Mr CLAYTON BARR (Cessnock): Graham Sydney Benjamin Smith AM dedicated much of his life to serve his community and the many volunteer groups that he was involved in – commencing his volunteer work from age 12. Graham grew up in Sydney and moved to the Kurri Kurri area in 1976 with his teaching career. Graham was a Councillor on Cessnock City Council for 12 years from 2004-2016. Graham was inducted as an Honorary Fellow of the State Library of NSW in 2017, awarded for his exceptional service to public libraries at a local, state and national level. Graham was named as a Member of the Order of Australia in January 2022. Some of the community groups that Graham was heavily involved with and active in were Towns with Heart, Masonic Lodge Tomalpin, the Anglican Parish of Mount Vincent and Weston, Richmond Vale Railway Museum and Sir Edgeworth David Memorial Museum. Graham was a life member of the Australian Labor Party, Apex Australia, the State Library NSW, NSW Public Libraries Association, Richmond Vale Preservation Co-Operative Society Limited and Sir Edgeworth David Memorial Museum. Graham is survived by his wife Sharon, children Struan, Alexander, Ailsa and Raymond and his grandchildren.
