Perth Voice Interactive

HE used to be in charge of Australia’s navy, but now Stephen Smith will have to make do with being patron of Maylands yacht club.

The former Labor defence minister is taking over from 80-year-old club veteran Terry Gaunt, who is hanging up the whites after being patron for 29 years.

Despite having a long association with the club, Mr Smith concedes his sea legs need work. “My interest in sailing stops at the landline,” he laughs.

“But over the years, I’ve gone down to the club several times to watch Terry’s son sail and also in my capacity as the federal member.

“We live in Mt Lawley and my wife and I go for a walk along the river every day, where we often go past the yacht club and head back up towards East Perth.

“I’m a great fan of the club and of Terry and his family, so it is a great honour to be patron.”

Gaunt joined the club when he was 10. In the late 1940s and 1950s he won five national titles and 20 state sailing titles and came close to being selected for the Australian Olympic sailing team.

He is heavily involved with the Maylands historical society and was instrumental in converting the old Guildford Road police station into a heritage centre.

“The yacht club has around 120 members and there is lots of young kids coming for lessons, so we are in good shape,” Gaunt says.

“I guess the club was in its heyday in the 1970s when we had around 200 members, but these things go in cycles.

“One of my favourite boats was the old Vaucluse Junior, I won a lot of titles in that one in the ‘40s. Nowadays I have a 16ft Hartley Trailer.

“I think Stephen is a good fit for the club—he never went over the top like some politicians—and has been involved on and off with the club for decades.”

Smith and Gaunt’s son, Greg, went to the same local school and university together. They both studied law and went on to work at what is now Lavan Legal, before Smith left to pursue a career in London and ultimately in politics.

They are now both back at Lavan, where Gaunt is chair and Smith sits on the advisory board.

Smith, sporting longer hair and more casual attire, says he does not miss the cut and thrust of federal politics, nor the long hours in the air between Perth and Canberra.

“I’ve taken very well to being a private citizen,” he smiles.

“I do a number of things, but I don’t do anything I don’t enjoy.

“I am enjoying spending more time in Perth.”

As for his thoughts on whether Tony Abbott is doing a good job: “I’m not a political commentator anymore, mate.

“Go and ask Alannah.”

by STEPHEN POLLOCK