Mollie Campbell-Smith


Mollie Campbell-Smith was a Tasmanian educator, who developed and taught curriculum in Interpersonal Relationships which was adopted by Government schools across Tasmania in 1963. She also worked to support the interests of women in the community and in the areas of health and aged care.

Early life and education

Born Mollie Marsden in 1917 in Devonport, Tasmania, she moved with her family to Launceston on completion of primary school and attended Methodist Ladies College. She studied science at the University of Melbourne, then a DipEd in Tasmania, before becoming a high school teacher. She also played hockey, representing the University of Melbourne, the State of Victoria and Australia.

Career

Campbell-Smith taught science at Methodist Ladies' College for 1955 until her retirement in 1986.
Outside teaching, she filled many volunteer roles, being State Commissioner of the Girl Guides, 1983-1988. She was president of the Australian Federation of University Women from 1988 to 1991. She was a long-term member of the National Council of Women of Australia Launceston and president from 1995 to 1998 and 2003 to 2007.
For many years Campbell-Smith was an RFT board member, supporting people with mental health and social issues. The Mollie Campbell-Smith Forum was established in 2013 by RFT and University of Tasmania and takes place every two years. The themes have been the social and emotional well-being of school-aged children, resilience and "Bodies on the brink".
Senator Nick Xenophon credited Campbell-Smith with inspiring him to run for the Senate.

Recognition and awards

She married Lance-Bombardier Ralph Campbell-Smith, a surveyor in civilian life, in April 1942 and had three sons and two daughters. Her husband died in 1993. Campbell-Smith died in Launceston on 7 July 2015.