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ReConnect Bathurst:
Frank Smith
Pat said, “what are we going to do?”. I said, “we’ll buy a boot shop.” I saw an advertisement and I bought this shoe repair shop in Cootamundra. I paid 1700 pounds — I got robbed. And that’s where we kicked off.
But the same Jack Boyd, even though I was leaving him after my apprenticeship, he sent stuff down by rail, like soles and nails and all that, to make sure that we got to start off. I’ve been friends with him since 1955.
Working in the shop did make me happy. I still love talking to people. And that was our thing.
And my motto was “it costs you nothing to say hello.”
And I’ve done that all my life.
Frank: “Hey Glenn, I think it’s about time we had a little talk about socks.”
Glenn: “Didn’t we have that talk when I was 10?
Frank: “I said socks son.”
Glenn: “Anyway dad, like the last time, what do you want to know?”
Listen to the well-known radio ads that Frank and his son Glenn make for their Bathurst-based family business, Frank Smith Work Clothing:
Listen to another of Frank and Glenn’s radio ads:
GLENN SMITH (ONE OF FRANK’S SONS)
Well, dad’s 82 now. And he retired at 60. So when mum and dad had the shop, it wasn’t so noticeable.
There were still family businesses there but since they’ve retired we’ve found that people’s shopping habits have changed. Strip shopping used to be all the go. But now with the shopping centres people just go into a shopping centre that don’t really need to go outside as it’s all fairly well self-contained.
When mum and dad stepped away, it wasn’t so noticeable, but I think COVID and the internet — it’s been a perfect storm.
As far as business goes… Keep looking forward and, you know, make the most of life. Communication is the biggest thing — say hello, and acknowledge people.
Talk with people and work through any problems.
Listen to Frank’s most quoted saying:
After Dad got prostate cancer. We’d have people come into the shop and ask “is Frank about?” And you knew, so I’ll just give him the home number because dad didn’t mind talking to them.
And you actually ended up doing voluntary work for the Prostate Foundation.
Looking forward, looking back, that song by Slim Dusty covers it well. It seems like common sense, you’ve got to keep looking forward. And you’ve got to have a little bit of ambition.
If you don’t, you just fade away.
Do the right thing by people. If you do the right thing, you’ve got no worries.
Everyone’s got to try and move forward, move forward, move forward. Because if you stop still, they will run over you.
Keep your mind clear and keep yourself in good nick.
It’s common sense.
Frank shares a little about his philosophy on living a happy life:
Getting old has been alright, I haven’t really had many dramas. Pat and I have been married 62 years.
It works well.
Like if she wants something or I want something, we both work towards it. And we’ve always looked after each other.
And everything sort of flows along.
This project is proudly funded through the State Government’s Local Government Social Cohesion Grant Program. ReConnect Bathurst is an And Then project delivered in partnership with Bathurst Regional Art Gallery.
Current: Frank Smith
Next: Clive Brabham
Uncle Bill Allen
Bev Cooney
Cheryl O’Brien
June Paton
Gus Gorton
Lonnie Edwards
Yvonne Morgan
Enn Muller
Jan Sheppard
Edgar Coello
Aunty Shirley Scott and Aunty Sandra Peckham
Mike Hardie
Frank Smith
Clive Brabham
Eddy Suttor
RECONNECT BATHURST PARTICIPANTS’ INDIVIDUAL STORYBANKS
PROJECT INFORMATION
WHEN
April – November 2022
WHERE
Bathurst, NSW
WHY
We believe that stories matter and that stories like those shared here hold power and significance.
The vision of the project is to use photo-storytelling and cultural preservation practices to develop social and creative connections and experiences with older people from the Bathurst area. This project celebrates the participants' lived experiences while encouraging dialogue around ageing, isolation and ageism.
Social-arts projects like this are important as they transform public spaces and help to build a sense of community. It’s been wonderful to reimagine Pedrottas Lane in Bathurst and to create an online representation of the physical exhibition with a project made with the community, for the community.
WHO
We were honoured to be invited by Bathurst Regional Art Gallery to create and facilitate ReConnect Bathurst.
16 older people from the Bathurst area. Many of the participants were nominated by local community organisations while others serendipitously came to be a part of the project. We’d like to thank The Bathurst Aboriginal Land Council, The Wiradjuri and Community Aboriginal Elders, The Neighbourhood Center, Bathurst Business Chamber, The Woodies, Bathurst RSL Sub Branch and the Country Women’s Association.
With special thanks to Dinawan Dyirribang (Uncle Bill Allen), Bev Cooney, Cheryl O’Brien, June Paton, Gus Gorton, Lonnie Edwards, Yvonne Morgan, Enn Muller, Frank Smith, Jan Shepard, Edgar Coello, Aunty Shirley Scott, Aunty Sandra Peckham, Mike Hardie, Clive Brabham and Eddy Suttor.
HOW
Our stories are a wonderful connection point. It’s through sharing them with each other that we make space for conversations that can inspire, that can expand our understanding and in some cases, leave us changed.
During this project, we spent time with each person, we talked, reflected on old photographs, made images together and worked through various ways of co-authoring. Socially-engaged practice empowers participants to participate in the creation of their stories, allowing them to represent themselves in the way that they choose.
We often leave a camera with participants and invite them to engage in their own image-making. There’s something raw and revealing about the images made this way, about seeing the world through the participants' eyes.
AND THEN
Through their stories, we see facets of vast lives lived. We witness the snapshots and threads that when woven together create a rich tapestry. Our hope is that as stories wash over us we’re able to make space to contemplate connection and the beauty of community.
This project is proudly funded through the State Government’s Local Government Social Cohesion Grant Program. ReConnect Bathurst is an And Then project delivered in partnership with Bathurst Regional Art Gallery.