Ian Kinross Smith

Natural Resource Manager, Forester and Wilderness Hiker

Born 26th February 1940 - Died 5th December, 2001

By Joanne Smith

Ian Kinross Smith was the second of the four sons of David and Isabella Smith. He attended Canterbury State, Camberwell Central and Camberwell High School.

From an early age Ian always had a sense of direction, a certainty about what was really important and he developed a love and wonder of nature. At the age of 18 he embarked on a career in forestry, beginning at the Victorian School of Forestry, Creswick. It was while at Creswick that he met Carmel and they married in Ballarat in 1963.

Ian worked at Research Branch in Melbourne before moving to Neerim South as a field forester. In 1966 they were transferred to the remote saw-milling town of Bendoc in Far East Gippsland. There was no power, there were icy-cold winters and horrendous bends to negotiate up the Bonang Highway.

As was typical, Ian took this opportunity to provide some adventurous activities for the children of this isolated area. He started a youth group and took them camping on the Snowy River. The next move was to Stawell where Ian spent five years working in the Grampians before returning to Swifts Creek in East Gippsland.

He then made a major career move by successfully obtaining the newly created position of District Superintendent of the National Parks Service for East Gippsland. This position was based in Bairnsdale. In the decade from 1974 - 1984, most of the major national park areas in East Gippsland were proclaimed, including Croajingalong, Snowy River and parts of the Alpine National Parks. These are now iconic in Victoria. Ian managed 12 national parks covering 200,000 hectares from the stage of proclamation through local negotiations to full development. An initial base of four staff for the park region grew to 30 rangers at six centres.

Other positions included senior planner - recreation and conservation for the Bairnsdale Region and senior development officer with the Victorian Tourism Commission. In 1990 Ian was seconded to the higher level of Government with his appointment as ministerial adviser to the then Minister for Conservation and Environment and Minister for Tourism, Steve Crabb. This appointment was a solid endorsement of his expertise and abilities.

Ian's work for the Victorian Government was extensive and thorough and his contribution to the Victorian community in conservation and land management was outstanding. Through his work he followed the ideals with which he began his working life - and had held even before that. These were connected with his love and respect for nature, the bush and wilderness.

In 1993 Ian set up his own consultancy firm in natural resource management and eco-tourism, sharing his knowledge and skills with a wide range of clients.

Hiking in the wilderness was a passion for Ian and over 25 years he hiked with his friends into remote areas of New South Wales and Victoria. The Brogo Wilderness and his beloved Snowy River Country were favourite destinations. Ian had a wonderful ability to read the country and relate it to a map. At the end of a long day hiking, a glass of red around the campfire and spirited philosophical discussion were enjoyed by the group.

Determination was evident, too. In his wish to make a last trip with his hiking friends, three weeks before his death they camped in a hut on the New South Wales-Victorian border in the Kosciusko National Park and 15 kilometres north east of Suggan Buggan.

Of course there would be problems given his condition but - hell - they can be overcome! And they were.

Ian always had a great community involvement which included school councils, boy scouts, youth groups, Apex, the Friends of the Cobberas and the Bairnsdale Botanic Gardens.

Ian's inventiveness, adventurousness, encouragement, patience, kindness and positive spirit helped people to become better people for having known him. He was mentor and supporter.

Ian faced the swift unfairness of a brain tumour with characteristic bravery, determination and humour.

As Ian's spirit slipped away at dawn on Wednesday, December 5, from the branches of the trees Ian had planted, a kookaburra choir started its song, followed by an ever increasing chorus of other birds, until the whole place rang with birdsong - as if singing a joyous thank you and farewell to a wonderful man whose life was such a gift to the natural world they inhabited. Ian was a wonderful husband and proud and loving father and grandather. He is survived by Carmel and their three children, Andrew, Peter and Joanne and three grandchildren.

A celebration of Ian's life was held on the banks of the Mitchell River on Saturday December 8, 2001, in the new Bairnsdale Botanic Gardens and two tulip trees (Liriodendron tulipifera) were planted in his memory.

Joanne Smith is the daughter of Ian. This obituary was compiled from Ian's eulogy and words spoken at the celebration of his life.