His first pharmacy was in the former Rockingham Arcade in 1970.
After selling that pharmacy, Mr Smith established another in Shoalwater. When he sold that pharmacy, he worked at Chemmart in Rockingham Shopping Centre.
“When I opened my first pharmacy, the population was 8000 and there were four pharmacies in town,” he said.
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READ NOW“I found pharmacies were rewarding financially, but I put a lot back into Rockingham. I think citizenship is something people take for granted.”
Mr Smith said there were now 130,000 people in Rockingham and it was the third biggest city in the metropolitan area, behind Joondalup and Stirling.
“However, we should have a bigger profile and we do not get enough,” he said.
Mr Smith’s contribution to the community was recognised when he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia last year. He was one of the founding members of the Rockingham/Kwinana Businessmen’s Association in 1970, which became the Rockingham Chamber of Commerce.
Mr Smith was also a former Safety Bay Ward councillor, Shire president, mayor and inspiration, with the late Gary Holland, behind Rockingham becoming a city and establishing its present premises.
He has a long history with Apex, the Rockingham Tourist Bureau (now the Visitors Centre) and is presently the president of Palm Beach Rotary Club.
Mr Smith said in retirement he was looking forward to putting more time into his Rotary responsibilities.
He has eight children with wife Nola and said spending time with his family would also be a priority.