Obituary, Mr. Frederick William Smart

18 January 1949 The Tumut and Adelong Times 

As briefly announced in our last issue the death occurred at his home 'Round Hills, Tumut, on Tuesday night last of Mr. Frederick William Smart, Tumut's C.P.S. and Crown Land Agent from 1920 until his retirement in 1942.

His passing came as a great shock to his family and legion of friends throughout the Tumut district. 

He had intended going to the pictures on Tuesday evening with his wife and son Fred but decided at the last moment to stay at home. 

Later he had gone into his son Les' and daughter-in-law's flat.

He was sitting in a chair when it was noticed he was breathing awkwardly, apparently having suffered a heart attack.   

Doctor Harbison, Mrs. Smart and Mr. Fred Smart were immediately summoned from the town but Mr. Smart passed away five minutes after their arrival. 

Born at Elizabeth Bay, on August 3, 1877, the late Mr. F. W. Smart, was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. F. S. Smart. Following completion of his education at Sydney Grammar School he joined the   Department of Lands in 1895.

His first country appointment as Crown Land Agent was to Forbes in 1910. Later he was stationed at Warialda and Bingara and finally came to Tumut at the end of 1919.

In 1923 the late Mr. Smart acquired the property 'Round Hills,' about 6½ miles from Tumut on the Gocup Road where he and his family had since resided.

He was a familiar figure daily riding in and out from his work at the Court House on his grey horse. His popular mode of attire was riding breeches and leggings. 

The late Mr. Smart was a capable, conscientious and obliging public officer, and performed his multitudinous duties of Clerk of Petty Sessions, Crown Lands Agent, Statistical Registrar and many minor other offices to the utmost satisfaction of persons having business with those departments.

He had the respect and esteem of everyone in this community by his urbane and never altering friendly bearing towards each, without partiality.

Many settlers are indebted for his unstinted help and sound advice in their transactions, nothing was a trouble so long as the client went away thoroughly satisfied that the business he went there to transact had been thoroughly completed.

And at times when delays on the road   precluded landowners from arriving during the official hours, knowing that they were due that day he would remain behind with closed doors with a notice on the outside of the door 'PLEASE KNOCK' , to advise them he was still available to attend to their requirements. 

Yes, indeed, he has been known to often meet a delayed client after leaving, and return to office and do business.

He was greatly missed when the time came, after so many years in his position for him to retire, by effluxion of time, from the Public Service - that personal touch officially which the public had so highly appreciated was absent. 

Deceased was a member of the Tumut School of Arts Committee and was secretary for a number of years.

He was also a Churchwarden of All Saints' Church of England.

However, owing to the distance he resided from town he did not take an active part in public life.

In 1902 he married Miss Eva T. Rhodes, of Norfolk, England, and to the union were born two sons Leslie and Frederick who, together with the bereaved widow, are left to mourn the loss of a kind and considerate father.

The funeral took place on Wednesday last leaving from All Saints' Church of England following a short service conducted by Rev. S. Broadfoot, for the C. of E. portion of the Tumut Cemetery. Rev. Broadfoot, carried out the last sad rites at the graveside. Pall-bearers were Messrs. Les and Fred Smart (son's), L. Stacy, J., Oliver, J. Evershed and J. B. Sharp. 

Floral tributes were noted from: Joy and John Stevenson; Eva; Derick and Iris Sharp; Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Holmes and family; Thea and Sheila; Fred; Mr. and Mrs. Rabone; Les, Nancy and children; Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Maitland; Mr. and Mrs. J. Wilson and family; Mr. and Mrs. Jacques; Management and staff Tumut Co-op. Store; All at 'Nimbo'; Bill and Patricia; Mollie Vern Harris and family; Mr. and Mrs. J. Armstrong; 'Clunie'; Gordon, Maribel and family; Burbury family and H. Harris; Poppy and Marjorie Maitland; Kath and Tom;   Scott; Nell and Harry Scott; Dr. and Mrs. Harbison; George and Kathleen Peden; Tom and Mary McCausland; All at 'The Lagoon”; Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Orr; Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Orr; A. J. Moses and family; Margaret Burbury; Mary and Jim; Mr. and Mrs. Dick Lynch: M. A. Watson and family; The Riva family; Florence Stacy, Jean and   Muriel; W. Beavan and Son; Llewellyn, Peg, Jill and Thomas; Rex and Peggy Grouch; Ethel R. and Jessie Bridle; Tom Wilkinson and family.