Vale: Former President Nigel Smith
Bowls Australia was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former President Nigel Smith yesterday (January 3), following a prolonged battle with Motor Neurone Disease.
Smith served as an elected Board Director of Bowls Australia for a three-year period before taking the reins as President in October 2015, a position he relinquished two years later after learning of family-related health concerns.
During his time on the Board and his Presidency, Smith led and contributed to many significant organisational achievements, most notably the relocation and expansion of the Australian Open to the Gold Coast, where it became the world’s largest and richest open bowls event, and the reintroduction of the Australian Championships to the national calendar.
The success of the Australian Open since its move north in 2015 also influenced the Gold Coast’s securement of the 2023 World Bowls Championships, the Nationals and many ancillary events, through strong relationships with principal partners Tourism and Events Queensland and Major Events Gold Coast.
World Bowls CEO Neil Dalrymple, who was Bowls Australia’s CEO during Smith’s Presidency, recognised the considerable contribution Smith had made during his tenure on the Board.
“On a personal level, Nigel was a fantastic mentor to me during his tenure as President – he was an enthusiastic and engaging character, who helped drive some really significant developments for Bowls in Australia that will have a long-lasting impact for Bowls in the Gold Coast region, which he was incredibly passionate about, and the country more broadly,” Dalrymple said.
“Nigel was a popular President, who had a really strong relationship with all of the State and Territory Associations, achieved through regular communication and dialogue, and was an immensely proud and passionate supporter of the Australian Jackaroos, and he relished witnessing their success first-hand at the 2016 World Bowls Championships and 2018 Commonwealth Games.”
Bowls Australia President Matt Burgess acknowledged Smith’s outstanding efforts for the sport.
“It’s clear that Nigel made a very significant contribution to the sport of bowls, and not just during his time as President and as a Board Director of Bowls Australia,” Burgess said.
“I know that I speak on behalf of the Bowls Australia Board and team of staff, and also all of the State and Territory Associations and indeed the wider bowls community across the country, in acknowledging Nigel’s legacy and expressing our deepest condolences to Judy Smith and all of Nigel’s family and friends.”
Caption: Nigel Smith (centre) alongside the Australian Jackaroos after the completion of the 2016 World Bowls Championships.
