Laurie and Nola Smith have been regular parishioners in Rockingham for the past 48 years. Photo: Matthew Lau.
By Matthew Lau
Loyal Rockingham Parish duo Laurie and Nola Smith celebrated their Golden Jubilee wedding anniversary on 12 October 2018.
The Smiths, both aged 75, raised eight children and now have eight grandchildren to keep them occupied.
As prominent Our Lady of Lourdes Church parishioners since 1970, Laurie and Nola have played active roles in the parish while juggling various commitments in their lives.
To say Laurie Smith has worn many hats over the years is an understatement.
His bodacious résumé includes the feats of: Rockingham Mayor (1990-94), Shire President (1986-88), Citizen of the Year (1988), Rotary Foundation Australia Ambassador to USA (1978), Volunteer Fire Brigade Member (1969-70), and was awarded an OAM medal (2004) by the Governor-General for extraordinary service to the City of Rockingham.
“Rockingham has been very good to us; we’ve had a wonderful life and made a very good living out of the city. Consequently, Nola and I have always worked as a partnership,” Laurie emphasised.
“We’ve found it necessary within ourselves to give a lot back too, so we’re still doing that. Our involvement in the parish has extended from assisting with the plan-giving programme.”
Since they made Rockingham their home in 1970, the Smiths have seen the city’s population grow from 6000 to nearly 150,000.
“A lot has happened; subsequently the parish has got larger. Currently I’m assisting with Lourdescare, which is a short-term social benefit. We help people who require help with transport, food etc.”
Assistant Priest Fr Johnson Vijay D’Souza CRS greets the Smiths at the entrance of Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Photo: Matthew Lau.
All eight of their children attended Star of the Sea Primary School, most of whom also went to Kolbe Catholic College.
Laurie and Nola were involved in the establishment and running of both Rockingham-based schools. Laurie was the inaugural chairman of Kolbe Catholic College, and Nola was the first secretary.
When it came to attending Mass with eight children, Nola Smith said they “towed the line” as “they were good kids”.
On top of his council duties, Laurie ran a successful pharmacy business in Rockingham.
“The children and I never felt that we missed out on Laurie’s company at all – he has tremendous capacity,” Nola added.
“He was home most nights, but during the day was another matter. He’d probably still be there had he not retired.”
Going from having one child to eight children was a natural progression that they adapted to, Laurie said.
“If you kicked off suddenly with eight children, then that would be a hell of an experience,” he joked.
“We didn’t set out to have eight – because Nola was fairly healthy with them, we didn’t have any serious problems having children. By the time Mitch came along, Justin had left the nest.”
Laurie’s commitment as the breadwinner went hand-in-hand with Nola’s matriarchal role.
“Nola was an excellent domestic manager because I had eyes on council, I had a business to run, I had other outside interests – so basically Nola looked after the family, and I looked after other areas.
“However, we had a lot of interchange, as a partnership we grew with it.”
Happily married for 50 years, Laurie and Nola Smith are well known in the City of Rockingham. Photo: Matthew Lau.
The secret to a successful and long marriage, Nola told The eRecord, is compromise.
“Whoever you commit to, you’re going to stay with that person for the rest of your life,” she explained.
“You only have one life each, so if you dedicate yourself to giving that person the very best life they can possibly have, the happiest life, and they do the same back to you, you can’t go wrong.
“I’ve tried to do that for Laurie, and he has certainly done it for me. Simple as that.”
Laurie has been involved with the Rotary Club since the early-1980s, undertaking projects in an attempt to “try to enhance the city and make it a better place to live”.
“Nola and I have been in these sort of things all our lives – and that, of course, complimented what we do in the Church,” he expressed.
“Involvement is part of the key to happiness. The more you get involved, the less you think about yourself.
“We were just so grateful to the area for having giving us such a good life, that we just gave back to Rockingham. The Church was a good recipient [of that],” Laurie added.
“Really we took the view that we were thankful for what the benefits we received, and we felt we had to give something back. And by so doing, it helps to make you feel happier.”