Item 28 - Joseph Batt Estate

Ronald Campbell Smith joined the Tasmanian Government Railways as an apprentice in 1916 and worked for them until 1943 when he was transferred to the Commonwealth Department of Labour and National Service, as an industrial officer and later the District Employment Officer. He was an active member of the Australian Railways Union and the Amalgamated Engineering Union, and was employees' Advocate on the Appeal Board. He was also a member of the Hobart Trades Council. Active in the Australian Labor Party, he was elected President of the Tasmanian Section in 1936. He served on the Hobart Hospital Board from 1936 and was Vice-Chairman 1936-1950, and on the Peacock Hospital Board of Management from 1941 until 1971, being Chairman from 1952. He was appointed justice of the peace for the Hobart district in 1934. He also served as a stipendiary steward for the Hobart Greyhound Racing Club for ten years, and in his younger days he played football.