Roy Smith. A life of achievement.

The Hon. Roy Smith, MLC. died in his sleep early on 31^st  July 2010, at the age of only 56.  He is deeply missed by the shooting and hunting community, and our condolences go out to his wife, Pauline, his sons Nicolas and Carl, and his mother, Pat and their extended families. Roy purchased his first firearm, an air rifle, when he was 14 years old, and started shooting rimfire and centrefire at age 16.  He was a top competitor in Metallic Silhouette Rifle, Scoped Position Rifle and Field Rifle events, winning many championships competing internationally and setting record scores, some of which stood for many years afterward.  As well as shooting and running an electrical contracting business, Roy also managed to make time to become involved in the SSAA and contributed significantly to its growth in NSW.  Roy played a large role in effecting a strong partnership between the SSAA NSW and the then Shooters Party.  In 2007 Roy successfully stood for election to the NSW Legislative Council as the Shooters Party lead candidate. Due to the numbers in the Legislative Council over the period 2007 to 2010, Roy and Robert Brown had considerable influence in the Council and negotiated true legislative reform for shooters in NSW.  The key change in Roy's Firearms Amendment Act in 2008 was an amendment to the Firearms Act making it easier for unlicensed persons to try shooting under supervision, at approved ranges.   Only a few weeks before his unexpected death Roy had given his second reading speech for another Bill to amend firearms legislation.  The Shooters and Fishers Party has undertaken to carry his Firearms Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 through the remaining stages in the Parliament. R.I.P. Roy Smith