Biography

John Edward Nayler Smith (1937 - 2011) was born in Colne, England, the 2nd child of Albert Edward Smith and Freda Mary Nayler. The family emigrated to Sydney, Australia in 1955, and John began to study at Sydney University, and the Australian Forestry School in Canberra, before working in Papua New Guinea, first as a forestry cadet, then progressing through various levels of management, as well as involvement in research and education there. He met and married Marie, who he met in Canberra when she was completing her midwifery. 

John and Marie had three children - Ian, Eleanor and Gail. With the gaining of independence in Papua New Guinea, the family moved back to Australia with a brief stop in Adelaide before setting in Tasmania. They established a home at Underwood near Lilydale, and John continued his career in forestry. John faced considerable health challenges from the 1980s, but this did not stop him from strong involvement in the Lilydale community and increasingly, at St. John's Church. 

Marie passed away in 1995, a challenging time for John. Over time, he became increasingly involved with the church, and met Helen, (then Fraser), who served on Parish Council from 1992, including a term as a churchwarden in 1998. John was elected to Parish Council in 1997, becoming a churchwarden in 2000, only retiring from that role in 2009. He and Helen married in 1999.

John's church activities were diverse, and he showed great enthusiasm for all he undertook. Along with Revd Dianne Milligan, he helped establish the first Alpha course at St. John's - a worldwide evangelistic phenomenon that led many people to faith, including participants at St. John's. Alongside that, he worked to reinvigorate evangelism through the establishment of Fishing Club, a team that worked to establish the Alpha course and other initiatives. Was there a need to improve the gardens? John's forestry expertise was put to work in the maintaining and replacing of trees. For some time, there had been initiatives towards contemporary worship at St. John's. John took an active part in the design of, and volunteer construction of the long-awaited revision of the chancel area with the curve-fronted dais that allowed room for contemporary musicians, and at the same time made the building more flexible for concerts and community events. He was also keen to have upholstered cushioning added to the pews, but the prohibitive cost meant that the project never went past a couple of samples - the colour was controversial! Another major project in which John was “hands on” was the renovation of the upper floor of the rectory to provide a residence for incoming rector Ross Nicholson. He contributed to services of worship as a Bible reader and sang with the choir. He participated actively in Mission 2002, Brekkyfest - a morning fair that coincided with the crowds heading for Launceston's annual Christmas Parade, and Bethlehem Street - a re-enactment of life in New Testament Judaea, to which school groups were invited.

He and Helen were able to travel in his later years, including a return to England to renew family ties, as well as trips to Darwin and the Red Centre. Health challenges increased, and John went to the Lord on 30th August 2011.

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