Ross Smith (Australian politician)

Ernest Ross Smith (born 24 January 1938) is a former Australian politician. He was the Liberal member for Glen Waverley in the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1985 to 2002.

Personal life

Smith was born in Southport in Queensland to Allen and Leila Smith. He attended Fort Street Boys' High School before studying at Balmain Teachers' College, from which he graduated in 1956. He married Patricia Moxham and in 1965 they had their first daughter, Alexina. Around the same time a year later they had their second daughter, Jann and in 1969 they had their last child, Sarah. Patricia and Ernest divorced and Ernest married Sarah Spencer. Sarah Spencer is English and had two sons prior to their marriage, James and Richard. A few years after their marriage, Ross and Sarah had their first and only child, Harriet. In 1999, Patricia died of a cerebral aneurysm in her home.

Professional life

Ross taught at primary schools in New South Wales from 1957 to 1959 before working at the Immigration Department at Australia House in London in 1960. In 1961 he became a journalist, writing for the Daily Telegraph and the Sunday Sun. In 1964 he enlisted in the army and served two tours of duty in Vietnam, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 1964 he also joined the Liberal Party.^[1]

Smith left the army in 1984, and in 1985 was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly as the Liberal member for the new seat of Glen Waverley. He became Government Whip in 1996, and Opposition Whip in 1999 when the Coalition lost government. He retired in 2002, when his seat was abolished.^[1]

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