I SUPPORT
Honest, accountable and completely transparent financial management by council with all monetary matters being well researched and carefully considered to hopefully produce the right balance between maximum economic strength and growth in the city and a healthy budget outcome, free from undue influences.
Fiscal responsibility must never be allowed to become a poor cousin to grand schemes having their genesis in the egos of power brokers and liberal spenders of public monies.
Balanced accounting should enhance council's ability to keep good staff once they have been lucky enough to attract them - even during times of high skills and labour demands such as these.
A truly Family Safe Community is very near and dear to my heart. I can think of few things that can lift the human spirit as much as being free to enjoy our wonderful outdoors environment throughout our various seasons in peaceful, loving, family groups.
We shouldn't have to develop the habit of averting our eyes from something upsetting to us that is happening right in our own suburb or shopping centre just to avoid engaging unpleasant abuse from a few who show no respect for others.
We should all be able to feel safe, not only in our own homes, but throughout our community. This is no longer always possible, especially for our children and our seniors - what happened, what did we let slip?
I believe rangers need increased authority and powers so they can be more effective and I believe the training, pay and conditions of these ever more necessary officers of council should be commensurate with the professional team we want council to field.
Improved facilities are already needed at some of our existing sports grounds and based on the public perception such things as "Club Rooms" need to be freshly addressed.
In my experience most volunteer groups including sporting, youth, family, residents associations, seniors, S.E.S., lifesaving, church, charity community programmes and the like are well worth supporting. Few are as effective as an enthusiastic volunteer to a cause.
I AM AGAINST
Our enjoyable safe lifestyle being disrupted by troublemakers such as hoons and vandals, rowdy minority groups, and selfish inconsiderate citizens, as much as I am against having to "pay for the crimes of others" (e.g. graffiti and littering) - make the criminals pay I say.
WHY I RAN FOR OFFICE
All electors need to know their Elected Ward Councillors and their Mayor have run for office for the right reasons and they have the necessary drive, skills, initiative, experience and time to properly represent their interests.
I am sure the great majority of those who have given freely of their time and other resources to electors by serving on council have done so for the right reasons and noble motives with a commitment to carrying such values all through their terms of office.
The City of Wanneroo has seen many publicly spirited people selflessly serve their fellow citizens over the years and undoubtedly many hard fought battles and hard won advantages for electors will have gone unrecognized over the same period. I salute the quiet achievers of such hallmarks of the soaring human spirit.
Serving our fellow man can often be a pretty thankless undertaking (especially in materialistic or natural terms) and that is probably why I find my own personal enthusiasm to give back to the community coming from a higher source. This may sound trite to some, but there you are. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me.
I have been married to my wife Kerry for the past 39 years. We have two children and four grandchildren and have lived in the City of Wanneroo over the past 34 years.
I attempt, day by day, with the grace of God, to live a life based on biblical Christian principles.
MY PUBLIC SERVICE INCLUDES
Present; Brighton Residents' Association, Youth and Relationship Counselling, Free Business Advice, Christian Ministry.
Previous; President Landsdale Residents' Association, Committee Malaga and Districts Business Association, St John Ambulance First Aid volunteer, Southern Districts Communications Officer S.E.S., Adviser to Government on Technical Education, Distribution of Subsidized Food to Underprivileged in the City of Wanneroo, Aged Care Centre Visitation, Taking Handicapped Residents out for Day Trips and Visiting the Sick.
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
I have successfully run businesses both here in W.A. and Australia wide as C.E.O. and General Manager over many years with up to 130 people being under my direct guidance at any given time.
My management skills are such that I have always been able to foster a positive team attitude and create a motivated environment in which team members become highly productive and are able to enjoy good workplace moral - because I place such high value on the main asset of any business - its people.
I have negotiated with people through all levels of business and society from individual employees, employee groups, trading banks & merchant banks, accountants, solicitors, lower and mid management structures, charities, government departments and bodies, up to state Premier. I relate easily in all these environments.
Authorised and printed by Bob Smithson, 3 Ashcott Gate, Butler, 6036. Telephone: 9562 0858 Mobile: 0410 543 385.
The Christian testimony of Bob Smithson
Born in England in 1946 Bob came to the South West of Western Australia a child of four years of age when his family emigrated.
Educated in various country schools he also attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Convent in Manjimup and it was here he fell in love with Jesus at the age of nine and began to understand the promises of God for his future life and ministry. It was also during this year that Bob found himself in hospital and plagued from that time with constant ill health.
Many years later after formerly dedicating his life to Jesus while attending a Bible study (age twenty six), he became chronically ill with constant chronic severe asthma and from that time for the next twenty eight years suffered an ongoing single constant severe asthma attack. Doctors sent him home to die a number of times.
He was so allergic to the medications he had to take to stay alive that he suffered constant chronic pain often not able to be controlled even by Pethedine and Morphine.
But in and through God’s mercy throughout those twenty eight years Bob and his wife Kerry ministered at various levels in the body of Christ and it was during this time that God repeatedly used them for miraculous healings and signs and wonders to the glory of God.
It was in 1992 when God chose to graciously heal Bob of asthma and anointed him with a unique Teaching Ministry strongly influenced by Prophetic Revelation.
Bob's Christian Ministry has included Prayer Ministry, Intercession, Home Group Leader, Church Board Advisor, Founding Member Bible College Board, Pastor, Teacher, Mentor, Encourager and Counselor.
BOB'S NOT SO SPIRITUAL TESTIMONY
Bob believes God has really blessed him in what he has been able to experience in life so far. For the more inquisitive, here are some of those experiences.
Public Speaking. Invited Guest Speaker to groups of up to 3000 people on a variety of topics including Self Development, Self Discipline and Self Motivation.
Highly skilled in trouble shooting and negotiating at all levels, one on one from employer to union, advocacy in the Arbitration Commission, through to negotiating directly with a past Premier of W.A.
- Photography to professional standard.
- Journalism (weekly column in Regional newspaper and many other articles published).
- Student Pilots Licence to VFR.
- Radio Communications to NASA Proficiency (State Emergency Services).
- C.M.F. [Citizen Military Forces] Liaison Officer.
- Water Boring Sub Contractor and Windmill Erector.
- Animal Husbandry – stud sheep farm.
- Auto Mechanic Assistant.
- Auto Electrician Assistant.
- Wood Merchant Sub Contractor.
- Qualified Hand & Machine Compositor.
- S.E.S. teaching volunteers conversion of ex military radios. Heading up headquarters radio repair facility and conducting field exercise training for volunteers.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- Australian Institute of Management – A.I.M.M.
- Australian Marketing Institute – A.M.A.M.I.
PAST PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- Associate member The Australian Journalists Association.
- Sales Executives Society of WA – A.S.E.S.
OTHER MEMBERSHIPS
- Brighton Residents' Association
PAST OTHER MEMBERSHIPS
- President Landsdale Residents Association
- Committee Malaga and Districts Business Association
- President of High School Electronics Club
- Albany Chess Club
- Australian Rostrum Club (Public Speaker)
- St. John’s Ambulance First Aid Officer
- Member Advisory Committee to WA Government on Technical Education and Apprenticeship matters.
PUBLIC SERVICE INCLUDES
- Present; Youth and Relationship Counseling, Free Business Advice and Christian Ministry.
- Previous; St John Ambulance First Aid volunteer, Southern Districts Communications Officer S.E.S., Adviser to Government on Technical Education, Distribution of Subsidized Food to Underprivileged in the City of Wanneroo, Aged Care Centre Visitation, Taking Handicapped Residents out for Day Trips and Visiting the Sick.
Bob has fought off white pointer sharks trying to take fish he has speared from him in the waters off Albany and survived, survived a high speed (100 m.p.h.) motor bike crash, walked on fire more than once and executed a text book solo "dead stick" emergency landing in a Piper Cherokee without sustaining any damage to the aircraft or personal injury.
All in all, he believes he has much to be thankful for.
Authorised and printed by Bob Smithson, 3 Ashcott Gate, Butler 6036. Telephone: 9562 0858 Mobile: 0410 543 385
