’t sure what he did to influence Jonah
into his IT Management role but we did agree it must have been important and of
course he provided Harrison with a drum … several drums …. several very loud
drums, all of which gave Neil another reason to shake his head.
Fishing
Neilie
didn’t see himself as a fisherman but as a “hunter gatherer”. He would hunt for
lost yabby nets and gather tucker out of the Engel to put on the barbie. Neil
would excel on the barbie and could easily cook for any number of people. It was
once stated and agreed that on our Easter fishing trips if it wasn’t for Neil we
would starve, and if wasn’t for Greg Hall we would freeze. The situation now
facing future trips is how now to avoid the prospect of starvation.
Uncle Neil
was a good cook and his niece Chanelle once told her mother only Uncle Nool can
cook eggs on toast properly. This was taken as a great insult and an affront,
the gauntlet was thrown down, the challenge accepted and eggs on toast were
cooked. Opinions were exchanged, feelings were hurt and eggs on toast was never
discussed nor cooked again but Chanelle was cooked eggs on toast when she went
around Uncle Nool’s place.
Neil was
easy to get along with and found much amusement of the antics of the Adelaide
crew who came up for the October Pooncarie yabby trips. This group included the
Miller clan, Glenn and Travis, Sharkie and his lads, Adam and Scott and
associated grandkids. Last year Murray Cramp came along to see what a
well-organized and equipped camp looked like.
Neil liked
traditions and the camps ran off them. One tradition was the annual euchre game.
It began over twenty years ago as the Burrowes’ against the Millers but changed
into the Smiths against the Millers. Neil learnt very early that the only way
the Millers won anything was to cheat so it was hard going for him and Jonah to
concentrate on the game as well as keeping a keen lookout for dastardly deeds.
Another cause for Neil to shake his head as losing was very shameful and
embarrassing. Glenny Miller saw to that.
Neil was a
keen sportsman but didn’t brag about it, that was his nature. He could watch the
entire Bathurst 1000, the Clipsal 500 and an entire Carlton game of footy. Neil
was one of only two Carlton supporters I know although I suspect there are others
somewhere.
Although
Neil didn’t brag he did love motorsport and in the early years would prattle on
about imagined benefits of Fords over Holdens and the ability of Dickie Johnson.
Neil also
had the uncanny knack of being able to sleep anywhere. The word “anywhere” is
not used lightly. He could sleep anywhere, anytime, any position and in any
weather. Neil never really watched any movies, just the opening and closing
titles and credits. If was ever going to be an Oscar for movie titles, Neil
would have certainly been on the selection panel. Uncle Nool could never
remember how he fell asleep before television and DVD were invented.
Missing
Neil was
involved in many community activities and fund raising as well as a member of
Rotary. Uncle Neil was an epitome of the type of person produced by country
towns. He was a quiet achiever who influenced many people in many ways.
Noon will
be missed in many ways. By people wondering why their duel battery installations
don’t work. By people wanting the get their trailer lights fixed and truckies
stuck out on the Wilcannia road and of course as we stand on the bank of the
Darling River, hungry, looking forlornly at a cold barb-b-que, we will miss him,
but while he is being missed, he will not be forgotten.
Conclusion
There is a
lot more that could be said and maybe should have been said but I hope this
eulogy will act as a trigger for more memories and recollections.
Neils
elder brother Tom says “I am blessed to have Neil for a brother and my family
and I will miss him more than words can say … Say gidday to Jerry and rest in
peace Old Mate.”
The family
would like to thank everyone for attending and I think Neil, Noon, Neilie,
Smithy, Dad, Uncle Neil, Uncle Noolie, Grandpa and Pa would be pleased.
Jonah,
Harrison and I hope that after a lot of discussion and explanations, Neil
finally gets the joke that involved the number 42.
