Smith, Beth

Beth Smith is a committed Christian activist who stood for the Christian Democrat Party in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly election for Cronulla, 2003 and in the House of Representatives election for Cook, 2004. At the time of her first campaign, Beth Smith had been a resident in the Cronulla area for 11 years and a teacher for more than 30 years. Her campaign stressed the protection of Kurnell and opposition to over development in the Sutherland Shire.

Educated at the University of New South Wales (B.Sc. Dip.Ed.), Beth Smith began her teaching career in country NSW. She completed a Bible College Diploma and became a full-time Religious Education teacher at Jannali Girls High School. Her position was funded by local churches and she held it for 10 years.

Beth and her husband Ian Smith adopted two children with intellectual disabilities and through them became involved with the Special Olympics movement. By 2004, she and her husband ran a network marketing company. They were long term members of the Christian Democrat Party, and were very active in their church. Beth Smith stressed her concern about a decline in moral standards.