Innisfail Dynamic Timbers founder Nev Smith remembered as ‘a big man with an even bigger heart’

A community-oriented Innisfail man who once walked away from his own company so others could remain employed has been remembered as a “big man with an even bigger heart”.

Innisfail's Dynamic Timbers founder Nev Smith was part of a campaign to stop banana imports. He was remembered by friends and family in August.

A devoted and community orientated Innisfail man who once walked away from his own company so others could remain employed has been remembered as a “big man with an even bigger heart”.

Dynamic Timbers’ founding owner Nev Smith died of a heart attack in August, aged 71, with friends and family celebrating his life at Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church, Innisfail.

Mr Smith was born at Tugun, near Coolangatta Airport, and was one of 10 children.

His hardworking ethics were on display early when he and his older brother Robin, known as the “terrible twins”, would ride 10km before school to collect and deliver papers for minimal pay.

His upbringing was one of most Aussie kids of the time – sunburnt from all the time spent outdoors playing sport, fishing and disobeying parents when you’re told to stay home.

Eventually Mr Smith’s family moved to Murwillumbah, an agricultural community in the Tweed Shire, where he completed schooling at Woodlawn Boys College – a boarding school he was enrolled into at 13, after his parents moved to Western Samoa for two years on a foreign aid program.

Nev and Jenny Smith.

He began working at Budds, now Mitre 10, after school as a trainee accountant, going on to become the company’s official accountant and company secretary.

During his 15 years at the company, he met his wife Jenny and the couple married in 1974 at Murwillumbah.

They were set to celebrate their 50-year anniversary in November at Palm Cove, where the couple had celebrated their honeymoon.

With three children, son Nathan and daughters Heidi and Emma, Mr Smith moved his family to Innisfail in 1984 where he “worked his bum off” running a banana farm.

Innisfail's Nev Smith with his family.

“As tough as these times were, my siblings speak very highly of these days as it taught them a lot,” youngest son Bob Smith, born in the Far North, said while delivering a eulogy.

“I often hear stories of Nathan being dragged out of bed at 5am to drive the tractor while dad sprayed, or everyone having to bathe every afternoon in Waraker Creek.”

Following the devastation by Cyclone Winifred in 1986, Mr Smith began the next chapter of his life – moving into a role with the Foxwood sawmill at Wangan, and later with Innisfail Building Supplies.

Aftermath of Cyclone Winifred. Picture: Robert Basaglia.

“After continuing to work at Innisfail Building Supplies for a few more years, Dad had the

realisation that the timber industry was his passion, and he was damn good at it.

“On August 1, 1994 he opened the doors to his very own timber business in the old indoor cricket centre in Michael St, Innisfail – Dynamic Timbers.”

The business, which has expanded into the Tablelands and Cairns, celebrated 30 years last month.

Dynamic Timbers founding owner Nev Smith in its earlier days.

“I even recall a time when business was tough, dad made the ultimate sacrifice of leaving Dynamic Timbers to manage CHR Employment Services, simply so his own wage wasn’t a burden on the business and he could continue to pay his staff instead of himself,” he said.

Innisfail Feast of the Senses committee president Nev Smith and Kirsty Densmore sign the contract appointing Ms Densmore as event manager.

“He would still run Dynamic Timbers and do what he had to late into the night after everyone else had gone home for the day. Just goes to show the incredibly kind-hearted and generous nature he had.”

Mr Smith had a very active role in the wider community – he would often put on Christmas lunches for the less the fortunate, chaired Mother of Good Counsel Catholic parish finance committee, was a member of the Mother of Good Counsel parish pastoral council, was an Innisfail chamber president and Feast of the Senses president.

Originally published as Innisfail Dynamic Timbers founder Nev Smith remembered as ‘a big man with an even bigger heart’