Aurel Smith

Aurel Vernon Smith (20 June 1915 – 6 February 2011) was an Australian politician.

Aurel was born in Geelong to wool merchant William Smith and Ruby Emily Young,^[1] he was the eldest child with a younger brother Collin Smith. A keen yachtsman, he would spend weekends competing for the Royal Geelong Yacht Club winning numerous titles Phoenix Wool Company Pty Ltd. He was a director of various other companies including J. C. Taylor and Sons Pty Ltd, Coca-Cola Bottlers (Geelong) Pty. Ltd., Smith Wool Co., Warrangee Pty Ltd, Ceres Lookout Estate Pty Ltd.^[1]

Aurel enlisted and served during World War II firstly in the Middle East, then to New Guinea and Borneo.^[1] He attained the rank of 2IC major^[1] for 2/2 Australian Anti-Aircraft Regiment. A founding member of the Liberal Party, he was president of the Geelong branch and chairman of the Western Area finance committee.^[1] In 1967 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Bellarine. He switched to South Barwon in 1976 and retired on 2 April 1982.^[2]

Aurel has one son Campbell William Aurel-Smith and three grandchildren, Kate, Timothy and Camilla. Smith died on 6 February 2011.^[1][2]